Can I get rid of tree roots without killing the tree?

You could have a safety issue if you damage the tree's rooting system. The next high wind will tell.

Root pruning is an acceptable practice especially in the transplantation of large specimen trees, but the trees are often anchored into their new site.

From personal experience... I've discovered that cutting maple roots means that the tree topples.

I've always read that covering those tree roots with soil smothers the tree... so... as great as that sounds... don't do it.

Where I've had the most success... is covering the area with mulch... Or... even better... allowing the tree to cover those roots with it's own leaves!

There are tons of plants that can be planted in the resulting shade garden...

Here's a tiny shade garden in a tiny front yard...

http://www.stonethegardener.com/wp/2011/12/gimme-s...

I know a guy who had trees in his lawn with roots that his mower's blade would hit. He used a come-along hooked to the overhead larger limbs of these trees to pull the surface roots up so he could hack them out. The trees were silver maples, so they had plenty of roots and if they died it would be no great loss.

I have tried the copper nails with no success. The tree is still there years later, mocking me.

If you change the grade around a tree you want to add about an inch a year inside the trees drip-line.

Sugar maples have a dense shade grass fails to thrive under.

You can get rid of a Few... -But those Roots are NOT what's keeping the Grass from Growing !-It's the Shade from that Tree !! :( Rather than going through all the Trouble of hacking out those roots ( & potentially Undermining the Tree ), why not just make a large Circular "Well" around the Trunk of that Tree; fill it In with a little extra Dirt, & plant Flowers around it ?! That'll look Nice; be less Hassle,

and keep the tree happy ! :)

A tree's root is the same as the foot at the end of your leg; remove a toe and YES the leg is effected. Without tree roots - the tree has no way to obtain nutrition and be healthy.

If it's just a couple, smaller roots, than fine. If you're talking major supporting roots, then yes, you will harm the tree.

raise the soil to the top of the roots..grass doesn't really grow under mature trees.

If you do not cut a lots of the roots and all the way up to the trunc than it will be ok.

Bring in soil and cover them with grass after.

Yep, just go get some COPPER NAILS ,prob solved :)...