Could Tree Roots Possibly Harm Sidewalks, Foundations and Plumbing?
Tree roots have been wrongfully accused of many misdeeds, from lifting sidewalks to infiltrating sewage systems. We discover the facts and dig deeper: is there something else behind these problems? Join us as we explore this issue further and get down to the root cause…
Suspect Identified: Tree Roots – Unbelievably, tree roots have been discovered in an unexpected place. We know that the role of a root system is to provide sustenance, water supply and air flow for any plant – including trees! In addition to this, they also ensure stability during high winds or tumultuous weather conditions.
Location: Your Yard – Generally speaking, most tree roots aren’t deeper than 8-12 inches down into the soil. Although you may have heard rumors about these taproots extending out as far across as its vertical growth above ground…the reality tends to be three times wider than it is tall!
1 – The First Victim of our infrastructure are the subterranean pipes and sewer systems.
Issue: Tree roots have been known to infiltrate the underground pipes, resulting in extensive blockages and clogged drains.
Defense: It is important to assess why this might be happening; perhaps these passages were already compromised due to aging or soil movement? The junctures of pipelines are particularly prone to breakage.
Solution: Removing the offending tree root system is an immediate necessity – draining systems must be cleared mechanically on a regular basis for prevention purposes. Alternatively, chemical foam treatments can help combat such issues as well as completely replacing damaged piping if needed.
2 – Sidewalks, Driveways, And Roadways
When sidewalks buckle, roadways crack and driveways lift, it is often due to the root system of a nearby tree. For instance, if someone plants an expansive Live Oak in too small of a space – such as between a sidewalk and street curb – its roots will not have room to properly expand. To avoid this problem from arising again in your community, you should plant trees or shrubs with reduced root zones near walkways and roads; make sure there is at least four feet (or 15 for live oaks) between the pavement and tree; or use some kind of barrier that prevents roots from growing underneath sidewalks/roadway surfaces.
If the tree is well-established, you can opt for solutions such as redirecting the sidewalk around it so its roots have sufficient space to develop or constructing a bridge above them. This latter option is quite common in national parks. An additional choice includes using an air spade to take away some of the soil beneath its roots and making more room; this would necessitate replacing your existing path with one that follows a winding pattern for best results.
Pruning away intrusive roots can be a viable option, but it should only be done with extreme caution as the tree’s stability relies on its root system. If pruned back too much or incorrectly, the tree may topple over in high wind situations and ultimately die; therefore, this job is best left to an experienced Certified Arborist.
If you’re planning to pave a driveway, think twice before doing so if there are trees involved. Paving over the roots can be disastrous and lead to certain death of your tree – it’s like suffocating them! However, if you must have that driveway in place, opt for pavers as they provide greater flexibility when laid out around a tree while still ensuring enough oxygen and water gets through to its roots. Or better yet: wind the path away from any trees at all similar to meandering sidewalks – this way both your treescape is preserved and you get an aesthetically pleasing result!
3 – Building Foundations
The evidence against the root suspects is clear; their malicious entry into the foundation of a house through cracks resulted in devastating damage to its structure. They must be held accountable for their actions that have caused irreparable destruction.
Defense: It’s uncommon for roots to be the original source of this problem, but they can certainly contribute and bring attention to it. Much like plumbing, when there is an opening then that’s where roots will go due to taking the path with least resistance. If tree root are found in a foundation then perhaps there was recent drought in that area since foundations tend to become unstable when large amounts of moisture has been removed from its soil. Furthermore, keep in mind that normally tree roots remain close near the topsoil as trees require water for survival purposes so their absorption rate tends take away more moisture than other objects on land.
Tree roots can wreak havoc on concrete slab foundations as they seek out water and cause the soil underneath to slump. This leaves the foundation vulnerable to cracking due to a lack of necessary soil pressure.
To avoid this issue, it is best to practice preventive measures. Trees should be planted at least 20 feet away from a building. If you have an existing mature tree in close proximity of your home, ensure that the soil remains moist by providing regular water so that the tree does not look for hydration wherever else it can find it.
Before you go ahead and blame the tree, it’s important to consider that other factors such as gardens, poor insulation in basements or drainage pipes may be causing the dry soil. It is therefore imperative to evaluate how these components are functioning properly before making any hasty decisions about removing trees. A root barrier might also solve this problem without requiring a full-on removal of your tree. Remember: just because a failing foundation is located near a nearby tree doesn’t automatically imply that its roots are responsible for damages!
4 – Anyone Who Has Tripped Over Exposed Tree Roots
Problem: Tree roots are being accused of maliciously obstructing pedestrians, and in some cases, causing them to stumble with their protruding surface.
Defending exposed roots, the culprit is often soil erosion or frost heaving. As roots quickly expand in the top few inches of any given soil type, this occurrence happens far too frequently for comfort.
The solution? Leave the exposed roots untouched and refrain from covering them with more than three inches of soil. Cutting the roots might be detrimental to the tree’s health, while smothering it in too much dirt can deprive it of oxygen.
When dealing with exposed roots, mulching is always the most suitable option. To ensure optimal protection of your tree’s root system, make sure to apply a 3” layer of compost or wood chips evenly around the base and keep it away from the trunk. This prevents “mulch volcanoes” from forming which can lead to serious damage in extreme temperatures. In addition to preserving moisture levels in soil and avoiding erosion, mulchin also helps protect against further frost damage by providing insulation for your plant’s vulnerable roots.
Now that we’ve presented the facts, it’s your turn to make a judgement call. Could trees be responsible for these alleged transgressions? Should they face execution or removal from our landscapes as a result? The choice is yours; with today’s evidence, we hope that you can effectively identify true culprits and not falsely accuse innocent trees! Thanks for reading and if you need tree service in Clarence, give us a call!
