There are two types of tree root issues to consider. The roots may be suffering from rotting or girdling, or a lack of moisture, or a pest or disease, which causes the tree to die, or the roots create difficulties in the environment.

Tree Roots Cause a Wide Range of Issues

It’s vital to remember that a tree’s roots are two to three times as broad as the radius of the canopy to grasp the magnitude of their influence. They may expand up to five times their original size in dry circumstances. A tree’s roots may extend 18 to 30 feet from the trunk of a tree with a canopy of 12 feet— which is spread across six feet. Furthermore, most roots are closest to everything they need to survive— water, oxygen, and nutrients—which are all found near the surface. That’s why the majority of tree roots are found in the top 18 to 24 inches of soil.

Pipes in the ground have been damaged.

While tree roots may break pipes, it is more typical for pipes to break on their own due to age or other physical weaknesses, allowing tree roots to grow into the pipes and produce pipe clogs. Sewer lines are particularly vulnerable to this sort of issue. Sycamores, willows, and fig trees are the trees that cause the greatest sewage line damage.

To avoid this, make sure your landscaping is sewer-safe:

• Identify the location of your pipes on your land and avoid planting near them. Plant trees as far away as possible from the pipes.
• Choose trees like amur maples, Japanese maples, blooming dogwoods, or crabapples that create fewer issues.

Pavement and Sidewalk Damage

Close to and under pavements and sidewalks, tree roots may sprout. If the roots are close to the ground, they might elevate the pavement, causing damage as well as a tripping hazard. When this occurs, the decision is usually between conserving the tree by shifting the pavement away from the tree roots or removing the tree’s approaching roots and risking the tree’s death in order to preserve the pavement or walkway.

There are a few things you can do to avoid this

Plant smaller trees with a four-foot minimum spacing between them and the pavement. Plant trees with a mature height of fewer than twenty-five feet no closer than five to six feet away from pavement, according to a rule of thumb. Avoid any trees that are larger than that. To prevent roots from sprouting below the pavement, install mechanical barriers along the tree-side of the pavement. The barriers, which may be constructed of plastic or geotextile fabric, compel the roots to grow deep into the soil, preventing the pavement from being lifted. Draw an imaginary line from the tree trunk to the sidewalk, then position the barrier five to six feet along the sidewalk in each direction.

The Dangers of Surface Roots

If you have a maple tree in your yard, you may be acquainted with the sight of its large, powerful roots sprouting from the ground. This is common on a slope when soil erosion exposes the roots. It may develop worse after a mild winter since the freezing and thawing cycle induces frost-heaving. These surface roots are not only ugly but also dangerous. When you’re mowing the grass, they may be a big pain. The roots are vulnerable to harm since they are so exposed. Mulch the space beneath the tree with hardwood mulch or well-matured loose compost instead of cutting the roots. It’s important to keep in mind that you shouldn’t bury the roots with extra dirt. More dirt depletes the tree’s supply of water, oxygen, and nutrients. Adding dirt to raise the ground level is virtually never a good idea. Mulching provides a number of advantages. Mulch allows sufficient oxygen to get through while it insulates the soil, reducing the impact of frost-heaving. Mowing is no longer required since the grass has been replaced with mulch, and the tree and the lawn will no longer fight for water and nutrients.

Is it true that tree roots wreak havoc on foundations?

Certainly not. Trees placed too near to a foundation may create a variety of issues, although not usually due to the roots. The soil surrounding a foundation is often quite dry, particularly if it is shaded by a roof overhang. Meanwhile, since tree roots want wetness, they will normally extend away from the foundation in the opposite direction. Smaller tree roots may enter fractures in the foundation caused by other factors such as soil pressure or shrinkage, but they won’t cause more structural damage than what’s already there.

Even if your yard is tiny, any issues created by tree roots should not prevent you from planting trees.