# Fighting an invasive maple tree **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 13, 2025, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941 "2025-10-13T18:59:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/1 "2025-10-13T18:59:21Z")
Our neighbor’s maple tree keeps sending runners under our fence and I’m tired of fighting it. I’m not interested in killing their tree, but I want to cauterize(?) these runners so they stop sprouting on my side. I’ve heard that I could pile rock salt around the cut. Would that really work or is there some chemical I should be using? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/2 "2025-10-13T19:10:56Z")
How deep do the runners go? Would it be possible to dig down and install a metal or concrete “wall” under the ground, to turn the runners aside? I’m afraid anything chemical you do the tree roots, including salting them, could cause the roots to decay and become vectors for disease, which would in fact destroy the tree eventually. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/3 "2025-10-13T19:20:07Z")
How old/mature is the tree? If it’s relatively young/small, change your watering pattern on your side of the fence nearest the tree. The roots are seeking water, and if your watering pattern is shallow, as if for a lawn, you may have to let that lawn die a little, because the near constant presence of water in the top few inches of soil will encourage the roots to stay there. Either stop watering completely, or water deeply but infrequently. That will get the roots to go down deeper. You want the top foot or so to get VERY dry between waterings, so depending on your climate and soil conditions, that could literally be months between waterings. Once the roots are deeper, you can replant the surface vegetation, but it may take a couple of years or more. Salting the soil will only poison it for just about anything you might want to grow there for a very long time. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/4 "2025-10-13T21:45:53Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > How deep do the runners go? Would it be possible to dig down and install a metal or concrete “wall” under the ground, to turn the runners aside? I like this idea. I have more landscaping rock than I can use so building yet another rock wall aint no thing. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/5 "2025-10-13T21:56:34Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > building yet another rock wall aint no thing. Prepare to dig down a lot to bury the base of your wall. And mortar that wall, too, because if you’re just piling rocks, the roots will find a way through. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/6 "2025-10-13T22:02:12Z")
Great idea. I have some spare quikcrete. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/7 "2025-10-14T05:14:21Z")
There are heavy duty plastic sheets sold in rolls of different sizes for use as tree root and running bamboo barriers. > **[Amazon.com : 15ft x 18in x 60mil-Tree Root Barrier Bamboo Barrier Rhizome...](https://www.amazon.com/60mil-Tree-Barrier-Rhizome-Landscaping-Protection/dp/B0DQFWBJV1)** > > Root Barrier - The ultimate solution for controlling root growth and protecting your landscape. Perfect for landscape edges, lawn edges, and garden borders, protect your garden or path. Material: High-Density Polyethylene Thickness: 60 mils Color:... You could dig a trench along where the roots/root sprouts are coming into the yard, install the barrier and fill in with soil. Probably less work and maybe more effective than building a wall. Depending on how well you get along with the neighbor they might be willing to pay for part of the cost of the project. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/8 "2025-10-14T14:00:46Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Depending on how well you get along with the neighbor they might be willing to pay for part of the cost of the project. These are the neighbors that called 911 on us because our dachshund would look at them. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/9 "2025-10-14T14:08:47Z")
I use a less-deep product like that to control grass (it works) and lily of the valley (it slows them a little, but i still need to dig out runners every spring). My guess is you need more than 18"for tree roots, but I’ve never attempted to control an errant maple. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/10 "2025-10-14T14:18:31Z")
FWIW, a 24” root barrier panel is what I most often see in commercial landscape application. I’ve never gone out ten years later to look at it but the landscape architect Powers That Be usually settle on 24” depth. ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/11 "2025-10-14T14:56:58Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > These are the neighbors that called 911 on us because our dachshund would look at them. My sympathies. It sounds like you have worse problems than maple roots! ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/12 "2025-10-14T16:19:38Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > These are the neighbors that called 911 on us because our dachshund would look at them. It sounds like what you really need to do is build a platform high enough on your side of the fence so your dachshund can look at them in their yard any time he wants. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/13 "2025-10-14T16:39:40Z")
He passed away. He used to lay on his couch in his house and look at them through his window. They called the cops out via 911 because of his history of intimidating them this way. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/14 "2025-10-14T16:55:19Z")
Your dog intimidated the neighbors by looking at them through the window? That’s really bizarre. (Of your neighbors, not the dog. The dog sounds like a dog.) Fwiw, i spent two weeks canvassing a year ago, and a large fraction of the homes i approached had dogs, many of whom not only looked at me but barked aggressively at me. I told them all they were good dogs, who were protecting their homes. Then i left literature. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/15 "2025-10-14T16:56:06Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Your dog intimidated the neighbors by looking at them through the window? He was a dachshund. They can be angry old men when they want. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/16 "2025-10-14T16:57:56Z")
I don’t care how angry they are, they aren’t very scary when I’m outside and they are locked inside their home ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/17 "2025-10-14T17:27:48Z")
The first 4 times I read that, “he” was your neighbor, not your dog. Eventually @puzzlegal’s explanation punctured my initial confusion. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/18 "2025-10-15T01:24:33Z")
Am I a bad person for wanting to tap that maple root and get free maple syrup? (I don’t know if this is feasible!) ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/19 "2025-10-15T01:46:25Z")
Not feasible. It’s the trunk that needs to be tapped, not the root, and an average sugar maple might produce 10 gallons of sap. I’ve spent many late winters/early springs in Upstate NY and seen maple syrup demonstrations. > **[How Much Sap Can One Tree Produce?](https://nysmaple.com/how-much-sap-can-one-tree-produce/)** > > Well, that will depend on a few things, including weather conditions and the size, age and health of the tree. 10 gallons of sap would need to be boiled down for many hours to make a quart or less of syrup. > **[Small Batch Maple Syrup in Your Home Kitchen — A Practical Guide to Reducing...](https://thisinspired.life/small-batch-maple-syrup-making-guide/)** > > Learn the best, most energy-efficient way to make small batch maple syrup in your kitchen. Crock-Pot? Instant Pot? Stove? Recommendations, tips and tricks for the home hobbyist. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2025, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941/20 "2025-10-15T01:57:34Z")
Even worse, not all maple trees are _sugar_ maple trees. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-an-invasive-maple-tree/1023941.md?page=2)