AboutJim Hyland Expertise Registered Forester in the Southern US with 30 years experiance in managing pines. Expert in pine forest health from management to control of pests to ID of species.
Question We have a conifer in our garden, which borders the boundary with our neighbour and is also adjacent to the pavement. The trunk of the tree is approx. 2 ft. in diameter and 1 ft. from both the boundary and pavement. The tarmac on the pavement at the foot of our neighbour's drive has 'erupted' some 4 ft. from the tree trunk and it has been suggested that this damage could have been caused by the roots from our conifer. The tree is about 40 yeras old so what lateral spread could its roots have? The local council has confirmed that they have a work order to repair the pavement and our question is: if the council confirms, once they have opened the payment up, that our tree roots have caused the damage and they want to cut the roots away, what could the implications be for our tree?
Answer The roots of trees even pines extend about 1 1/2 times further than the branch spread. And more than likely they are correct in the roots causing the damage. Pines do have a tap roots that goes straight down. If the roots are cut the general rule is if more than 30% of the roots are cut the tree will experience die back of the crown. But in the case of a pine with the tap roots what you might get is a few limbs on the side of the tree that the roots were cut to die but the tree overall will not be effected too much. When the roots are cut have them cut them clean rather than breaking them during the dig. That way the wound will heal and not allow fungi to enter the root system. With the tree this close to the digging make sure they do not damage the trunk of the tree during the process.
