Dockside Chat - Trees destroying concrete driveway...

Any way to stop the roots from the trees from destroying the driveway? My drive is lined by mature pear trees on one side, probably 6' from the edge of the slab. And a growing live oak on the other side, about 30' from the slab.

The slab is just showing signs of problems, can the roots be cut without hurting the trees?

Is it the pear trees or the oak that is causing the problem, or both?

I would think a root big enough to move/crack the driveway would hurt the tree if removed.

I think a tree huger is needed to talk to the tree and ask it to stop doing that.
;)

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Can't tell at this point. The slab sections are only about 3/4" offset with minor cracking - I just want to stop it before it becomes a big issue.

As a general rule, we try to avoid doing any grading within the "Drip Line" of a tree, since that normally will kill one. I would imagine that severing one root though wouldn't kill it....but I'm no tree expert, and can't help. I will say that I'm having the exact same problem, and I'm planning on cutting a root or two......But...I'll keep an eye on other responses here to see if anyone does provide knowledge.

I agree - cutting a root that is causing problems will probably kill the tree. IMHO the oak has much more of an aesthetic value and I would suggest consulting an arborist before doing anything to jeopardize that tree.

Good luck. :thumbsup:

concrete is cheap , bust it up, put some fill dirt in and re pour .

Root management is possible, but by the sounds of it your problem is the trunk of the root or one of the trunks of the root. Trimming a trunk root can have grave problems for a tree.

Here's where you are going to run into problems. One if it's a trunk root on a mature tree and two: You have a tree 6' away the driveway, you have a trunk root going in the direction of the driveway and growing under the driveway; well if you cut the strong, dominate trunk root in two at or near the edge of the driveway and you Don't Kill the tree, you still have a major trunk root pointing in the direction of your driveway......if you cut the root(s) roots will grow back (if it doesn't kill the tree first).

Personally speaking - if the driveway is starting to show signs of a problem, then there already is a problem....you are definitely already behind the eight ball.
- How long did you say you were going to continue to live there?
- Yank the trees and grow something that doesn't have a roots system that grows outwards....more downwards.
- Leave the trees and pull the driveway - go with gravel?
- Cut the roots and see what happens.
* With those pear trees, you NEED to read up about that tree's roots. Can those roots self propagates.

It's pretty much expected, to cut a trunk root you will loose a major portion of the tree, if it doesn't kill the tree.

In my younger days I've cut one major root to a tree with no consequences but I did always wonder if that cut made the tree less stable in a storm. Dig along where the concrete is lifting and see is doing the damage.

I couldn't say if it would kill the trees but I would run a ditch witch up both sides of the driveway, about 2 -3 feet deep. This should take care of the roots trying to bust up your concrete.

Root management is possible, but by the sounds of it your problem is the trunk of the root or one of the trunks of the root. Trimming a trunk root can have grave problems for a tree.

Here's where you are going to run into problems. One if it's a trunk root on a mature tree and two: You have a tree 6' away the driveway, you have a trunk root going in the direction of the driveway and growing under the driveway; well if you cut the strong, dominate trunk root in two at or near the edge of the driveway and you Don't Kill the tree, you still have a major trunk root pointing in the direction of your driveway......if you cut the root(s) roots will grow back (if it doesn't kill the tree first).

Personally speaking - if the driveway is starting to show signs of a problem, then there already is a problem....you are definitely already behind the eight ball.
- How long did you say you were going to continue to live there?
- Yank the trees and grow something that doesn't have a roots system that grows outwards....more downwards.
- Leave the trees and pull the driveway - go with gravel?
- Cut the roots and see what happens.
* With those pear trees, you NEED to read up about that tree's roots. Can those roots self propagates.

Just bought the house in December of last year - 40 year old house, orig driveway. I didn't notice any issues when I moved in, but they are subtle. Its been a wet summer, probably seen an unusual amount of growth this year.

The town I live in is a tree friendly town, the devlopment I live in was designed around the trees, mainly the live oaks. Simply cutting them down isnt an easy option, and the live oak probably adds some property value... gravel isnt an option.

I probably need to dig around and see the "root" cause of the problems.

I think a tree huger is needed to talk to the tree and ask it to stop doing that.
;)

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I'll ask a tree huger when I see him again, will have to get back to you. :grin:

Just bought the house in December of last year - 40 year old house, orig driveway. I didn't notice any issues when I moved in, but they are subtle. Its been a wet summer, probably seen an unusual amount of growth this year.

The town I live in is a tree friendly town, the devlopment I live in was designed around the trees, mainly the live oaks. Simply cutting them down isnt an easy option, and the live oak probably adds some property value... gravel isnt an option.

I probably need to dig around and see the "root" cause of the problems.

Your property, what type of soil is it on? Do you know what type of soil several of your neighbors are on? I'm not talking surface soils, I'm talking the stuff 4 - 8' down.

Boy..........ok, talk to an arborist then. With your town as tree friendly as they are you should have several arborists available to get different opinions....but I suspect the opinions will all be the same.

I'm only guessing here, but here's what I think is happening.
- Both the pears and oak trees have a multiple trunk root system…..I know oaks do. (You have a larger problem with the pear trees than you do with the oak - the pears trees are only being 6' away from the driveway).
- When the trees were saplings they didn't care about root obstacles years down the road.
- Trunk roots have smaller roots that branch off of the main stem, etc, etc
- When a trunk root starts to grow under an object that doesn't allow water to enter the ground that trunk root will increase the amount of smaller roots that branch off of it until the root finally figures out there is no water in the ground in that given direction. But by that time the trunk root is substantial in size and is feeding a good portion of the tree.
- Now that the root has figured out there is no water in that direction the root says to it's self, well where am I getting water from then in this direction? Oh, I'm getting water up to the driveway but not past it, oh ok, well then I'll develop my root system with all my smaller branch roots, etc, etc at that point.....hence the heaving of the ground.
- * If it was one root in one area that was heaving the ground one could say that particular root is over top of a large rock and it has no choice but to grow up and over the hidden object. But when every tree is doing it at the same spot...well then one has to look for different answers.

And your problem is those trees have got roots running under your driveway and those roots are not getting water there, so they are backtracking to the point of finding water and that point is at the edge of the driveway. So therefore the trees are developing their root system at that point to feed the demands of the tree.

Tree friendly town, HA child molesters get less time vs someone that cuts or messes with a tree. :o;?


Just bought the house in December of last year - 40 year old house, orig driveway. I didn't notice any issues when I moved in, but they are subtle. Its been a wet summer, probably seen an unusual amount of growth this year.

The town I live in is a tree friendly town, the devlopment I live in was designed around the trees, mainly the live oaks. Simply cutting them down isnt an easy option, and the live oak probably adds some property value... gravel isnt an option.

I probably need to dig around and see the "root" cause of the problems.

How much does a concrete driveway cost to replace?

I know, how long is a piece of string etc. but you know, say a hundred foot driveway with a 400sq ft turnaround type deal.

More than $10K or less?

Roughly.

How much does a concrete driveway cost to replace?

I know, how long is a piece of string etc. but you know, say a hundred foot driveway with a 400sq ft turnaround type deal.

More than $10K or less?

Roughly.

If you are talking 100'x10 wide driveway plus another 400 area. To break up and replace with 6" slab you are a little north of 10k. I'm having four 6" slabs poured(basement and parking) it's costing me about 7500. Price is mixed in with the foundation work so not sure exactly how much. Total of about 1400ft2 about the same amount as you.

Cut the tree down!!

A living tree with do that again and again and again. Not being able to put gravel down (the best and only permanent option) really inhibits your interest in having a flat driveway.

Do you think that you could live with the cracks? Alternatively, could you have an asphalt driveway (easier to repair or replace)

Bells, Sounds like you live in Charleston County!;?
The State wont touch a tree without their permission.

Simple. Rent a trencher and run it down the side of the driveway.