Stop eucalyptus roots from damaging pool

June 17, 2007 11:22 AM

Our eucalyptus trees are damaging our pool area. Is there a way to save the trees and the pool?

Posting for a distraught friend:

I have two eucalyptus trees in a raised flower bed of sorts in my cement backyard. They're full grown, one much larger than the other. The trees are gorgeous thriving havens for local birds and reptiles in the So Cal desert.

My problem is that we have an in ground pool a few feet from the trees. There is a portion of the cement walkway that is buckling which, my husband says, is caused from the trees' roots. He had someone look at it and confirmed this and he was told that the roots would continue to grow until they break through the side of our pool.

My question: Is the only remedy truly is to chop down the gorgeous living trees? Obviously, the damage to the pool would be irreparable but I'm hoping that I can somehow have my cake and eat it too.

posted by diamondsky to Home & Garden (8 answers total)

Sorry to sound such a negative note but Eucalypts are known water hogs. Whatever solution you come up with those roots will continue to seek the nearest source, and if that happens to be the pool....well:-(.

I'm sure tree surgeons don't just cut down trees so perhaps advice can be sought. I'm thinking digging down as deep as the pool and putting in some kind of barrier. And then digging down on the other side with a kind of water well. Something that's kept topped up regularly to train the roots away from the pool.

Anyway best of luck
posted by Wilder at 11:31 AM on June 17, 2007

Best answer: It is possible to trim the roots in the same way you trim branches. However, you need to be very careful when you do this as you can affect the stability of the tree. It's best to speak to a professional, or you might find the tree doing some damage to the house as well as the pond, if the wind gets up.

As Wilder said, the trees will automatically head for the water. And eucalypti are very strong growers. A barrier would have to be very strong indeed to cope with the strength of the roots. Lets face it, they're breaking up concrete.
posted by Solomon at 11:45 AM on June 17, 2007 [1 favorite]

Best answer: My understanding is that full grown eucalyptus trees have a reputation for self destructing (splitting apart, falling over). I've certainly witnessed it happening myself.

I mention that because you might do less to save them if their days are numbered anyway.
posted by Good Brain at 12:05 PM on June 17, 2007

Eucalyptus trees are a dime a dozen (and moveover, are not native to SoCal). Remove the tree, save the pool and go plant 20 more native trees somewhere else. SoCal needs more native live oaks. Go forth and do good karma.
posted by frogan at 1:35 PM on June 17, 2007

They're probably destroying your other pipes too (we had one grow up through our spare toilet, literally- a giant root popped out of the bowl one day ). Get rid of them and plant a native tree instead.
posted by fshgrl at 1:39 PM on June 17, 2007

Another anti-eucalypt vote: they really don't support native Californian wildlife well, being so full of toxic oil. If you replace them with native trees the wildlife will be happy.
posted by anadem at 3:06 PM on June 17, 2007

I'm a eucalyptus hater. The leaves are oily, the trees burn like crazy, and they are non-native. Anything else would be an improvement.
posted by BrotherCaine at 12:02 AM on June 18, 2007

Response by poster: Thank you all for your advice. I think she's going to get rid of the eucalyptus trees and plant something more California-friendly.
posted by diamondsky at 12:18 PM on June 20, 2007