Before you begin wondering what can be done about your tree roots, it’s important that you determine that your foundation issues are being caused by the tree itself. As mentioned previously, foundation problems will occur regardless of whether you have a tree or not. This is why it’s so important for you to have a foundation expert inspect your home. You don’t want to start a big project to cut down your trees and their roots only for you to suffer from foundation issues a few months later.
If you do find out that your tree is in fact causing the problem or you simply want to be safe and take preventative measures, there are multiple options that involve keeping the tree as well as not keeping it.
Keeping the Tree
If you have decided to keep a fully grown tree, one of the best ways to prevent foundation damage is by installing a root barrier. A root barrier is a barrier that surrounds the roots of the tree and blocks them from extending any further. The barrier is placed deep underground in a trench that runs deeper than the roots themselves. It’s one of the best solutions because it’s permanent and it’s a job that only needs to be done once.
If you’re thinking of planting a tree, you need to consider multiple factors. A tree’s roots have the potential to extend further than the tree is tall, so learning about the tree and how long the roots can grow should help you determine how far from the home the tree should be planted. Slow-growing trees such as oak and Japanese maple should be planted since these will not accelerate the soil compaction.
Not Keeping the Tree
If you’ve decided that the tree isn’t worth the hassle and want to get rid of it, there are many ways you can go about doing just that. You can go with the traditional way of just cutting the tree down. It should be noted that if you have no experience doing this, you must call a professional. No matter how small you think the tree is or what DIY guides say, cutting down a tree is dangerous.
Using herbicides is another option if you don’t mind a slower process. It’s an effective method that doesn’t involve digging a trench or any manual labor. Herbicides kill tree roots, which eventually kills the tree as well. You can either spray or coat the herbicide on the actual tree itself or on any exposed root.