[sion01]

For the last six months I have been trying to cultivate an area where my chickens were kept for about three years.It is a nightmare as the area is surrounded by a big ash trees a couple of plum trees and a buddlea.I know remember why I put chickens there in the first place.The roots of he trees and shrubs are a thick carpet a couple of inches below the soil surface and after many hours of sweat and tears(no blood so far) I have decided that a raised bed is the only option.
I am concerned that the roots of the buddlea and the ash will sucker up into the raised bed.
Should I put some sort of barrier to stop this happening and if so what.Any advice would be greatly recieved.

[mickeyboy]

i know of very little to stop vigiourous roots, polythene would probably be best as this has a little more plyability. I once done a job reparing a swimming pool and the roots of many various trees had pretty much ruined it!! they managed to penetrate 3 ft of concrete.. Do what i did hire a JCB and get digging at those roots they will forever be causing you a problem..

[sion01]

Thank you for the reply I was afraid somebody would say that.

[mumofstig]

The first year that I dug the ground under where the beds are...I cut away all the very big roots from the cherry tree and removed all the fibrous roots. I then made the wooden edges and added a lot of compost. Job done i thought .......but not
Now every spring I have to deep dig again as the fibrous roots grow back each year, which means you are forever watering if the summer is warm. But I do get worth while crops.
I keep meaning to dig all the soil out to a good depth and use pond lining (with the odd drainage split?) but the strong stuff is quite expensive and it would be a lot of work

[mickeyboy]

The first year that I dug the ground under where the beds are...I cut away all the very big roots from the cherry tree and removed all the fibrous roots. I then made the wooden edges and added a lot of compost. Job done i thought .......but not
Now every spring I have to deep dig again as the fibrous roots grow back each year, which means you are forever watering if the summer is warm. But I do get worth while crops.
I keep meaning to dig all the soil out to a good depth and use pond lining (with the odd drainage split?) but the strong stuff is quite expensive and it would be a lot of work

If you can get hold of some black damp proof membrame its alot cheaper and very strong

[bigben]

What about buried overlapping roofing slates if you can get your hands on them. You could use them as well as the membrane to give a bit more protection.

[madcat]

You could decide you were right in the first place and just put the chickens back?   

[sion01]

Good Idea I think the chickens are going back.