Keeping tree roots out of land drains

Winklepicker

Member

Livestock Farmer

• Oct 14, 2023

• #1

I’ve got one field which is next to a plantation of Poplar trees, every 5 or so years the bottom of the field becomes a boggy mess and when we dig up the drains they are packed with tree roots.
Short of felling the Poplar plantation or putting the bottom of field into stewardship (both not possible), are there any methods or products we can use to stop (or at least slow down) the roots getting into the drains?

 

quattro

Member

Location

scotland

• Oct 14, 2023

• #2

I once put a hessian sack of road salt on top of the pipe before it went through the willow trees not blocked since
quite a while ago I’d forgotten about it

 

Kidds

Member

Horticulture

Location

Near Beeston Castle

• Oct 14, 2023

• #3

Old way was to soak hessian in creosote and pull through pipe.

 

Courier

Member

Location

M62 - M1 - M18 triangle

• Oct 14, 2023

• #4

A 6 metre deep steel sheet pile along and beyond the poplar plantation might slow the roots down a bit if removing the trees back to 20 metres is not an option

 

Highland Mule

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Scottish Highlands

• Oct 14, 2023

• #5

Solid pipe for the drain all through the root area.

 

Matt L

Member

Trade

Location

Suffolk

• Oct 14, 2023

• #6

Non perforated pipe in the area.
start and end well away from the trees to ensure no roots get in.
if twinwall then use non perforated and fit the rubber seals to the collars too.
have also wrapped pipe with terram in a few layers which seems to slow it down too.