Dear Sandy O. Since I'm on the gardening track this morning I want to give you the gardener's point of vieuw.
As for pulling plants out by the root, pulling any plant out by the top is NO GOOD. To make sure you have the whole root system out you got to take a spade; dig under the estimated root mass and heave the whole plant out of the earth.
1)To make sure you got all the roots out.
2)To keep the roots undamaged; you might want to replant.
Most roots do not come willingly 'along for the ride'.

I agree the expression is ambiguous. Better maybe to say: 'Take out by the roots'.
(not in their best interest)

Last edited by BranShea; 04/25/2008 9:27 AM.