Tree root system compromised?

climbingmonkey24

climbingmonkey24

Carpal tunnel level member
Location
United States
One of my family members is getting work done on her leach field and they have to dig within a few feet of the base of the tree, possibly closer and I’m guessing they’ll have to go a few feet down minimum because they have to get to the tank. I’m wondering if you guys think because of how close it is to the tree there’s a chance of major root disruption which could effect structural integrity and therefore should I take the tree down beforehand? More than half of the roots are within the first 6-18 inches right?

If they disrupt any spots they’d be disrupting the ones that are opposite the lean so that makes me even more worried because now it creates a weak area and the tree is right next to a house and leaning towards a neighbor house.
 
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cerviarborist said:
Are there any alternatives to just digging or trenching? Air-Spade? Have you used a tile probe to locate significant structural roots and mark them? Trees and roots can be preserved, if the client is willing to make it happen.
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It’s a family member. She has to get work done. I’m not sure on the specifics but I know they have to dig to lift up the grass and then dig down into the ground to reach the leach field. Because of what they’re doing I don’t think there’s any alternatives to digging.

I haven’t marked any roots or anything just found out about it today
 
Root systems are very dependent on soil type and tree species. I’ve been amazed at the size of roots which can be cut without issue, just make sure they are cut
 
Ok.. Quick and dirty. Visualize the tree as a wine goblet sitting in the center of a salad plate. The globe of the goblet is the canopy of the tree. The stem of the goblet is the trunk of the tree. The cantilevered base that holds the stem and globe aloft is like the critical structural root zone which is typically three to five times the diameter of the stem. The salad plate is analogous to the absorptive root system which is perhaps three times the diameter of the canopy. That should give you a good idea of whether the tree will lose significant absorptive roots, or whether the excavation will excise significant structural roots. There's a lot more to preserving trees during construction, but that might help you visualize the impacts.
 
You see that little white cap in the grass? They are gonna be digging in between that and the tree, and possibly towards the left of the tree. Hard to tell from picture but the land slopes up towards the base and there are good sized roots that I can see headed right for the white cap. I scratched into the grass a little bit to see if I could see some more and obviously they are there.

This is the tree I strung up with the blue Christmas lights last year, some of you may remember that. I've climbed this sucker many times for fun lol.

IMG_4936.jpg
 
Well hard telling not knowing boss. If it were me I'd keep a close eye on the tree after and just maintain it.
If their gonna kill it then they take it down or fund it.
But if it's owners don't care as much as you do then idk man.
 
Wouldn’t cost anything to take tree down. It’s my grandmother I would just take it down for her and probably have a fire to get rid of brush if it came to that. Rather climb it now than have them destroy it and then climb it with compromised roots you know what I mean lol?

Idk I guess I’ll think about it.
 
It'll cost even less to get a can of marking paint and use a cheap tile probe to locate and trace the larger roots to the edge of the area where the excavation will take place. It's impossible to judge three dimensional distances looking at a two dimensional photograph. A small amount of investigative work should give you the answers you seek.
 
Depends on storms in your area. You seem to have the tree within a windrow (other trees to protect it from most directions except to the right open area. You also have a smaller tree between it and another house.

From what I can see without a plan view of the area I wouldn’t worry unless they remove a heap of structural roots. If the tank is there it is probably full of roots anyway - a major nutritional source - só tree growth may slow anyway after job. Even if remove a heap of structural roots one that side a tree that size you could safety (if want to be really sure) with untensioned cable/rope for a few years until recovers root systems.

Pretty easy to tell if it is becoming compromised during small storms in that will get root plate lifting of the ground. If tend to get hurricanes won’t have any forewarning...
 
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Well they did the job and they just excavated straight through it all within a few feet of the tree. I could see all the roots that they cut through. They cut right through them all.
 
southsoundtree said:
cut through them or excavated through them?

That was your easiest chance to cut what they probably ripped.
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They excavated right through. Split the roots right in half. About 8-12 ft away from the trunk, and then straight back so a majority of the roots on the side that you’re facing in the picture we’re cut in half.

I don’t have pics because they filled it up sorry. I know the picture I uploaded isn’t the best, but basically they started excavating at that white cap you see and then excavated to the left. Probably went 5-8ft deep. Just excavated the roots and pulled em right out.

I gotta decide whether I should take the tree down for my grandmother. It’s good shade but because it’s right next to the house.

While I was inspecting the tree I did notice it’s stating to split in the trunk, didn’t notice that before. But that’s nothing to do with the excavating.
 
1E43488B-7C31-4981-A48D-E769F99F0DF6.jpeg

Ok so they started digging to the left of the red line and cut the roots in half there. They went down probably 5-8 ft or so, give or take. And you can see how far back they went towards the woods. That’s behind the natural lean of the tree.
 
Without accounting for tree vitality and species, that tree may be salvaged with some mulching, occasional watering, and possibly a pgr
 
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