Question
I have a Bradford Pear tree that was planted next to my house by the previous homeowner.  The house was built 23 years ago and I believe the tree was planted about the same time.  

I think the tree was planted too close to the house and it may be causing excessive foundation settlement due to its extraction of water from the predominantly clay soil of our geography (Cincinnati, OH). The base of the trunk is about 10-feet in distance from the corner of my basement foundation wall.

My questions are:
1.) Is there a way to more accurately estimate the age of the tree, rather than my guessing that it's 23 years old?  The circumference of the trunk is 60-inches, measured at a height of about 3-feet from soil level; at the base of the first two branches.
2.) How wide and how deep do Bradford Pear Tree root systems go?  3.) If the tree was planted after the foundation was poured, is it possible for the roots to have grown/expanded "under" the foundation?
4.) Could the roots grow down 5-feet and then grow "out" from there?

I could attach a photo if that would help.  Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Answer
1) Bradford does not have annual rings in the wood like oak or pine so it would be difficult to age the tree. Forester use an instrument called an increment borer to drill into the trunk and take a wood core out and the annual rings can be counted. But with the wood of a Bradford this would not work. Your guess of 23-25 would be as close as you may get.

2) Bradfords have a shallow root system with the majority being in the first 2 feet of soil. The roots will expand out to about 1 1/2 times the width of the branches.

3) The roots more than likely reached the foundation and turned. Usually the foundation has a fairly deep footing and the shallow rooted trees will hit the cement and turn along the foundation. I would not think the roots are below the footing.

4) No the roots are within the first 2 feet of soil.


This Bradford is getting pretty old for a Bradford pear (their normal life span is 15-25 years of age). After that they start to fall apart and die. I hope this is what you wanted and asked