On Fri, 12 Jul 2013 06:56:48 -0400, Cheryl Isaak
wrote:

Okay - this is truly a mystery. There are a series of root that run what
seems to be the length of my long garden bed (very close the entire 100+
feet of my driveway) Usual depth is about 6 inches, few have been
deeper, less often shallower

Each time I find another, it's another fresh hell. They're usually about
1/2 inch in diameter, but yesterday's approaches one full inch. Roots of
garden plants I'm trying to divide grow down on either side of this
tough root resulting in very sore muscles.

Near the top of the bed is a Manchurian Crabapple with oaks, pines and
maples at the very top (typical New England woods). At the bottom of the
drive are my snowball viburnum, a clethra (sweet spire - native shrub)
and my neighbors ornamental evergreens.

The driveway goes downhill over its length (top being the house etc)
maybe 15 degrees. The base tends to stay damp unless there is a drought.

OKay I'm in southern NH and this root wasn't there went I built the bed
20 years ago. I want to do a serious overhaul of the whole thing, but
this root is making this old lady achy.

At only 6" deep it shouldn't be much of a job to follow the root back
to its source... you can lop it off at the edge of the woods but
depending on circumstances I'd be more apt to remove such a plant. New
England woods are rife with wild grape vines... from my own experience
with removal I'd bet that's what you're dealing with... search further
into the woods than you might think, the mommy vine can be a good
100'+ into the woods and a good 3"+ in diameter. Wild grapevines are
very good at hiding along forest floors and up against tree trunks and
don't need a lot of foliage to thrive. Wild grapes are very difficult
to get rid of, If your planting beds are relatively close to the
woods odds are you will never totally eliminate wild grape vines. Be
persistant and good luck.
http://gardening.stackexchange.com/q...ld-grape-vines