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#1
Posted to alt.home.lawn.garden,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers.frugal-living
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Tree Root Problem
I've got tree roots from a maple tree growing dangerously close to a
concrete slab and was hoping someone might have an effective way of dealing with an issue like this short of swinging the axe. Chainsaws and grinders in my experience haven't been too effective. The link below shows the problem and thanks very much for any ideas. http://home.nctv.com/ajns/roots.jpg Chris |
#2
Posted to alt.home.lawn.garden,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers.frugal-living
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Tree Root Problem
I've got tree roots from a maple tree growing dangerously close to a
concrete slab and was hoping someone might have an effective way of dealing with an issue like this short of swinging the axe. Chainsaws and grinders in my experience haven't been too effective. The link below shows the problem and thanks very much for any ideas. http://home.nctv.com/ajns/roots.jpg Go to a local metal shop and order some plate aluminum or stainless steel. Make it 12" "deep" by around 3-4' long and manually insert them right up against the concrete and even with the top of the dirt. Roots can't get past solid metal. Not really frugal cost-wise if you're not a long term resident, but just about permanent. I have one of these at my home now if you want me to shoot a photo... Joe in Northern, NJ - V#8013-R Currently Riding The "Mother Ship" Ride a motorcycle in or near NJ? http://tinyurl.com/5apkg http://www.youthelate.com |
#3
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Tree Root Problem
Joe skrev: Go to a local metal shop and order some plate aluminum or stainless steel. You don't need metal plates. Fabric root barrier is used now to prevent roots from growing under sidewalks but the problem I see is installing either. Here's one: http://www.geo-synthetics.com/Biobar...ot_Fabrics.asp |
#4
Posted to alt.home.lawn.garden,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers.frugal-living
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Tree Root Problem
"Joe" wrote in message news:1zsDg.3225$5M.1851@trnddc02... I've got tree roots from a maple tree growing dangerously close to a concrete slab and was hoping someone might have an effective way of dealing with an issue like this short of swinging the axe. Chainsaws and grinders in my experience haven't been too effective. The link below shows the problem and thanks very much for any ideas. http://home.nctv.com/ajns/roots.jpg Go to a local metal shop and order some plate aluminum or stainless steel. Make it 12" "deep" by around 3-4' long and manually insert them right up against the concrete and even with the top of the dirt. Roots can't get past solid metal. Years ago I heard that plants can't stand copper. If that's true, maybe some copper tubes strategically placed will turn the roots away from the slab. Does anyone know if this really works? Paul |
#5
Posted to alt.home.lawn.garden,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers.frugal-living
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Tree Root Problem
All of the above solutions were considered, and are good, but in my
similiar situation, I choose to redo the patio because it was also the finished edge of a new addition to the house. I dug a 12" wide by 15" concrete footing trench along the perimeter of the patio, included rebar, and I placed foam board in the trench for a vapor seal along the face, prior to pouring in the concrete. Tree roots seek out water, and won't penetrate surfaces where there is none. For this work you'll have to cut tree roots, which may not be so bad because it appears that the surface roots you have may be seeking after shallow irrigation water. I'd irrigate infrequently, but when you do deep water the tree roots to keep them in the ground. Pavel314 wrote: "Joe" wrote in message news:1zsDg.3225$5M.1851@trnddc02... I've got tree roots from a maple tree growing dangerously close to a concrete slab and was hoping someone might have an effective way of dealing with an issue like this short of swinging the axe. Chainsaws and grinders in my experience haven't been too effective. The link below shows the problem and thanks very much for any ideas. http://home.nctv.com/ajns/roots.jpg Go to a local metal shop and order some plate aluminum or stainless steel. Make it 12" "deep" by around 3-4' long and manually insert them right up against the concrete and even with the top of the dirt. Roots can't get past solid metal. Years ago I heard that plants can't stand copper. If that's true, maybe some copper tubes strategically placed will turn the roots away from the slab. Does anyone know if this really works? Paul |
#6
Posted to alt.home.lawn.garden,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers.frugal-living
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Tree Root Problem
"Pavel314" wrote in
: "Joe" wrote in message news:1zsDg.3225$5M.1851@trnddc02... I've got tree roots from a maple tree growing dangerously close to a concrete slab and was hoping someone might have an effective way of dealing with an issue like this short of swinging the axe. Chainsaws and grinders in my experience haven't been too effective. The link below shows the problem and thanks very much for any ideas. http://home.nctv.com/ajns/roots.jpg Go to a local metal shop and order some plate aluminum or stainless steel. Make it 12" "deep" by around 3-4' long and manually insert them right up against the concrete and even with the top of the dirt. Roots can't get past solid metal. Years ago I heard that plants can't stand copper. If that's true, maybe some copper tubes strategically placed will turn the roots away from the slab. Does anyone know if this really works? Paul Well, alge is a plant right? Here's one case where you kill a plant with copper. The dark/black alge that grows on roof shingles in more humid areas. http://www.askthebuilder.com/printer...ingles .shtml |
#7
Posted to alt.home.lawn.garden,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers.frugal-living
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Tree Root Problem
Root Kill for treating roots in sewer drains is a copper compound. I
used that brand name product for several years semi-annually instead of calling roto rooter. On Sat, 12 Aug 2006 19:27:07 -0400, "Pavel314" wrote: "Joe" wrote in message news:1zsDg.3225$5M.1851@trnddc02... I've got tree roots from a maple tree growing dangerously close to a concrete slab and was hoping someone might have an effective way of dealing with an issue like this short of swinging the axe. Chainsaws and grinders in my experience haven't been too effective. The link below shows the problem and thanks very much for any ideas. http://home.nctv.com/ajns/roots.jpg Go to a local metal shop and order some plate aluminum or stainless steel. Make it 12" "deep" by around 3-4' long and manually insert them right up against the concrete and even with the top of the dirt. Roots can't get past solid metal. Years ago I heard that plants can't stand copper. If that's true, maybe some copper tubes strategically placed will turn the roots away from the slab. Does anyone know if this really works? Paul |
#8
Posted to alt.home.lawn.garden,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers.frugal-living
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Tree Root Problem
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#9
Posted to alt.home.lawn.garden,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers.frugal-living
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Tree Root Problem
Our softener used salt and the slurry discharged in the main line
didn't stop the roots. Root Kill package was about $5.00 and would be used in about 1.5 years. I didn't consider it pricey. On 13 Aug 2006 06:47:34 -0700, " wrote: wrote: Root Kill for treating roots in sewer drains is a copper compound. I used that brand name product for several years semi-annually instead of calling roto rooter. Rock salt down the sewer is just as effective at a fraction of the price, works great as long as your underground piping isnt steel, which very few are. Most bad lines are terracotta pipe, the trees love all those joints |
#10
Posted to alt.home.lawn.garden,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers.frugal-living
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Tree Root Problem
I seem to be having a problem posting so if this is posted with my
other post sorry but I don think the first one went through. You know chris this is probably the number 1 reason we are called out for diveway bids and the fact of the matter is that the fix is very simply and only needs to be done once a year. Go purchase what is called a straight edge spade, or long spade picture if you will a flat shovel that is about 7-8" wide by maybe 13-15" long with a short handle. Simply run this along the edge of the slab atleast halfway down more if you can and this cuts off any feeler roots that are heading twards trouble..once a year is all you need to do it .....If you already have larger roots you really have no choice but to dig next to the slab and but them off after doing this do what I have explained above. We have replaced dozens and dozens of driveways that have been raised up by roots and we allways cut the roots from 6-12" back from the slab and instruct the customer as I have above...havent had a call back yet if you have any doubts talk to a arborist about root growth patterns and he will tell you this is an effective controll.. cover wrote: I've got tree roots from a maple tree growing dangerously close to a concrete slab and was hoping someone might have an effective way of dealing with an issue like this short of swinging the axe. Chainsaws and grinders in my experience haven't been too effective. The link below shows the problem and thanks very much for any ideas. http://home.nctv.com/ajns/roots.jpg Chris |
#11
Posted to alt.home.lawn.garden,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers.frugal-living
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Tree Root Problem
cover wrote in
: dangerously close dangerously close? Those look like fairly mature roots, many, right at the edge. The part of each of those roots that thins to needle size is well under the slab already is my guess. |
#12
Posted to alt.home.lawn.garden,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers.frugal-living
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Tree Root Problem
"cover" wrote in message
... I've got tree roots from a maple tree growing dangerously close to a concrete slab and was hoping someone might have an effective way of dealing with an issue like this short of swinging the axe. Chainsaws and grinders in my experience haven't been too effective. The link below shows the problem and thanks very much for any ideas. http://home.nctv.com/ajns/roots.jpg Chris Have you considered using a trench digger for burying cables? A trench digger can make a trench about 3 inches wide and 12 to 18 inches deep quite easily. Put whatever barrier you want in there and back fill. |
#13
Posted to alt.home.lawn.garden,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers.frugal-living
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Tree Root Problem
Ron P wrote: "cover" wrote in message ... I've got tree roots from a maple tree growing dangerously close to a concrete slab and was hoping someone might have an effective way of dealing with an issue like this short of swinging the axe. Chainsaws and grinders in my experience haven't been too effective. The link below shows the problem and thanks very much for any ideas. http://home.nctv.com/ajns/roots.jpg Chris Have you considered using a trench digger for burying cables? A trench digger can make a trench about 3 inches wide and 12 to 18 inches deep quite easily. Put whatever barrier you want in there and back fill. Here we have the classic example of a common problem with certain trees that have surface roots. The roots take up moisture and nutrients that prevent grass or other plants from growing. And they are more likely to cause problems with sidewalks than other trees that have deeper roots. Norway maples are well known for this problem. From the pic, it looks like the roots are already under the slab. It's also unclear how far from the tree trunk the slab is. Obviously, the farther away, the better the chance of being able to trench and install a steel barrier without killing the tree. If you're willing to do that and don't need anything to grow around the tree, it should work. If not, the other solution is removing the tree and replacing it with one that doesn't have surface root problems and is located farther away. |
#14
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Tree Root Problem
Many thanks to all of you for your replies. Appreciate that very
much. The tree is a fairly healthy size maple tree and the trunk is approximately 15' from the slab. A trencher just might be the easiest approach. Any thoughts on using an axe versus some sort of root saw if a person doesn't want to bring great harm to the tree. It's fairly mature and I hate to damage it too significantly but at the same time, have property to protect. Chris |
#15
Posted to alt.home.lawn.garden,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers.frugal-living
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Tree Root Problem
cover said:
Many thanks to all of you for your replies. Appreciate that very much. The tree is a fairly healthy size maple tree and the trunk is approximately 15' from the slab. A trencher just might be the easiest approach. Any thoughts on using an axe versus some sort of root saw if a person doesn't want to bring great harm to the tree. It's fairly mature and I hate to damage it too significantly but at the same time, have property to protect. It was a poor choice of a tree to plant so close to a sidewalk (or a poor choice for a sidewalk location, as it wasn't specified which came first). In either case, maple roots grow quite horizontally. Severing the roots, will most likely damage the tree beyond recoverability, or will certainly disfigure it, probably in a short time. -- Eggs -Half the people you know are below average. |
#16
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Tree Root Problem
Planting a tree is like getting a new puppy. Few of us can visualize what it
will be like at maturity. :-) "Eggs Zachtly" wrote in message ... cover said: Many thanks to all of you for your replies. Appreciate that very much. The tree is a fairly healthy size maple tree and the trunk is approximately 15' from the slab. A trencher just might be the easiest approach. Any thoughts on using an axe versus some sort of root saw if a person doesn't want to bring great harm to the tree. It's fairly mature and I hate to damage it too significantly but at the same time, have property to protect. It was a poor choice of a tree to plant so close to a sidewalk (or a poor choice for a sidewalk location, as it wasn't specified which came first). In either case, maple roots grow quite horizontally. Severing the roots, will most likely damage the tree beyond recoverability, or will certainly disfigure it, probably in a short time. -- Eggs -Half the people you know are below average. |
#17
Posted to alt.home.lawn.garden,alt.home.repair,misc.consumers.frugal-living
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Tree Root Problem
cover wrote:
Many thanks to all of you for your replies. Appreciate that very much. The tree is a fairly healthy size maple tree and the trunk is approximately 15' from the slab. A trencher just might be the easiest approach. Any thoughts on using an axe versus some sort of root saw if a person doesn't want to bring great harm to the tree. It's fairly mature and I hate to damage it too significantly but at the same time, have property to protect. If you have a sawzall, you can buy a pruning blade for about $6. They are about 12-15" long and will go through dirt and roots like butter. I used one to cut the roots off a stump so I could pull it up and it was the easiest stump I have ever removed. -- Art |
#18
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Tree Root Problem
On Sun, 13 Aug 2006 09:17:54 -0400, "Ron P" wrote:
Chris Have you considered using a trench digger for burying cables? A trench digger can make a trench about 3 inches wide and 12 to 18 inches deep quite easily. Put whatever barrier you want in there and back fill. What does one of these trenchers do when they encounter roots, Ron? (kick up, cut through ???) thanks |
#19
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Tree Root Problem
cover wrote:
What does one of these trenchers do when they encounter roots, Ron? (kick up, cut through ???) thanks You'll see some wood chips in the dirt it spits out. Other than that you don't even notice there's a root there. -- Art |
#20
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Tree Root Problem
Guess it depends on size of root, and how sharp your trencher is. I cut
through allot of roots, except for some big ones. Some knotted up roots it will not get through. I used the walk behind. Maybe the one you sit on has less of a problem. -- remove one of the @'s unless you are a spammer. "cover" wrote in message ... On Sun, 13 Aug 2006 09:17:54 -0400, "Ron P" wrote: Chris Have you considered using a trench digger for burying cables? A trench digger can make a trench about 3 inches wide and 12 to 18 inches deep quite easily. Put whatever barrier you want in there and back fill. What does one of these trenchers do when they encounter roots, Ron? (kick up, cut through ???) thanks |
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