Advice: Remove Tree or Not?

[Jeremyaz]

A 10-year old tree's roots has started to degrade the hardscape area over the last couple years. My biggest concern is if it continues on it's path then it will probably affect the swimming pool. I've uploaded some pictures and am looking for your insight and recommendations. Do we have to remove the tree or are the roots set and won't grow much more? Thanks!

 

[bayard]

let it grow. trim it up a little . i am a big fan of cutting them down most of the time. not today

 

[ATH]

It is pretty well documented that trees have little impact on well designed and properly installed pavement. I would hope the pool was done better than the pavers. It looks like they are also out of place where they meet the concrete...the tree didn't cause that. I think removing the tree will temporarily give the pavers a few more years...but don't see them being there for 20 more years. How much value does the tree add to your landscape? Maybe redoing the pavers is a better solution????

 

[BC WetCoast]

When tree roots lift pavers, you can usually see the radial pattern of the roots from the tree. In the first pic, the lifting paver by the boxwood, doesn't make sense to me in it being a root.

Are there roots near the surface in the space between the tree and the curb?
Did the landscaper put in root guard or did he prune the roots?

As ATH intimated, it appears to me that the whole area of pavers is settling, possibly due to poor compaction of the fill under the pavers.

 

[Jeremyaz]

Thanks everyone for your insight. The house was brand new in 2007 and we hired a well respected pool company and I believe the pool was put in properly. The landscapers on the other hand, they probably short cut every possible corner and still charged us an arm and a leg. In fact, we've had to redo a lot of our landscaping and fix a lot over the last 9 years. My main concern was if that since I saw the pavers coming up that it must be the roots pushing it up and seems like it's headed towards the BBQ and pool. But if you think most of that is simply a bad compacting job by the landscapers I totally buy that explanation. I doubt there is any root guard and definitely didn't come back after the installation except to fix some misc issues.

If I'm reading your suggestions correctly, it sounds like we should have someone remove the pavers, level out that area again and reinstall them? Should we be looking for anything? Is it best that I do that initial part so I can see first hand if roots are the cause. If I hire this out, is it a job for a specialist with equipment to compact the area or simply my landscaper? Thanks again!

 

[Jason Douglas]

Nice tree, let it live. I think the issue is just poor paver installation.

If the adjacent tree in the 3rd picture is the same species, have an arborist take a look. Looks thin, stunted and off color if it's the same.

 

[JeffGu]

Try lifting a few where they're bulging up. It's not hard labor, and requires no knowledge you won't obtain while doing it. It should be obvious whether there are roots actually trying to surface there. If not, level the dirt and add a little sand, plop the pavers back down. I think you might find that this is some routine maintenance that you can do yourself. Tap them level with a wooden or rubber mallet, or deadblow hammer.

If you do find roots, find a local arborist and ask them how much they want to look at the problem and make suggestions. Do this a couple or three times, you just might find one that would rather see you keep the tree than cut it down... and that's a good thing. Leave the pavers out, of course, so they can see the roots, if any, themselves.

I'm betting, like the others, that this has little or nothing to do with the tree's roots, and more to do with poor site planning, fill and compaction.

 

[Conquistador3]

I have problems seeing that image in full size, but what kind of tree is that?
My father trusted the landscaping company too much and ended up with larger than he liked trees which dumped prodigious amounts of leaves and whatnot in his pool, resulting in much increased maintenance.

 

[Jeremyaz]

Thanks again! I'll follow JeffGu's advice on pulling up some pavers myself to see what's underneath and determine next steps from there. It sounds more likely a fill/compact issue than anything else based on the responses here which ironically alleviates my stress level a bit. Conquistador3, I can't find my original landscape plan anywhere and am almost worthless when it comes to identifying types of trees/plants. I think someone mentioned that it was a boxwood which rings a bell. One of my next projects is to identify all the plants/trees on my property and mark it down as I'm also tackling an irrigation project (installed a Rachio controller--which BTW is amazing).

 

[Jeremyaz]

Reviving this thread, as I'm picking up where we left off almost 2-years ago. I decided to take on the project and dig up the pavers and found roots! Easy to see the big root on the left, harder to see, but a root is going under the raised step area and under the cool deck (pushing the cool deck up). See pics. Thoughts?

 

[lknchoppers]

I would have gotten that tree out of there long ago. I don't like trees around my pool or near the house, they just make a mess and will ruin a roof over time.

 

[Jeremyaz]

I agree. Had a couple arborists come onsite and both agree the sissoo tree's near the pool must go immediately. I'm hearing they have horrendous roots that wreak havoc. Removing the trees tomorrow and killing the roots etc. Thanks!