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

[John K Jordan]

Cutter mattock

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

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-...+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-RP125-1...vw_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-...D4G8V60K79VX0W

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.