Is there an arborist in the house?

[lspencer534]

Question: I have 6 bald cypress trees inside the oval that forms my front yard. The trees are in groups of 3, one group at each end of the oval. The closest any tree is to the concrete driveway is 10'.

The tree roots are destroying my driveway--not breaking the concrete, just lifting it up. I see the roots coming out on the other side of the driveway, headed for my house foundation. The roots have covered over 30'. The trees are about 75' tall.

This Winter I want to rent a trenching machine and cut off the roots on the side of the driveway where they're entering, like I said, about 10' from the tree trunk. Will this kill the trees? Remember, I'll just be cutting roots on one side of any tree, and that distance increases once I pass the centerline of the tree. The trencher should do the job since cypress is a very soft wood. I realize it won't do the trencher any good. :leaving:

Only pic I have:

http://i702.photobucket.com/albums/ww22/lspencer534/garden2011006.jpg

[99 pewtercoupe]

This Winter I want to rent a trenching machine and cut off the roots on the side of the driveway

Make sure to have someone standing by with video camera for the inevitable blood splatter whenever you do any outside work

[MrPeabody]

Make sure to have someone standing by with video camera for the inevitable blood splatter whenever you do any outside work

:rofl::rofl:

[DAB]

rule of thumb (still have yours?) is that the roots go at least as far as the spread of the limbs. some will spread more.

will you kill the trees? probably not, but it probably would not hurt to consult a real, local, licensed tree dude. or call your local extension service.

have you considered the benefits of a loose gravel driveway? very low maintenance. :yesnod:

[...Whitepower...]

I swear it said abortionist when i first read it..

[lspencer534]

Make sure to have someone standing by with video camera for the inevitable blood splatter whenever you do any outside work

I've probably lost enough blood over the years to run a hospital.

[lspencer534]

rule of thumb (still have yours?) is that the roots go at least as far as the spread of the limbs. some will spread more.

will you kill the trees? probably not, but it probably would not hurt to consult a real, local, licensed tree dude. or call your local extension service.

have you considered the benefits of a loose gravel driveway? very low maintenance. :yesnod:

Yep, that's the rule, but not with cypress trees. They withstand wind better than any other tree because their roots extend out several times the spread of the limbs.

I wouldn't mind a gravel driveway, but the vast length of the driveway is in good shape, and it's wide (16'). Plus, I wouldn't want to dig out 565' of driveway--that's how far away I am from the road.

[bsmith]

IIRC, PolarBear's son is an arborist.

[lspencer534]

IIRC, PolarBear's son is an arborist.

Thanks. I hope he chimes in.

[Bill]

have you considered the benefits of a loose gravel driveway?

That's the driveway my parents warned me about.



:leaving:

[kingpin]

Drive a few copper nails in the trunk. :leaving:

[Bill]

I've probably lost enough blood over the years to run a hospital.

Don't most lawyers have the same blood type? Cold?

:D

[mrvette]

Send that cut wood MY way, I can think of a few somethings to make of it....

that shit NEVER rots, you know, and takes decades to dry out....closed cell wood....interesting shit man....

:seasix:

[lspencer534]

Send that cut wood MY way, I can think of a few somethings to make of it....

that shit NEVER rots, you know, and takes decades to dry out....closed cell wood....interesting shit man....

:seasix:

Yep, it's valuable wood. The exterior of my house is mostly board-and-batten cedar. I've re-stained it once in 36 years, and it's good as new. Cypress is a pleasure to work with because it's so light and easy to cut.

Guess what, mrvette? When I moved into the house in 1990, the interior was reverse board-and-batten cypress. I took it all out and ... burned it. Nobody wanted it because it was 11.5" wide but only 7/8" thick. (The exterior pieces are 1 1/4".) BTW, my old barn still has most of the cedar on it--the thick stuff. I still see cypress advertised in the newspaper, although I thought it was illegal to harvest it now.

[lspencer534]

Don't most lawyers have the same blood type? Cold?

:D

Cold...as...ice. :leaving:

[mrvette]

Yep, it's valuable wood. The exterior of my house is mostly board-and-batten cedar. I've re-stained it once in 36 years, and it's good as new. Cypress is a pleasure to work with because it's so light and easy to cut.

Guess what, mrvette? When I moved into the house in 1990, the interior was reverse board-and-batten cypress. I took it all out and ... burned it. Nobody wanted it because it was 11.5" wide but only 7/8" thick. (The exterior pieces are 1 1/4".) BTW, my old barn still has most of the cedar on it--the thick stuff. I still see cypress advertised in the newspaper, although I thought it was illegal to harvest it now.

There is a place here in Jax, me and a buddy did business with years ago....Florida Cypress, dunno if they have other shops or not, expensive, but that shit LASTS....

I cut a 4x4 that was several years old, and it was still wet inside....a 4x4, I was shocked....

and it don't split and tear like other woods, go figger.....:seasix:

[lspencer534]

There is a place here in Jax, me and a buddy did business with years ago....Florida Cypress, dunno if they have other shops or not, expensive, but that shit LASTS....

I cut a 4x4 that was several years old, and it was still wet inside....a 4x4, I was shocked....

and it don't split and tear like other woods, go figger.....:seasix:

That's the closed cells at work. I have several old cypress interior doors that are just beautiful; nothing looks as good as that beautiful, deep grain. You'd love them, and I'd give a few of them to you if shipping weren't a problem.

I learned a long time ago to take a previously finished cypress door that is in good shape and apply 2 coats of Watco Danish Oil to it, and it makes the finish look so deep you can get lost in it.

[jaxgator]

IIRC, PolarBear's son is an arborist.

:yesnod:

Thanks. I hope he chimes in.

:waiting: