Working on a restaurant that has a HUGE Live Oak that shades the entire Patio area. The Oak has been growing in an urban setting and has heaved the mortared stone patio. Since this is such a valuable asset, I want to make sure that we accommodate it in the remodel master plan. Initial thoughts are to remove the section of patio that is heaved and replace with a wooden deck to allow several inches of clearance above the root ball. Since the restaurant patio is fashioned with mortared stone, at least 1/3 of root zone is under this. I'm wondering what type of patio we should put in... Keep in mind the patio is a very big part of the atmosphere of this place. Any thoughts on using pervious concrete? I'll be happy to provide more information as needed. Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Huge Oak growing through patio
- Thread starter kevin087
- Start date
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Sparky8370
ArboristSite Operative
Kevin, I want to seriously encourage you to get a qualified arborist in to consult on this tree. As Sparky rather bluntly put it, the surrounding area is a bit of a mess and could have significantly impacted this tree's root system.
Any and all changes you make in this design need to take into consideration not just the finished improvements but how those improvements are going to be achieved.
I would definitely not go with any kind of concrete...pervious or not it will require compaction to a degree that will be root limiting. A floating deck will be much better and can be made to blend with your design, whatever that might be.
But you need to be prepared to have this tree assessed for not only its current situation, health and structural stability. But also in view of the changes you plan to make in its life.
Your pictures only show a small portion of the extent of the root system. An arborist on site can help define where the majority of roots are, what may have happened in the past that might have posed compromises, and give suggestions on what can be done and what shouldn't be done.
Good luck.
Sylvia
Any and all changes you make in this design need to take into consideration not just the finished improvements but how those improvements are going to be achieved.
I would definitely not go with any kind of concrete...pervious or not it will require compaction to a degree that will be root limiting. A floating deck will be much better and can be made to blend with your design, whatever that might be.
But you need to be prepared to have this tree assessed for not only its current situation, health and structural stability. But also in view of the changes you plan to make in its life.
Your pictures only show a small portion of the extent of the root system. An arborist on site can help define where the majority of roots are, what may have happened in the past that might have posed compromises, and give suggestions on what can be done and what shouldn't be done.
Good luck.
Sylvia
:hmm3grin2orange:
I vote both.
What atmosphere, is that a junkyard or a crackhouse?
:agree2:
No sense in planning anything until that old sucker is inspected. Discoloration in sunken areas--gray above, black below--indicate disease issues. You can start with flipping back the blocks that cover the stem and removing dirt and junk until you see the big roots coming off the stem. Then take more pictures.
And you guys dissing the area--be nice!
Toddppm
Addicted to ArboristSite
Well, didn't we all think the same thing? That's a restaurant?
With a raised deck you'll invite rodents to live under there, you could dry lay the flagstone on sand or stonedust which should provide better air/water excchange. Still not ideal but it seems like trees in trpical areas can take alot more abuse than the rest of the country? Maybe because they grow faster or have a longer growing season?
Y'all are killin' me, but agree with most of your comments. Yes, this place is quite funky and OLD. It has so many "creative engineering wonders" that I was taken aback. The comments seem to suggest that we not make major changes to the patio - except to repair a few areas that have created safety issues (...that is, without further professional analysis). The existing patio which currently seems to be "porous" enough to enable air and water to get to the roots. The shed(s) next to the tree will be taken out, but this same stone patio acts as a floor for those feeble structures, so we won't be with messin' w/ roots.
It appears that a floating hardwood sitting ledge around the accessible portion of the tree would work for that part of the project. It will be out of traffic flow and that portion of the roots will be opened up (remove rocks as suggested by treeseer). Although it may also attract rodents as toddppm suggests, it is well known that college students are attracted to the same features which attract vermin, otherwise this place would not stand a chance anyway.
Sylvia, you hit the nail on the head when suggesting an arborist, and great point on the compaction issue.
I'll post the roots near the tree when I get the pix. THANKS TO ALL!
It appears that a floating hardwood sitting ledge around the accessible portion of the tree would work for that part of the project. It will be out of traffic flow and that portion of the roots will be opened up (remove rocks as suggested by treeseer). Although it may also attract rodents as toddppm suggests, it is well known that college students are attracted to the same features which attract vermin, otherwise this place would not stand a chance anyway.
Sylvia, you hit the nail on the head when suggesting an arborist, and great point on the compaction issue.
I'll post the roots near the tree when I get the pix. THANKS TO ALL!
