Many people say they use the ‘rule of thumb’ that roots will extend a distance from a tree equal to the distance the longest branch extends from the tree. Well, I seen roots travel much farther than that and I know some trees send tap roots down quite a ways but not out very far from a tree so I’m O.K. with the ‘rule of thumb’ if you are only going to talk about trees in general and understand the roots of your trees may extend beyond that point.
Another point that I don’t hear people talking about but is of equal importance is the area that the tree’s roots pull water from. You don’t have the soil dry where the roots are and then a couple inches past that point, the soils can be very moist. Water will not stay in that wet area, it will flow towards the drier soil. Therefore, the tree is actually affecting the moisture content of the soil from a much larger radius that just where the roots system is.
The goal is to keep the moisture content of the soil around the perimeter of you home consistent. If that moisture content is consistent all around the structure and stays that way, you greatly reduce the chance of foundation movement and the issues that come with foundation movement – cracks in the sheetrock, brick, tile, slab, doors and windows sticking, etc. If you have some areas that are getting enough water and the soil is moist, with other areas that are usually dry, you can get differential settling of the foundation, which will cause problems over time if it is not addressed.
There are many actions that a homeowner can take to address trees and the root system. One option is to increase the amount of water being used by a water system for the area under the influence of the tree(s). If the tree is not too close to the structure, a root barrier between the house and the tree may be useful. Please get help from a tree expert before installing a root barrier. If the root barrier cuts too many roots, the tree could be damaged or die. (Killing a tree, either by accident or cutting it down on purpose can do a lot of damage to your home in some cases. Please look at the article on my website that has to do with this subject and the affect of ‘rebound’ has on the home’s foundation.)
Buddy
Buddy is an entrepreneur extraordinaire, adventurer and explorer who has a talent for taking those varied experiences and translating them into a variety of successful enterprises. As a partner in Windridge Olen Exports, Buddy can provide the talent and materials you need for any project and acquire anything you want when you need it.
