The tree and me don't agree about what is best for the driveway.

January 29, 2007 9:01 AM

Front yard tree eating my driveway to the point that the driveway will need to be repoured. Any chance in correcting the tree's uprooting behavior or is this the death knell for the tree?
posted by Ogre Lawless to home & garden (10 comments total)

Can't you just move the tree? Seriously.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 9:18 AM on January 29, 2007

Our sidewalk was buckled by tree roots (elms, mostly) and we had to pay the city $1600 for a new sidewalk. As part of this, they trimmed the roots, which they claim is actually healthier in the long run for the tree, which I doubt but... Anyway. The taproot wasn't cut, just a few on the surface. Several months on the tree seems quite healthy.
posted by luriete at 9:20 AM on January 29, 2007

I'd be looking at pouring a gravel base for the asphalt/concrete rather than just dumping a driveway surface directly on the ground. You could just go with gravel by itself, too.
posted by rolypolyman at 9:22 AM on January 29, 2007

You'd have to check with a tree specialist type person since each case will be so different. But, for reference, my parents had tree roots trimmed at our old house about 15 years ago to stop it making a bump in the sidewalk. I drove past the house about a year ago and the sidewalk was still flat and the tree was still very much alive.
posted by bcwinters at 9:23 AM on January 29, 2007

How much do you love your tree? Have you considered removing just the affected area of the drive and replacing that area with rubber pavers? It could be less expensive than replacing the entire drive and allow the tree to continue a long, healthy life.
posted by buggzzee23 at 9:25 AM on January 29, 2007

What are you people talking about, move the tree? If the tree is big enough to uproot the concrete I seriously doubt it could be moved. Yes, in most cases the offending root can be trimmed without killing the tree.
posted by caddis at 9:29 AM on January 29, 2007

I you care enough about the tree, call a certified arborist to give an opinion.
posted by toucano at 10:34 AM on January 29, 2007

It isn't a death knell for the tree, just cut away those roots when you repour the driveway. I'm guessing you'll just cut along one side, which will leave plenty of stabilizing and feeder roots. The roots will regrow, but it will take a long time.
posted by luckyshirl at 10:49 AM on January 29, 2007

Most of a tree's main roots are in the top 18 inches of soil. This is why you should never build a planter around an existing mature tree, or get too crazy with the mulch - it smothers the roots.

That said, if you cut away just the large, out-of-control root that's causing the problem, I think that the tree would adjust. Its growth may be stunted for a few years, but I don't think it would kill the tree.

Bonsai enthusiasts routinely trim the roots of their trees and they can live for decades.
posted by Ostara at 1:05 PM on January 29, 2007

Well, I finally* got an arborist to come and look at it and they said its curtains for the fruitless mulberry, much to the consternation of both myself and my wife. Apparently removing the root is either going to cause it to uproot the tree or else then dive under my neighbor's adjacent driveway and eat that which is something I definately don't want. The removal costs for the tree would be around $400 if the wife and I don't decide to hack at it ourselves. We'll probably run irrigation out there and do either a rock garden or something similar -- that side of the yard has been a blighted shithole save for this giant tree and removing the poor thing gives us some options...

* -- someone snarkily added (later deleted) "why don't you take the money and go to Tuscany instead", which is funny as I was then on my way to Bormio and since Amsterdam, hence the late turnaround. Seriously
posted by Ogre Lawless at 1:17 PM on June 4, 2007