Question
Dear expert,

I would like to plant a purple dwarf flowering plum in a particular location in my garden.  As I dug, I noticed there is a water/sprinkle pipe buried along the edge of the hole.  Will the tree's root system damage the pipe in the future? Is it possible to still plant the tree there?  Looking forward to hearing your advise.  Thanks

Answer
The roots will not damage the pipes since they are sealed. Tree roots can not enter an sealed pipe and will not damage them. The roots will grow around the pipes and when if you have to dig the tree up in the future the digging could damage the pipes. The majority of the roots will be in the first 18-24 inches of the soil. If that is where you want the tree go ahead just remember if you pull it up later be careful not to pull up the pipe.