Home Maintenance Filter: When I purchased my home three years ago, during the inspection, the sewer lines were found to be clogged (not completely) with tree roots (5 mature elm trees on the 10,000sqft lot). The seller had the line 'rooted' and we did an inspection of the sewer line afterward. All good. My inspector told me the line would have to be 'maintained' for tree roots. How often should I do this? [more inside]
posted by shew on Oct 13, 2012 - 9 answers

Fruit trees are very pretty when trained or pruned to a trellis; photos often show these espalier trees up against a wall. Why don't the roots knock the wall down? [more inside]
posted by aimedwander on Jan 18, 2010 - 4 answers

There are tree roots growing in my sewer line. It was snaked last year, and we've put copper sulfate down the line a couple times since, but we're having backups again. I plan on a DIY approach this time around because I really can't afford a plumber. Read on, and tell me: what are the flaws in my plan? [more inside]
posted by Ickster on Nov 26, 2007 - 21 answers

Tree roots clogged our sewer pipe. What next? [more inside]
posted by medusa on Jul 7, 2006 - 7 answers