Have you always dreamt of a lush and blossoming garden that would make anyone with green thumbs envious?
A manicured, well-thought-out garden can soothe your mind while bringing you joy and happiness as you get to enjoy it. But it can also significantly increase the value of your home if you ever decide to sell it.
Whether creating a brick patio corner surrounded by mature trees and flowering bushes or adding plant beds filled with ornamental trees along the path, a gorgeous and lush garden can become a genuine asset.
Yet, having a garden is not all roses (pun intended)!
Tree roots can lead to severe damage to your property, breaking through your sewer line, or damaging your foundations, costing thousands of dollars to fix.
To help you spot tree-root-related damage early on, we’ve outlined below the kind of damage tree roots can create and how to fix the issue.
Foundation Damage
Foundation damage is quite rare if you maintain your foundations. However, if strong trees are close enough to your house and your concrete foundations already have existing cracks, the trees’ root systems might very well be impacting your foundations. In the event that foundations are damaged by tree roots, it’s pretty common to see the tree roots spreading underneath a house's footings and coming back up to disperse themselves wherever they can. The reason for this is that tree roots are trying to access the water. As a result, they spread under the house, trying to reach the water line underneath the house.
Tips:
If you’ve ascertained the tree root system is responsible for damaging your foundations, here are a few tips on what to do to prevent further damage:
Before planting your trees, install root barriers to divert the root systems away from your houses’ foundations.
Ask a tree trimming professional to cut the roots affecting your foundations and install root barriers.
If the root system is spreading too quickly, you might have to ask a tree removal professional to come and remove the tree and its root system.
Plumbing Damage
With a loose joint or small crack into your water pipes and plumbing system, you could soon find yourself with a tree-root problem! You’ve probably guessed it; the roots are spreading to reach a water source. Some of these issues’ common symptoms include slowly flowing drains even after flushing treatment or changes in your water pressure.
Tips:
As always, using an expert is often the best option when it comes to tree-root damage. A tree trimming expert will be able to carefully remove the problematic section, and a plumber will be able to replace the pipe. As long as the pipe is sealed properly, you shouldn’t run into the issue again.
Driveaway Damage
Tree roots growing under your pavements or driveways can create a tripping hazard as they stick up through concrete cracks. As a result, if you observe cracks along your driveway, patios, or paths or see tree roots leading towards these areas, you should follow the steps below:
Install root barriers. If you manage to do this before the roots actually reach the concrete, you’ll be able to stop the root system from spreading further towards your driveaway.
You can also cut the roots before installing the root barriers.
If you feel like the tree roots are spreading too quickly, cut the tree and remove the root system. This will allow you to level the surface again and prevent any further issues.
Landscape Damage
While trees are a gorgeous addition to any garden as they provide shade, colour, and life, they can also encroach on other plants and turn your beautiful space into a messy area that’s harder to maintain. Trees might be competing for water and nutrients with other plants, starving your stunning flowers and bushes, thus ruining your attempt to create a thriving garden.
Tips:
If you want to create flower beds or add plants near your mature trees, make sure you pick species that can tolerate difficult growing conditions and purchase baby plants as they will require fewer nutrients.
Ready to work on your lovely garden yet? Make sure you follow these tips to create a blossoming garden on a worry-free property for years to come