Q: Can a broken tree branch grow roots?

• <div><p>Large, established tree branches won&rsquo;t grow roots, but if you find a young tree branch that&rsquo;s less than about a year old, you&rsquo;ve got a shot. Put it in water or soil as soon as possible for best results. You&rsquo;ll know the branch is viable if it&rsquo;s about the thickness of a pencil and has some leaves or needles.</p></div>

Q: Is it OK to cut tree roots that are above ground?

• <div><p>If you aren&rsquo;t sure what you&rsquo;re doing, be very careful when cutting mature tree roots (roots larger than 2 inches). Root cutting and pruning can affect both a tree&rsquo;s stability and its ability to nourish itself. Issues during root cutting can result in damage or injury. </p><p>It&rsquo;s recommended you call in a pro to help, unless it&rsquo;s a very small tree and you aren&rsquo;t worried about the prospect of losing the tree.</p></div>

Question 1

Can a broken tree branch grow roots?

Accepted Answer

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Large, established tree branches won’t grow roots, but if you find a young tree branch that’s less than about a year old, you’ve got a shot. Put it in water or soil as soon as possible for best results. You’ll know the branch is viable if it’s about the thickness of a pencil and has some leaves or needles.

Question 2

How can you save money on tree removal services?

Accepted Answer

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Tree removal can be quite expensive, especially for larger projects, but you can use the following tips to help keep costs down:

Do the yard cleanup afterward yourself
Choose to leave the logs on your property and split them yourself
Opt to leave the stump in the ground and tackle stump grinding yourself
Pull permits for tree removal, if necessary, to avoid fines
Pay to have multiple trees removed at once
Remove tree in the late winter or early spring during off-season

Question 3

How much do professional garden services cost?

Accepted Answer

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Many gardeners charge an hourly rate for their services, and your total cost will depend on the amount of services and the experience of the gardener. Gardeners with basic experience charge between $20 and $30 per hour, while a more experienced gardener can charge as much as $60 to $88 per hour.

The cost of lawn mowing is about $125, which you might need on a weekly or biweekly basis. However, the cost of soil testing averages about $1,450, which should only be done every three to five years.

Question 4

Is it OK to cut tree roots that are above ground?

Accepted Answer

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If you aren’t sure what you’re doing, be very careful when cutting mature tree roots (roots larger than 2 inches). Root cutting and pruning can affect both a tree’s stability and its ability to nourish itself. Issues during root cutting can result in damage or injury.

It’s recommended you call in a pro to help, unless it’s a very small tree and you aren’t worried about the prospect of losing the tree.

Question 5

How do you protect tree roots during excavation?

Accepted Answer

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The best way to protect tree roots is to avoid the roots entirely by excavating outside the root radius of the tree. For nearby projects, it’s a good idea to construct a temporary retaining wall. But that’s not always possible, depending on the project and the root system. In these cases, consider using alternative equipment like an auger to tunnel under the ground.

Remember, tree roots can damage nearby cement foundations as they grow. If a tree is close enough to interfere with large excavations, it may be better to remove the tree than risk future problems.