The Roots You Don’t See and the Damage They Can Cause
The root system of a tree impacts its health and longevity. When there is enough space, roots can extend further than the branches up to three times. When it comes to the root underground system, it can go down 20 feet or deeper and spread over a greater area. But, when you are dealing with root damage, consider using the services of tree loppers to control your tree roots.
Trees need oxygen, water, and nutrients, and these are usually available near the surface of the soil. For this reason, most roots, including those small, absorbing ones, grow rapidly on the soil surface area. A tree typically has up to seven major roots. When you cut one of them, it can kill about 25% of the root system. Below ground, there are two types of roots:
Structural roots.
These help anchor the tree and stabilize it to the ground.
Feeder roots.
These store nutrients and moisture and transfer them from the soil.
These roots may cause damage to your property and the surrounding area. Also, know that tree roots can continue to grow even after the trunk has already died. The tree specialists at the tree lopping Brisbane will likely kill, cut, and remove the roots to stop or prevent the damage they can cause. There are also other ways to fix the problem without killing the tree, for example, pruning or lopping.
What Are the Potential Damages?
Drainage problem.
Tree roots that become uncontrollable can bring about several problems, such as blocking drains. However, the roots are usually not the initial reason for drain damage. Roots will only enter your drains if they are already leaking and damaged. So, if you have a watertight drain, the tree roots should not be able to penetrate them. But, if the roots have already infiltrated your drains, removing the tree may not solve the problem. What you need to do is repair the drainage system or replace it to prevent further infiltration.
Damaged sidewalks.
Are your sidewalks heaving out or have cracks due to tree roots? This is a serious concern as it can cause accidents to pedestrians or kill the tree itself by attempting to correct the situation. It is not uncommon for the tree roots to grow under hard surfaces like sidewalks, resulting in cracks due to the pressure. The best way to avoid dealing with this problem is prevention. In case root damages occur on your sidewalks, you may need tree removal or root pruning.
Pavement lifting.
Roots can lift your pavement if your trees are extremely close to it. The compacted soil can make roots grow near the surface of the soil, eventually lifting the pavement. You can prevent this problem in the future by leaving space between the tree and a paved area, at least 4 feet away from each other. You may also use mechanical barriers so that the roots will not grow beneath the pavement.
Invade the foundation of your home.
A foundation that is well-maintained is capable of protecting itself with root invasion. But, roots invading your foundation is not impossible. Here are some signs that you have root problems:
- The floor surface starts to buckle
- Uneven window or door frames
- Cracks on the windows without evidence of force or trauma
- Vertical cracks on the walls
- Cracks in the floor
Some other factors may cause these signs, so make sure to check and investigate if the roots are the culprit before taking any actions, such as stump removal. For example, dig around your home foundation and find out there are roots growing and extending toward it.
There are many horror stories of roots breaking into surfaces and foundations, leading to costly repairs. You can prevent problems with tree roots and the damages they can create. Proper selection of trees and their location, as well as preventative measures, are good ideas. Also, call the professional tree service company if you want to approach your tree root problems the right way.
