Bald Cypress Tree Knees

[Cegg]

I planted a young bald cypress tree a couple of years ago. It's approximately 10 feet tall and a couple of inches in diameter. I really love this tree and want to keep it but I'm nervous that the knees/roots are going to come up in my neighbor's yard which is about 15 away. I read that if you put a slab of concrete on one side of the tree it will keep the knees from coming up in that direction. Is there any truth to this? I could actually put a patio between the tree and the fence if that is true. I also heard that I could put some type of barrier in the ground. I don't mind the knees in my yard so I am only concerned about one side of it. I want to keep this tree and would appreciate any help you could give me. Thanks so much.

 

[Grouchy old man]

Doing anything like you suggest is just going to harm the tree. My experience with Bald Cyprus (and I've seen them that are at least 50 feet tall and probably as may years old) is that they don't produce much in the way of surface roots assuming adequate water. And so what if there are roots in your neighbors yard?

 

[Cegg]

Thanks

Thanks for your reply. I guess they're all different but I know 2 people that have them (about 7-10 years old) and both have large protruding 'knees' that will grow very tall (up to a foot or more?) and ruin lawn mower blades when you try to mow. One person cuts them off on a regular basis (and the tree seems fine) and the other one just paid $500 to have the tree cut down because of the knees. I don't want my neighbors to have to deal with the knees cause I know it's not easy to cut them. I appreciate your input.....not sure what I'll do yet. Thanks.

 

[TheJollyLogger]

Yup, it'll get knees.
Nope, putting a patio over it won't keep it from sending roots towards your neighbors yard
Yup, putting a patio over the root system will harm the tree.
Yup, that bald cypress would be happier in a swamp than in your yard.

 

[Cegg]

No More Responses, please

I understand what you are saying. I don't need any more suggestions. thanks.

 

[TheJollyLogger]

So you weren't really looking for advice, you were just looking for permission to do whatever you had already decided to do anyway. Got it.

 

[Cegg]

professional advice

I had actually posted a question a while back and received what seemed like very professional advice from some people who were interested. I took their advice even though it wasn't what I wanted to hear. So....no.....I'm not going to do just what I want to do. I will seek advice from a professional who won't just give me a 'yup, nope, yup' (intermingled with some sarcasm about a swamp) as though they've heard this question numerous times before and are bored with answering it.

 

[treeseer]

$500 and the loss of a tree, all because of roots that can easily be cut to protect the almighty mower while mowing the almighty lawn?

:confused2::confused2: I'm with Del on this one, but if your neighbor does not agree then he can mulch the area and plant groundcover between them, or just take a saw and cut them.

One other prevention strategy i can think of is to deeply aerate your yard, to encourage deep root growth.

Installing a barrier or just pruning roots at the property line would directly address the issue, and the tree would be ok with it.

The tree may be just as happy in your yard as a swamp. Enjoy it!

 

[buzz sawyer]

One of the biggest problems with trees is planting them in the wrong place - too close to neighbor's property, too close to your house, sidewalk, driveway; too close to streets, under power lines, etc. Then, just when they reach a reasonable size, they get hacked up so they still fit.

 

[Cegg]

thanks for the suggestions

Yes, I will be the first to admit that I made a mistake planting it only 15 feet from the fence line. I am glad to hear that there is a barrier I can check into, as well as aerating and pruning. Will research those three ideas, sounds like there's a good chance one of them will work. Thanks so much!

 

[Limbrat]

My experience with Bald Cyprus (and I've seen them that are at least 50 feet tall and probably as may years old) is that they don't produce much in the way of surface roots assuming adequate water. An

With all do respect, there are many thousands of bald cypress here in my home county living IN the water with knees protruding a foot or so ABOVE the water. If you have bald cypress trees, you will have surface roots and knees.

 

[Mi67ke]

a swamp than in your yard.

 

[ATH]

With all do respect, there are many thousands of bald cypress here in my home county living IN the water with knees protruding a foot or so ABOVE the water. If you have bald cypress trees, you will have surface roots and knees.

That is where I see the knees. If the tree is in a yard with reasonably good soil and is not saturated, I have seen plenty of bald cypress that are not sending up knees.

 

[treemandan]

I understand what you are saying. I don't need any more suggestions. thanks.

Excuse me !!?? I don't think you do understand.

 

[treemandan]

That is where I see the knees. If the tree is in a yard with reasonably good soil and is not saturated, I have seen plenty of bald cypress that are not sending up knees.

Yes, I would think that if there wasn't a need to produce the "knees" then maybe the tree wouldn't but I don't know for sure.

 

[stevephillips]

I've got three Bald Cypress that I planted about 20 year old in my front yard in northeast Kansas. They are now about 10-12 inches in diameter at the base and about 20 feet tall. I would describe the soil as deep, well drained silt-loam. There are no knees or roots on the surface. Beautiful, well behaved trees. My only possible complaint is the seed clusters.

What I have read about them is that knees are common only in swampy conditions.

 

[Emile]

My next door neighbor has a cypress tree planted next to our fence. My yard is overrun with cypress knees. How can I get rid of them?

 

[ropensaddle]

My next door neighbor has a cypress tree planted next to our fence. My yard is overrun with cypress knees. How can I get rid of them?

Well seeing how you live in Louisiana idk maybe move ?

 

[Emile]

Well seeing how you live in Louisiana idk maybe move ?

Yeah, but all the original cypress trees are on the other side of the train tracks, in the actual swamp. Where my house is is close to the Mississippi River and never was swamp land. This was something he planned. It wasn't there when the previous neighbors lived there!

 

[CacaoBoy]

My next door neighbor has a cypress tree planted next to our fence. My yard is overrun with cypress knees. How can I get rid of them?

Offer to give your neighbor lots of beer if he will remove his damn tree.