Question
can lime tree roots cause subsidence in sandy soil

Answer
Trees only cause subsidence on shrinkable soils. In practice, this means on clays. If you are on a sandy soil, for example, tree related subsidence simply doesn't happen


Subsidence occurs when the (clay) soil under the building foundations shrinks; thereby leaving the walls without proper support. The building will then drop, and cracks may appear in the walls.

The 憇hrinking?and 慼eaving?of the soil may be a result of the seasonal variations in ground water levels. Extremely dry summers often make the problem worse.

Clay soil is the only type of soil that will cause problems in this way. Such a soil will shrink and expand according to the amount of water retained within its structure. Other soils, such as sand or gravel soils do not vary in volume ?regardless of their water content.