Question
QUESTION: Hi Jim,

Last winter we planted Southern Live Oak tree in the backyard (8-10 feet high now), it is about 6 feet apart from our concrete patio and 10 feet apart from another plant (Mountain Laurel), will this oak tree uproot our patio concrete or even damage our house foundation as it grows? Will Mountain Laurel survive since it is quite close?

Thank you

ANSWER: You should not have any problem with the foundation but the patio could be effected years down the road when the tree gets larger. This is many many year from now but the roots need to be trained now so they will not give you a problem later.  I would install a root barrier along the patio between the patio and the tree. This will stop the roots form going under the cement and protect the patio from the roots up lifting the cement. There is no problem with the Mountain Laurel they like living in partial shade and will do just fine in this location. Here is a web link to different root barriers. http://www.4specs.com/s/32/32-9452.html

These are install along the cement deep enough to turn back the roots as they grow that direction and keep the roots from going under the cement and lifting the slab.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: If we transfer the oak tree to farther location from concrete patio, will that be okay? If so, do you have any suggestion on how far it should be?

Thanks

Answer
Deciduous maybe planted either in the spring or the fall. Deciduous plants may be moved in the spring as soon as the frost is out of the ground, up until the time when new foliage is partly unfurled. In the fall, they may be planted once the leaves start to turn color up until the ground freezes.

When you want to dig up a tree or shrub for transplanting, retain as much of the root system as possible. Deciduous trees  can be successfully moved only if a ball of soil is left around the roots. The exposed roots should be protected with moist burlap or newspaper or with polyethylene sheeting. Every effort should be made to reduce root exposure to wind and sun, keeping the ball as moist as possible. It's best to prepare the hole before digging up the tree you wish to move.

Size of the root ball and size of the hole:

For deciduous trees and shrubs the soil ball should be:

Width = 9-12 in. in diameter/every 1 in. of tree diameter
Depth = 6 in./every 1 in. of tree diameter

For example: A tree trunk 2 inches wide would need a soil ball of 18-24 inches wide and 12 inches deep.

Dig the hole twice the size of the rootball and as deep and fill with top soil. Mulch around the tree with not more than 3 inches deep of an organic mulch not piled up on the trunk. This will help hold moisture around the roots. Water about every third day for the first 6 weeks with 1 inch of water --place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when the pan has 1 inch of water in it stop. After 6 weeks water once a week when it does not rain.

Northern Red oak has a spread when mature of about 40-50 feet so plant the tree about 20-25 feet away from the patio and you will not have any problems with the roots. Root may extend further than the spread but these roots will be small feeder roots and will not lift anything.