Question
live oak root damage n
my neighbor's live oak roots buckled up my concrete drive way, the tree is 11' south of my drive way, if we take up the concrete with bobcat will it kill their tree? can I replace concrete? what is the best way to protect the tree while replacing the buckled concrete with new concrete?
AnswerThanks for the picture. Looking at the picture I think you can get away with actually cutting the roots along the driveway since the root system has the vast majority of it roots in the other areas. The generally rule is not to cut more than 25-30% of the roots. It looks like you will be within that amount. I would cut the roots clean near the drive as deep as needed to put the new drive in and install a root barrier along the drive to keep the roots that will grow from damaging the new drive. Install root barriers along the tree-side edge of the sidewalk. The barrier will force tree roots to grow deep below the sidewalk, thus preventing heaving. Barriers can be made of plastic or geotextile fabric. It should extend one foot deep and at least 5 or 6 feet in both directions from the point on the sidewalk edge closest to the tree.
These barriers can be made of plastic, metal or these is one that is made of a plastic fabric (BioBarrier). I would ask your local tree nursery about these.
The tree may suffer a small amount of dieback in the limbs on the side that the roots are cut but this will grow back. If it were me I would take the old cement out and cut the roots along the drive and put in a barrier and put in the form for the drive and pour in.
Here are a couple of web links to information on these barriers.
http://www.biobarrier.com/biobinfo.html
http://www.4specs.com/s/32/32-9452.html
