The concern is if the roots have already entered the foundations or water systems then killing the tree will cause the roots to decay and leave gaps and perhaps cause further damage. Any advice on how best to manage the tree in the future would be gratefully accepted.
Hardiness Zone: 8a
Alan from Gloucetser, UK
Sorry to hear about the placement of your willow tree. Twelve to fifteen feet from the house sounds awfully close. This tree species grows fast and its roots are experts at seeking out water. The nutrient-rich water from leaky sewer pipes or cracked water lines acts like a magnet to the roots of these water-loving trees. This is why they don't belong in residential landscapes-not to mention that willows drop a lot of kindling and are quite messy as they age. It's hard to say whether or not your tree's roots will infiltrate your foundation, if they haven't already. One determining factor is where in relation to the location of your tree, that your water and sewer pipes enter and exit your home. As long as the roots have enough room to spread out, a solid structure like your foundation will divert the direction of their growth, providing that is, that any nearby pipes are in good repair and moisture doesn't tend to pool in the area.
Ellen
My neighbor (and best friend!) lives next door and had a willow tree planted within a foot or two from our fence line. The tree is 20-30 ft tall after 6 or so years. It has lifted our mutual fence, pushed up our patio, and now the roots are coming up through our lawn.
This is a very delicate situation as she is very attached to the tree. My question is this: what is the best way to handle the situation regarding replacing our property and removing the tree? Do we submit a claim to our insurance company? Hers? Do we sue? I want to remain friends and make this as cost effective for her as possible.
My entire patio will need replaced, possibly my sprinkler system and now I'm afraid it could be getting into our foundation. I mentioned the problem to her several months ago, but told her nothing needed to be done "today", so we can take some time to figure out what to do. It has caused much more damage in just the last few months so I mentioned it again and she didn't say much. Help! What would you do?
Thanks in advance.
Hardiness Zone: 10a
By Jodie from Sacramento, CA
I doubt that a six-year-old willow is a protected tree, but contact Sacramento's Urban Forestry Service. Here is a link to their FAQ: www.cityofsacramento.org/
Your assumption that she would not give up the tree should be challenged. Can one take cuttings from this tree and root them? If so, give her ten rootings and she can grow this fast-growing tree elsewhere while you address the current problem. The tree could possibly then be cut down and removed.
If this person is willing to allow her tree to tear up your fence, ruin your patio and possibly your foundation not to mention the sewer pipes if it gets into them, then she is not your friend and you don't need any more like her. She shouldn't treat a stranger this way much less someone she claims to like. Do what you have to do.
Find out if the roots are coming up as a possibility of the tree coming down! Call an Arborist or local tree service and they will come out and check the structure of the tree. If they can prove it may be dangerous, perhaps your friend will see it as an emergency removal and not just an "inconvenience" to you.
It's only a matter of time until the willow roots get into your water and/or sewer system--and hers, too. Willow does a great job of wrecking a great many things, as you are finding out. Unless your neighbor has vast acreage away from your house (about two miles would be good), DON'T encourage her to plant more willows!
When a willow tree broke into my sewer lines and began backing things up into the basement, I got RotoRooter. They guaranteed their (expensive) work for only six weeks (vs. six months to a year or more for any other kind of tree). We had the willow tree cut down promptly! How about a nice dogwood or weeping cherry? Take a photo or several of the tree so she can grace her walls with its beauty. Good luck!
I must encourage you to encourage her to have the tree cut down and the stump/roots poisoned, by removing the whole tree the vacuum which is left will take a long time to settle so if the roots/stump die slowly and rot away this will encourage settlement and 'return to previous status' over a long period of time which is preferable. Also, as previously stated, the roots will find water, whatever form it is so complete removal is not an option.
I have a weeping willow tree in my garden which is about 35-40 feet away from an extension I built 20 years ago. Recently I have noticed a few cracks appearing in the extension. I decided to cut the tree by about 50%. Do you think the cracks are caused by the willow tree? Will cutting it to reduce its size will help?
By Ghani A
I have willow trees in my back yard. My home is 5 years old and the closest tree from my house is about 25 feet. Question. Can I simply cut a large root nearing the home, which will make the cut about 20 feet from the tree. Will I kill the tree by doing that?
By Henry
Our backdoor neighbor has a huge willow tree on our boundary. The tree has caused a lot of problems from drain blockage to rotten deck not to mention safety on our side of the fence. We have discussed this since 2009 but nothing has been done. She explained why she planted the tree close to the fence and boundary was to keep her lawn and property dry from storm water. Our house has flooded about 3 or 4 times since we've bought the place in December, 1999. What can we do?
By Patisepa T.
My neighbour is concerned about a pussy willow tree planted close to the boundary approximately 50 feet from our houses. The tree has flowered for the first time this year, so I would like to keep the tree if it is safe to do so. The main sewer and water pipes are in the road and underneath the pavement on the far side of the house, but my neighbour is concerned about the foundation of the houses.
By Margaret M
Last year my neighbour planted what was a 10 foot willow tree about 8 feet from their home and about 10 feet from our concrete brick garage. We pointed out the problems this would cause, but my neighbour literally screamed at my wife shouting, "It's not big"! I know that may seem an extreem response, but you haven't met my neighbour.
There are 2 willow trees behind my common wall. One is about 4-6 feet away from the common wall and I had some concrete work done from the wall to the patio of the house which it is about 22' long. The concrete was done in March of this year and just 2 months ago the concrete started to crack and lift so I reached out to the HOA and they told me that the tree could not grow roots 11+ feet to damage the concrete is that correct?
You will need to contact your HOA again. The roots of a Weeping Willow tree can spread over 100 feet long. If the tree has reached maturity and the foliage is between 45 to 70 feet long then the root system can spread out over 100 feet.
The tree that is next to your home sounds like it is half grown and not mature. Therefore, the roots on this tree can now be around 10 to 25 feet long. Here is a link that you can read that will explain the growth of this tree and the root system. You will need to get an inspector out to examine the tree, roots, and possibility that the tree has caused this damage. If this is the case, your HOA is responsible for removing this tree immediately because the longer the tree is left to grow the larger the roots can spread. Your home could be in danger if this tree is left there much longer.
homeguides.sfgate.com/
How do I repair the roots of a weeping willow when they are too close to the house?
When the roots are too close to the house you may have problems. They are looking for water and may find their way into your plumbing pipes and cause a blockage. I would suggest that you trim the roots back away from the house instead of trying to repair them. Good luck.
I don't know if willow roots are different than others, but I strongly urge you to get them away from your house as soon as possible, which depending on how far they spread, may necessitate tree removal.
When I had my home inspection before moving into my house years ago, the man told me to have the 2 front maple trees removed IMMEDIATELY or they would crack my foundation--he showed me where the damage was just starting on the one corner, as they push forward trying to grow. They also had started to buckle the sidewalk.
What he missed (but I am not sure how he could have known it since they don't put cameras down drains in home inspections) was that a Locust tree on the other side of the yard had roots that got into my sewer pipes and that was a huge expensive fix a few years later when there was a big sewage back up into my basement (BIG YUCK).
Sadly all my trees are gone (they were beautiful), but the roots can do a lot of damage.
Be sure to get several bids and recommendations on tree removals and always get the stump removed...we were very lucky, but some friends have had really bad experiences.
We have just started a house extension and when the boundary fence was taken down the buildings regulations officer has highlighted that there is a cracked willow tree in the school garden about 5 ft from our boundary. We have had to stop our build and consult an engineer to replan a raft foundation system. This has put a substantial amount on to our build cost. We have contacted the school, but have not heard anything back from them.
Ideally the tree needs to be taken down as it potentially has an impact on the whole of our house foundations, if not now, then in the future. Who is liable for this and can we claim the extra cost of our build from them if they do or don't remove the tree? Also do we have to tell our insurers and potentially what would they do? if anything?