Putting in footings near tulip poplar

[Kenzen]

Well am wanting to put a footing for a small block wall that will be covered with rock. The footings will need to be 24" down. The footings will be about 5' from the base of the poplar so am wanting to decrease the amount of stress that the poplar will go through. Will want to dig the trench in about November so any ideas abouot preparing the tree before the digging and care of the tree after the digging. No major support roots will be directly harm during the trenching.:

 

[BC WetCoast]

I suspect the majority of people will answer the question of how to prepare the tree by telling you to cut it down.

You have to realize that by putting in those footings, you will be destroying a significant portion of the rooting mass of the tree. How much will depend on the size of the tree. This will put significant stress on the tree regardless of when you do it.

The second issue you need to consider is whether over time, the roots of the tree will damage the wall. This is a bigger issue when the tree is near a retaining wall and the tree is on the upper side. As the root crown grows in size it exerts lateral pressure against the wall and will crack and break a wall. Again, I'm not sure how the tree sits in relation to the wall.

The further away you can put the wall the better. The majority of roots will be less than 18" deep.

 

[Kenzen]

What the roots do to the rock wall adds to the character of the wall, my house was built in 1939. So it would be possible to move the footings a few more feet away or even skip the footings near the poplar. So any suggestions on preparing the tree for the stresses it will go thoough

 

[treeseer]

...The footings will need to be 24" down. The footings will be about 5' from the base of the poplar ... . No major support roots will be directly harm during the trenching.:

You've been drinking too much beer if you believe this. NO way to follow your plans as described.

Got a camera?

 

[Kenzen]

Trenching near a tulip poplar

I should had said that the trenching would not directly cut into the primary roots. So you want a pic to see the tree and where the digging would be?

 

[clearance]

Just use lots of rebar, concrete has great compressive strength but not much tensile strength. You can even span over roots with the wall, leaving a small part of the footing out.

 

[S Mc]

What I am reading about tulip poplars, Liriodendron tulipifera, is that they DO NOT like their roots messed with. The emphasis comes from articles I am finding stating "intolerant" to root pruning or disturbance.

How big is this tree and, yes, please post pictures. You may want to seriously reconsider your construction project if you want to preserve this tree.

Retaining wall, to me implies holding something back. What is the purpose of your project, are you changing the grade? If so, how much?

Although, I like Clearance's idea of spanning the roots, you also need to consider how much you are going to change the condition and structure of the soil in the proximity not just the damage to some of the roots.

Sylvia

 

[Kenzen]

Putting footings near tulip poplar

The idea was to have a decorative rock wall following my driveway down to the road. So now the idea of rebar near the poplar is an idea and also leaving the area open near the poplar as a way to walk to the other side of the rock wall.

 

[kennertree]

Cant really tell how far it is from the driveway. Might be able to excavate the area with an air spade and prune the roots first.

 

[S Mc]

Well, for my .02 as this is a landscape design for aesthetics only, I would rethink the project.

Perhaps others who deal with this species of tree on a regular basis could give anecdotal evidence of how root pruning affects them. I would be concerned.

Sylvia

 

[Kenzen]

The rebar idea works for me as well as leaving an opening to cross over to other side of yard. Have used an air spade before for other projects mainly just looking at the root system, but never pruned the roots so I would be very uneasy about it. Remember it is going to be a rock wall over cinderblock and can easily modify what I need to do around the poplar.

Have another project in my yard involving a southern red oak and that 's enough with dealing with root systems in healthy trees. If any one have more ideas about the poplar issue I'll be glad to hear them.

I like to keep the trees I have and keep them healthy you know.

 

[treeseer]

... it is going to be a rock wall over cinderblock and can easily modify what I need to do around the poplar.... If any one have more ideas about the poplar issue I'll be glad to hear them.

Build a different type of wall, one that does not require such a footing.

Dry stack?

Looking at your pic, I might feel ok about slightly impacting the roots near the driveway IF you do something for the rest of the rootzone, starting with mulch, and IF the tree is in good or better condition right now.

 

[wavefreak]

Move the driveway. Seriously. If you have the room.

 

[Kenzen]

Footings near a tulip poplar

Had considered repaving the driveway next year and could move the driveway out some. Drystacking the rock would be extremely nice looking, no footer needed and less work,the drystacking could be closer to the driveway. So now I can start mulching the area between the poplar and where the driveway is to help in lessening the impact on the root system, then mid fall before the tree becomes dormant use a high phosphate fertilizer that would help promorte root growth in spring and cutdown the amount of possible fungus in the tree helping decrease the stress 0f the tree. Good plan? Would not begin drystacking till late winter or early spring.

 

[treeseer]

Good plan but no superphosphate just spray to kill grass now and mulch now and prepare wall base in september

 

[Kenzen]

puttingfootings near tulip poplar

Was thinking of mulching around the tree and out to the driveway. Was going to use half of the amount of Vigor 53 prescriped for this size tree. Then some possible vertical mulching within the dripline. So how does this sound before September