Question
I live in Midland, Texas and recently purchased a house with a beautiful backyard pool. Fewer than two feet away from its deepest end of 7 feet, stands a magnificent 30 foot Red Oak Tree. In Midland we average 13 inches of rain a year but are currently in the midst of a drought. Last year we received fewer than 7 inches of rain. My father insists we should chop down the oak tree before its root system crashes into the pool wall, causing it to leak. The pool is 3 years-old, and we do not know if any kind of retaiining or proctective wall was put in when it was installed. The tree provides wonderful shade and beauty and, to date, has not caused any structural damage. Even so, my father says once there's a crack in the pool wall, it's a goner. What are your thoughts?

Answer
Dear Kim

I can't imagine why a builder would construct a pool that close to a mature tree.

Through construction, the root system will surely have been damaged in excavation - the question is only how far the root system was effected.

I would watch the tree closely for signs of decline and I would also have an interdependent builder look at the pool to see if they believe it is in jeopardy of compromise.