ᐅ Risk to Water and Drainage Pipes from Tree and Shrub Roots
Created on: 9 Feb 2015 18:35
W
willWohnen
Hello,
I have read that tree roots can cause significant damage to water or sewage pipes. However, these issues mostly come from older houses, where the pipes were often made of clay. The problem usually starts when small leaks allow water to escape, attracting roots that then grow toward the source.
Additional note: not only trees are potentially "dangerous," but also shrubs like lilac or butterfly bush.
In our case, the utility lines—electricity, internet, water, sewage—unfortunately run diagonally across the front yard. I would like to plant bushes or trees there. Our water pipes are made of plastic.
Apparently, root barriers made from sufficiently thick membranes can be installed. However, most of our lines have already been backfilled. I don’t want to make a mountain out of a molehill or spend money unnecessarily to dig everything up and install membranes (especially since I don’t know how to do that professionally). But I would like to plant my front yard with peace of mind and avoid having to excavate everything in 15 years.
It’s a complex topic. I am hoping for the following advice:
o Who has real, concrete experience with root-related utility line problems?
o Who has heard about this issue during their home and garden construction and possibly taken measures against it?
o Where could I turn to—what professional group, authority, or website has experienced experts on this matter?
Thanks and best regards
I have read that tree roots can cause significant damage to water or sewage pipes. However, these issues mostly come from older houses, where the pipes were often made of clay. The problem usually starts when small leaks allow water to escape, attracting roots that then grow toward the source.
Additional note: not only trees are potentially "dangerous," but also shrubs like lilac or butterfly bush.
In our case, the utility lines—electricity, internet, water, sewage—unfortunately run diagonally across the front yard. I would like to plant bushes or trees there. Our water pipes are made of plastic.
Apparently, root barriers made from sufficiently thick membranes can be installed. However, most of our lines have already been backfilled. I don’t want to make a mountain out of a molehill or spend money unnecessarily to dig everything up and install membranes (especially since I don’t know how to do that professionally). But I would like to plant my front yard with peace of mind and avoid having to excavate everything in 15 years.
It’s a complex topic. I am hoping for the following advice:
o Who has real, concrete experience with root-related utility line problems?
o Who has heard about this issue during their home and garden construction and possibly taken measures against it?
o Where could I turn to—what professional group, authority, or website has experienced experts on this matter?
Thanks and best regards
M
MünchnerKindl27 Apr 2015 18:54Hello,
I don’t want any grasses "right in front of the house" either.
I was thinking either a hornbeam hedge or flowering shrubs—like shrub roses... I’m still undecided. There must be shrubs whose roots don’t spread too deep.
Best regards
I don’t want any grasses "right in front of the house" either.
I was thinking either a hornbeam hedge or flowering shrubs—like shrub roses... I’m still undecided. There must be shrubs whose roots don’t spread too deep.
Best regards
EveundGerd27 Apr 2015 19:11Buchs! Suitable also for hedges or borders. Add a standard rose tree and matching grasses or meadowsage...
I might possibly place a plumbago shrub in a container at the critical spot in our garden. It will grow to just under 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall, blooms blue/purple, and goes into the garage during winter.
The idea isn’t fully developed yet, but it’s coming along.
I might possibly place a plumbago shrub in a container at the critical spot in our garden. It will grow to just under 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall, blooms blue/purple, and goes into the garage during winter.
The idea isn’t fully developed yet, but it’s coming along.
M
MünchnerKindl27 Apr 2015 19:46Neither of us likes boxwood – we find it has a strange smell – but we could consider privet.
EveundGerd27 Apr 2015 20:51I don’t like that at all. Instead of boxwood, you can also plant evergreen periwinkle.
We are going to plant a long hedge. After much back and forth, I have decided on a holly hedge. Whether it will be planted this year depends a little, just a tiny bit, on whether we still feel like planting after we move in.
After all, someone has to water it through the summer.
We are going to plant a long hedge. After much back and forth, I have decided on a holly hedge. Whether it will be planted this year depends a little, just a tiny bit, on whether we still feel like planting after we move in.
After all, someone has to water it through the summer.
M
MünchnerKindl28 Apr 2015 17:02Everyone has their likes and dislikes.
Evergreens? I only know them as ground cover.
Holly? And it doesn’t have such deep roots? That could work, something different for a change.
Evergreens? I only know them as ground cover.
Holly? And it doesn’t have such deep roots? That could work, something different for a change.
EveundGerd28 Apr 2015 20:12Holly does not have a deep root system, depending on the variety.
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