Question
Hi, I have a washingtonia robusta palm tree approx 6 years old on my property it is about 4-5
meters from an important drainage pipe on the property next door.  I have been trying to find out how far the root system is likely to spread out from the base of the palm in case it becomes a problem. I would like to try digging down about three feet out from the trunk and putting in a root barrier on one side to stop any roots crossing the boundary which is about two and a half meters from the tree.
Could you give me any information about the width and depth of this trees eventual root system.  Any suggestions on how to tackle this would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Hi Martha, Palms do not root out like trees, they form a root system that is more like a root clump; the roots form close to the trunk and downward. I have seen 40 foot Palms right up against sidewalks, houses, septic systems and even pool cages with no problem. The roots are very brittle also and thin, so there is no chance of them snaking into a pipe system like a Mahogany or Ficus. Nick