I recently had a large tree removed. It was quite close to my house. When they removed it, I'm glad that the tree professionals did NOT go straight for the root immediately. Had they chosen that method, the tree would have fallen on my or a neighbor's house.

They carefully dismantled the tree branch by branch, lowering each to the ground. Then, they cut the trunk into large discs, and finally, they ground the stump to the rotten roots. 

It's a true story, and also an allegory.