I'm starting a new topic on this since its a new subject. I am the recipient of a 4 x 10 x 12 bed of good topsoil from under a tall, old spruce or cedar tree but it is full of small (and occasionally the missed large ones) clumps of roots. Some are hairlike and others are a little larger. I am not sure if they are dead or not but the tree apparently is and has been dying for a couple of years. There was just no way to remove all the roots without LOTS of tedious work. I assume they will decompose into the soil and not cause any problems. I've wondered about this for a while. What is the affect of having roots in your vegetable garden soil?