strange roots
By Zone6
MI,
United States 
I am clearing out a small woodland area for new plantings and have run into a strange tenacious root system wherever I put my shovel. There are some jack pines, and a scrub maple nearby. The roots are fibrous, orange, about as thick as my finger, run just under the surface of the soil and as deep as I can dig. It's like a giant web of roots covering this little woodland area. What the heck is it? And can I actually plant anything here? I am in west michigan - actually zone 6 b/c I am along the lakeshore. My soil is loose and sandy. Any ideas?
26 May, 2008
Answers
Bonkersbon is probably correct and these are pines, BUT check the trees and ground nearby for vines. Poison ivy love these areas and have prodigious root systems.
28 May, 2008
Hi athough in UK we have large areas (well ok large for us - tiny by your standards) Of pine woodlands.These roots you describe are almost certainly from pine trees.A walk in the woods will show you that little grows under them.Have you considered growing things in pots/containers as your whole garden seems covered in these roots?
27 May, 2008