QuestionI have a bald cypress in my front yard that someone planted about 25 yrs. ago. It is certainly beautiful, but am concerned that it was planted too close to my house and am worried about it ruining my plumbing system. Its trunk is between 2-1/2 and 3' wide at the bottom, and the trunk is only about 13 feet from the foundation of the house where the main bathroom is located. Do these trees' roots go as deep as plumbing pipe and are they capable of causing lots of plumbing problems? Thank you so much.
AnswerThe roots are mostly within the first two feet of the soil surface. Water pipes near the tree will not be damaged since the roots can not enter the pipes. Sewer pipes especially the older clay or felt type can be invaded by the roots of many trees. This may clog the sewer pipes and cause back up and will need to be rooted out. Newer PVC type sewer pipes will not be effected. There should be no problem with he roots and the foundation this far a way from the foundation. If the tree is 25 years old the clogging problem should have shown up way before this time. If you are not having any problems with the sewer lines I would say you probably will not have a problem.
