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womanonamission

07:40PM | 04/10/01
Member Since: 01/20/99
23 lifetime posts
Bvlawn

Roots in future bed

Tags: Lawn & Garden
I would like to plant a bed in area where the gas line is present. Unfortunately, there are many, many roots present from dead vines and hollies. I would like to rototill the area but I'm afraid I might hit the gas line. Does anyone have any suggestions. I tried hand digging and this was just too difficult as the roots are an inch or more in diameter and I can't tell where they are located.

Thanks for any replies.

BobF

03:25AM | 04/11/01
Member Since: 10/19/98
223 lifetime posts
Call the gas company and ask them. Where I live, the utilities are usually 3 feet deep. The exception may be the phone and cable. They may only be 18" - 2 ft down. My guess is that the gas line is pretty deep.

As for the roots - a hand tiller would be worse than digging by hand. Your best bet is a pick-axe which has a pick on one side of the head and a chopping blade on the other. That chopping blade will cut thru the roots. DO NOT USE A REGULAR AXE!!!

rpxlpx

05:49AM | 04/11/01
Member Since: 03/13/00
1675 lifetime posts
Some places provide a free service to mark for you the location of underground utilities. Once the location is clearly marked, you can be very careful in that spot and go wild on the rest. Your gas co. or any local utility should be able to advise you who will do this for free.

KosmicCarp

10:52AM | 04/11/01
Member Since: 03/27/01
11 lifetime posts
Could you use Round-Up to kill everything off first?

BobF

03:16AM | 04/12/01
Member Since: 10/19/98
223 lifetime posts
RoundUp will kill the plants, but the roots will still be a problem. The best way is to chop them up. I've done this and it goes fast considering the density of the roots.

womanonamission

03:53AM | 04/16/01
Member Since: 01/20/99
23 lifetime posts
Thanks for the info. I did have the utility companies mark the location, but they did not give me a depth. However, I will call to see just how deep they may be. The tip on the axe is a good one. I will check out the local homestore to purchase.
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