Tree root horror stories–most of us have heard one. Trees breaking into pipes, drains, lifting house foundations, cracking paving and splitting open house walls. It does happen when trees that are very aggressive growers have been positioned poorly in a suburban environment without consideration to the possible consequences.
This doesn’t mean that you should miss out on growing trees in your front yard and backyard though; instead, careful forethought will ensure that the trees you do plant will not cause any root problems.
Step Two
Be considerate about where you plant trees. Siting the tree properly from the outset makes good sense. This even includes trying to think about future building on your site should this be something you might want to do down the track. Things to consider include: Finding out where draining and water lines are and planting trees well away from these. Avoiding planting trees that you know will grow too large. Ask your local municipality if it can recommend which species of trees to avoid planting.
Step Three
Know the general rule. Knowing where to avoid placing trees requires knowing how big the tree's roots will grow. The general rule is that trees produce roots equal to about three-quarters of the tree's mature height. This means a tree 20 metres high will have roots of 15 metres.
Step Four
Find smaller trees if you don't have the space. You don't have to miss out on shade and greenery. Instead, prefer smaller tree species. At the same time, ensure that your plumbing is in good order and replace broken and cracked pipes as soon as you are aware of them.