Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Remove Ficus Roots
How to Remove Ficus Roots. Ficus is a large genus that includes over 100 species and is a member of the fig family (*ficus carica*). Some ficus are merely vines and shrubs while others grow into enormous Banyan trees. The more common ficus (*ficus benjamina*) grows best in warmer climates as listed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness...
Ficus is a large genus that includes over 100 species and is a member of the fig family (ficus carica). Some ficus are merely vines and shrubs while others grow into enormous Banyan trees. The more common ficus (ficus benjamina) grows best in warmer climates as listed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 10B through 11. Ficus roots can be quite problematic. The tree is known for vine-like surface roots that can smother neighboring plants and crack through concrete sidewalks and building slabs, as well as deeper roots that invade plumbing pipes and septic tanks. Removing ficus tree roots is a multiple-step process.
Things You'll Need
Rubber gloves
Face mask
Protective eyewear
Sturdy boots
Spray bottle
Shovel
Axe
Cordless drill with 1/2" inch drill bit
Chain saw
Crowbar
Paint brush
Plastic bucket
25 percent glyphosate
Pocket knife
Use the chain saw to cut the stump as close to the ground as possible. Make a couple of vertical cuts in the stump as well to aid in clearing out as much debris as possible.
Make multiple cuts into the bark around the top perimeter of the tree stump with the ax. Using a disposable paint brush, apply a diluted solution of 25 percent glyphosate, an herbicide found in commercial products, paying particular attention to the bark, where the tree's vascular system is located. The vascular system will transport the poison into the tree's roots.
Cover the stump with plastic to ensure that the glyphosphate doesn't rinse off in the rain. Repeat the process seven days later. It may take 14 days or longer to kill the stump and roots before they are ready for the removal process.
Check to see if the roots are ready to remove by scraping the surface with a knife. If the growth underneath is brown, the roots are dead and ready for removal. If the wood is still green, another application of glyphosate may be necessary.
Begin chopping up the larger roots. Use the crowbar to dig up deeper roots. Dig around the roots with the shovel to expose more of the root system. Ficus roots penetrate deep into the soil, so removing one layer at a time is expected.
Tips & Warnings
Be sure the axe is sharp enough to make clean cuts with minimum effort.
When using chemicals be sure to wear protective eye wear, face mask and rubber gloves. Wear protective eye wear and mask when operating a chainsaw or drill.
