Removing a tree from your yard may give you more space for entertaining or creating a garden. But you can’t just cut through the base of the tree and expect it to be gone. If you don’t eliminate its roots, they may create problems in unexpected places both inside and outside your house. We’ll explain some hidden root problems and how to avoid them.
Roots Growing Underneath the Home’s Foundation
When you have a tree next to the house, even if it’s several feet away, its roots can start to grow underneath or along the home’s foundation. Even if the roots don’t penetrate the concrete itself through gaps, they can still cause uneven foundation settling by disturbing the surrounding soil.
Over time, that movement can cause cracks in the concrete as well as the interior walls. This is why it’s so important to make sure you address any problematic roots when you remove the tree.
Roots Wrapping Tightly Around Underground Pipes
Your underground pipes may have tree roots wrapped tightly around them. During the tree removal process, disturbing a root could damage the pipe or loosen one of its connections.
Professional arborists have special tools like sewer cameras and pipe locators to see whether roots are growing around or interfering with underground plumbing lines. If they need to remove a root that’s wrapped tightly around a pipe, they may have to expose the pipe first and carefully separate the root from it.
Roots Growing Into Sewer Lines
When you have a sewer line with tree root intrusion, you can’t just remove the tree and root and consider the problem resolved. You’ll also need to have the sewer line repaired so that new roots don’t infiltrate it again. Plus, you’ll need the damaged pipe repaired to avoid sewage leaking into your yard and contaminating the surrounding soil.
Thankfully, the repair process doesn’t always require tearing up large sections of the yard. Because of advancements in trenchless technology, you can resolve many types of tree root intrusion by replacing the damaged section of pipe with minimal excavation.
Roots Spreading Underneath the Driveway
A tree sitting several feet away from your driveway could have roots running underneath the blacktop or concrete. If you have the tree’s connected roots removed, the driveway might crack, shift, or sink. This is why experts sometimes recommend leaving the larger roots in place during the tree removal process.
Tree removal is not something to rush or take lightly. It needs careful planning and often requires the use of heavy machinery to do the job safely and correctly. Hiring a trained tree removal expert is the best way to ensure the connected roots don’t cause any problems. They can determine whether it’s safer to remove the roots or leave them in place and let them naturally decay over time. If you live in Peoria, AZ or a surrounding area and need tree removal services, make your first call to Veteran Family Tree.