Potassium Nitrate is really kind of like a salt.

Oct 13, Digging Out Tree Roots To dig out the roots, you’ll need a few supplies: a spade, loppers, grub hoe, and possibly a root saw. First, call the utility company to make sure you aren’t digging around water, sewer or other underground lines. Using your spade, you’ll want to dig out the soil that surrounds the roots to expose shrubpruning.barted Reading Time: 7 mins.

Measure the diameter of your tree. Wrap a measuring tape around the tree, four feet from the tree’s base. For young trees, multiply the tree’s diameter by 3. For mature trees, multiply the diameter by 5. That number will help you determine a safe place to start digging.