best tool for cutting tree root

[Clarence Martin]

Had to pull up a 2 x3 concrete paver. My God, thing is HEAVY !!! Well, I dug out some of the dirt it was resting on, and leveled it off so that it was not up 1 solid Inch on the end of the Paver. Noticed a tree root from the old Pine tree that is next to the Paver that runs right underneath in the middle where the Paver sets. So, I chopped some it away and set the paver back down. Sits level with the other pavers, but when I walk on it , it rocks up about a quarter of a inch. Not much, but noticeable.


Should I pull that paver back up and chop that root out ? Is a Tiger Saw going to be able to cut through that root AND the dirt around that root ?

[Charles Wiggins]

Cutter mattock (https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_3_9?url=search-alias%3Dtools&field-keywords=cutter+mattock&sprefix=cutter+ma%2Clawngarden%2C122&crid=2FEQSIGS2YDSR)

[John K Jordan]

Cutter mattock (https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_3_9?url=search-alias%3Dtools&field-keywords=cutter+mattock&sprefix=cutter+ma%2Clawngarden%2C122&crid=2FEQSIGS2YDSR)

That's exactly what I used, plus a good axe, to cut the huge roots on a big cherry near a gas line. (I wanted to dig the stump out with the backhoe but didn't want to put any stress on the gas line.)

Also, I haven't used one but one guy told me he uses a chainsaw with carbide teeth to cut roots in the dirt.

I would definitely cut the root back as far as I could then fill and tamp firmly. I like to tamp with a fence post tamper (spud bar).

JKJ

[Walter Plummer]

I have had good luck cutting roots with the tiger saw and a pruning blade. The blade looks like bucksaw, very coarse teeth. It also is great for lumber without nails in it.

[bill kaminski]

I use my Saw-zall with a very aggressive blade.

[Matt Day]

Sawzall works good.

But if it's level with the other pavers I'd guess there's a low spot and you could simply add some fill underneath compact it?

[Ed Labadie]

Sawzall with an agressive carbide blade.

Ed

[daryl moses]

Cutter mattock (https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_3_9?url=search-alias%3Dtools&field-keywords=cutter+mattock&sprefix=cutter+ma%2Clawngarden%2C122&crid=2FEQSIGS2YDSR)
Yup, has always worked for me!!

[Pat Barry]

Sawzall for me too.

[Chris Fairbanks]

I find the various green wood sawzall blades to be the best to cut trees and roots. Check out https://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-48-00-1303-Sawzall-12-Inch-Length/dp/B0009H5DV0/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1498192931&sr=1-1&keywords=Green+wood+blade+sawzall

edit... just looked at the reviews and it sounds like the seller above I posted is swapping the blades for ones not as good. I bought that exact one a few years back and they were great so not sure what's up now. Someone said to checkout the Bosch ones instead. https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-RP125-12-Inch-5-TPI-Wood-Cutting-reciprocating-Saw-Blades-5-Pack/dp/B000FAPPAA/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8

[Kyle Iwamoto]

I agree with a sawzall and a pruning blade. You probably won't care about rocks and dirt. The blades are cheap. If you have a carbide, that works, as well as those demo blades. The pruning blade is way faster.

[Andrew Pitonyak]

Tiger saw. I plunge the blade into the dirt and then cut through the root. Does a great job of that, removed some very hefty roots that way.

[Matthew Hutchinson477]

A good, sturdy backhoe would probably do the trick.

Oh, wait, you probably want something reasonable to get ahold of, right? I usually just use an old beater axe that I keep for the purpose. Don't go tearing up a nice axe on a root!

[Ole Anderson]

Looks like the Sawzall with an aggressive blade is the winner, have to try that next time. I have poured concrete decorative curb as tree circles, the roots keep pushing them up, so about every year I have one that needs attention. In the past I just use an axe, or on big roots, my little Stihl 018 chainsaw after knocking the dirt of the root. I am going to order a three pack of PC 9" pruning blades for $9 on Amazon and give them a try. https://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-PC760R-9-Inch-Pruning-Reciprocating/dp/B005DYMRA4/ref=pd_sim_469_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B005DYMRA4&pd_rd_r=1JF8G0D4G8V60K79VX0W&pd_rd_w=9TZPc&pd_rd_wg=1NYal&psc=1&refRID=1JF8G0D4G8V60K79VX0W

That is to go with my 3 chain saws, a Corona hand pruning saw (I even keep a folding one in my RV), various loppers, pruning shears, axe, heavy mattock style pick and my pole saw.

[Floyd Mah]

An easy way to waste a lot of wood in a limited space is with a wood boring drill bit (spade or auger bit) on a 1/2" drill. You can finish off with a chisel. I did this years ago for a root that intruded into my drainage system (causing a flood in my garage). An alternative to the Sawzall if you don't have one.

[John K Jordan]

That is to go with my 3 chain saws, a Corona hand pruning saw (I even keep a folding one in my RV), various loppers, pruning shears, axe, heavy mattock style pick and my pole saw.

If you have a saw fetish (like me), take a look at the Silky Zubat. For farm use here I've bought and tried at least a dozen hand saws for tree and limb use. My hands-down favorite is the Silky Zubat. The Coronas are fine (and inexpensive) but the Silky is what I reach for and keep handy in my little 4WD farm truck. I bought it long ago after reading comments on forums where arborists hang out.

There are plenty of reviews and info on the web, for example: http://www.wesspur.com/info/silky-tree-saws.html

BTW, Bailey's Online is my go-to place for tree cutting/trimming stuff: http://www.baileysonline.com/Arborist-Tree-Care/

JKJ

[Art Mann]

This is probably not applicable but I will share it anyway. I recently rented a big stump grinder to get rid of about 10 stumps on my property. It will work on roots but is probably overkill in this case. The machine I got was a Toro STX-38 and it was awesome. I rented the machine for the weekend because I have a lot of big stumps and they needed to be ground at least 6 inches below grade. As it turned out, I was done before 2 o'clock on the first day. The machine was easy to use and I recommend it highly.