Also, Your plumbing is stationary, if palm roots surround it, whats the big deal? They are commonly found in Africa, Asia, Central America, South America, and the Pacific islands. ), researching what palm tree roots look like, how they grow, and whether they get wide or deep enough to create any damage if I planted them in the spot I had in mind. Some of the major ones include; Let us take a look at the Root system of the Coconut Palm Trees. That way if you need to trim roots that come up, you can simply remove some of the pavers, trim down the roots, and replace the pavers again. A variety of animals – primarily insects – feed on the roots of trees. Trees with extensive root systems can damage pool walls or pool plumbing (see the comments section). Palms are monocots, which means their roots do not get any wider with age. Your email address will not be published. If you don’t have experience with taproots, or you have an inkling as to what they are and want clarification, Wikipedia’s definition of a taproot is very clear and helpful: “a large, central, and dominant root from which other roots sprout laterally.”. Such a plant can become stunted if not repotted into a larger container. Can tree roots do damage to retaining walls? Palm trees are monocots and belong to the Arecaceae plant family. Again, there is a process to go through to prove the cause of the damage, and the extent of that damage. Trees with thick root structures often lift concrete walkways and may damage underground pipes as they search for soil moisture. Though many other trees and other plants have taproots, palm trees do not have a taproot system. Some palms suffer from having their roots cuts or bent and could undergo severe shock. I’ve seen a massive Parajubaea torallyi (google a pic, they’re huge) that had been growing for twenty years literally inches from a concrete sidewalk, and the sidewalk still showed no evidence of heaving. In most states, the bothered neighbor can engage in the tree trimming or root cutting herself, and doesn't have a claim against the tree owner. Most trees growing near buildings cause no damage. They also mention how important it is not to damage roots and to be as careful as possible when transporting the delicate root system: Container grown palms often have roots that wrap around the inside of the container. Does that mean you’re free to plant palm trees next to concrete? 4. If you like the posts on Potting Plans, please take a moment to subscribe to the email newsletter! Pinterest. Foundation damage near a tree Let us discuss some of the important functions of the Roots of a Palm Tree. These roots remain thin as they increase in length. Hello, I’m Elise. Better choices for around the garden are smaller, slower growing trees and shrubs which have shallower root systems. The following list of safe tree distances is a list referring to the potential damage from their roots to the foundations of your property which may cause subsidence. Leonie uses coconut palm webbing to protect the bare roots until they establish. The result is the potential loss of the tree, or foliage dieback on at least one side of the crown. Amy Rodriguez says: “In general, a palm shorter than 16 feet should display a root ball with a diameter of up to 24 inches.”. A tree, although lovely, can cause damage to patios, fences, walkways, curbs, driveways or streets. For example, the roots of Palm tree species like Royal, Bismarck, Bailey, and Canary Island date palms, grow up to 50 feet away from the trunk. Better choices for around the garden are smaller, slower growing trees and shrubs which have shallower root systems. Those roots don’t need to be cut like in broadleaf trees. can palm tree roots damage foundation. If you can dig under the caudex, the roots are thick and fleshy, not thick woody roots like trees. Blocked drains and lifted paving may also be a problem. Tree roots can be damaged from a variety of causes, but some of the most common include: Animals. Unlike with many plants, that benefit from disturbing roots and even at times cutting them up when they’re transported to a new container to encourage growth, palm tree root systems benefit from being disturbed as little as possible when they’re transported. Fortunately, most such problems are somewhat self-limiting and respond to various exclusion and extermination techniques. In its search for water, a tree root system can spread a lateral distance equal to the height of the tree. A warm welcome to my corner of the plant-lover’s world. These fruits and seeds get dropped and block utters downpipes and drains. The destructive power of root systems can destroy fences, retaining walls, patio paving, pool infrastructure, completely block drains, and even your home's foundations. The tree roots will not normally damage the foundations of a house directly but they can increase the likelihood of subsidence when they are combined with a clay soil, which shrinks and swells as moisture content decreases and increases. Other states provide that neighbors may sue if the following conditions are met: Instead, many narrow roots radiate out directly from the base of the trunk. The following paragraph from the previously mentioned Garden Tabs article, I feel explains this concept perfectly: It’s highly unlikely that a palm tree’s roots will damage concrete. « Is Agave a Cactus? Also, try to keep the old soil around the rootball. In this lesson, we are going to learn about the root system of Palm Trees and their functions. A 60′ tree may need nearly 60′ in roots, but a 15′ tree, may only need 15′ of root space. Some trees have very aggressive roots that can damage pool walls or vinyl liners when planted too close to in-ground pool. If the roots of a tree situated on a neighbour’s land have caused damage to your property, then the owner of the tree can be liable for the damage under the law of nuisance. In that case, while transplanting the tree, it is very important to cut the tree from the trunk instead of uprooting it, which may cause damage to the underground pipe system. Invasive tree roots are seeking nutrients and water and such pipes draw them in for the growth. Were you looking for information because you were thinking of planting a palm in a specific location? But the roots of the Palm trees do not cause any such damage to the concrete or the underground pipes. Learn more here. Tweet. Be careful not to damage the roots when transplanting. Or planting in a palm in a container? Because some palm trees grow to be quite large, you’ll likely want to grow smaller varieties of palm trees in containers to prevent stunting the growth of the palm: […] some palm species grow very rapidly and their roots quickly outgrow their containers. The roots for palm trees stay the same diameter for the life of the root. Google+. However, it is very important to give special attention to the tree. Kidding aside, this really isn’t your problem. Common Causes of Root Damage. In most states, the bothered neighbor can engage in the tree trimming or root cutting herself, and doesn't have a claim against the tree owner. Most trees grow root systems of about the same size as the tree branch systems. Roots of palm trees grow in thin strands from the base of the tree’s root ball. That root also provides structural stability. These nutrients protect the fronds and keep them from yellowing. Removing the trunk will not kill the roots, and can even trigger new growth. It may also be worth exploring other options than removing the tree roots, such as the installation of a root barrier, to lessen the chance of damage to the tree. The destructive power of root systems can destroy fences, retaining walls, patio paving, pool infrastructure, completely block drains, and even your home's foundations. Pinterest. It this often seen that the large and thick roots of many trees lift the concrete and damage the underground pipes. To avoid roots growing into leaking pipes, you need to maintain your pipe system. Roots of the Palm trees have very distinct characteristics as compared to the other tree species. What about smaller palm trees? When trees cause walls to crack, the soil must be extremely dry after a period of prolong drought. Palm tree roots have a preference for sandy soil which makes them easy to uproot. If you know about parts of plants and have experience with taproots from your knowledge of other plant species, you might be wondering if palm trees have taproots. No, but They Are Similar; Here’s How. It’s common for these roots to be visible above the ground. Although not thick-rooted, like ficus trees, palm roots may grow into established pipe cracks and breaks if moisture is plentiful. Understanding the factors involved in tree damage to buildings, including soil type and depth of foundations, will help both tree and house owners determine what action to take and when to get … Essentially, some of the questions I wanted to learn the answers to were the following: Is there a downside to a palm tree’s root system being constrained by a container? Did you stumble across this article looking for information about whether a palm tree already on your property might become problematic for you? Share. Generally, palm tree roots won't damage concrete the way many thick-rooted trees can, as they are too thin to do any real damage. Although Palm trees are mostly found in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world, we can easily grow one in our backyard if we have adequate knowledge about the type of the Palm Tree and the length of its roots. Once again, the article on Home Guides by Amy Rodriguez sheds light: the root systems of palm trees “densely populate the top 40 inches of soil surrounding the palm’s base.”. Much of a tree’s growth happens underground and out of sight. The sub-soil must exhibit a high capacity for shrinkage, and the tree roots must be growing very close to … Are they stunted in terms of growth while potted and are there certain palms that do better in containers than others? It is his, and his complaint seems suspiciously reinforced by the reputation that precedes him. If you’re building a new structure, you can take a number of steps to prevent root damage in the future. The palm tree falling over. I live in Cascais, Portugal where I aim to create the drought-tolerant garden of my dreams. The side near the house settles because the tree draws out the moisture out of the soil. Amy Rodriguez sheds more light in this Home Guides article: Formed from the tree’s base called the root-initiation zone, roots continually grow and die off from this specialized area. If this were just any old tree I would cut the roots off that go toward the wall or concrete. I’ll do my best to share the information I found in as thorough a way as I can, but do me a favour and let me know in the comments section if you have more advice, tips, or experiences to share on palm tree roots. Removing the trunk will not kill the roots, and can even trigger new growth. Most trees will not damage a pool wall – as long as they have somewhere else to go – and also remember, if you prune a tree as it grows, and keep it from becoming a 60 ft tree, that will reduce root growth. Your email address will not be published. 4. Any necessary trenching inside the critical root area, or zone, for installing irrigation pipes, gas lines, or electrical conduit requires careful planning to avoid damaging trees. Your tree is highly prized and must be happy as it is. Browsing around that results page, it’s easy to tell that there are a plethora of different looking palm trees with an assortment of visually unique looking root systems – yet all of them seem to be relatively small, especially when you compare them to the height of the palm tree. But, unfortunately, many times large live Palm Trees cannot survive outdoors year round in climates that have a frost line. The leaves of the palm trees are present in two forms, Pinnate or Palmate. When you buy through links on this site, I may earn an affiliate commission. It may seem like they are no match for durable stone or concrete, but woody roots can do real damage. Understanding the factors involved in tree damage to buildings, including soil type and depth of foundations, will help both tree and house owners determine what action to take and when to get … Worried about growth/root habit of Yucca Elephantipes. Home Guides also points out a potential problem regarding pipes that are leaking: With roots that typically extend outside of the palm’s drip line, these horizontal feeders naturally grow toward moist soil for nourishment. Do you have any advice for those interested in palm tree root systems and whether or not they can be invasive? Avoid this method with these species (not a comprehensive list): Elms, cherries, plums, and lilac trees can regenerate from roots after the trunk is damaged. Tweet. Palm trees absolutely can be grown in containers like pots, though they will grow far more slowly in containers than they will in the ground. http://www.homebuildingandrepairs.com/landscaping/index.html Click on this link for more information about landscaping, design and repairs. If you cut the root you will damage the leaves that are fed by that root. Install the patio at least 6 feet from the trunk of the tree, and consider using concrete pavers instead of a concrete slab for the patio. The tree roots will not normally damage the foundations of a house directly but they can increase the likelihood of subsidence when they are combined with a clay soil, which shrinks and swells as moisture content decreases and increases. It’s likely he made the same assertion to the previous owner who apparently didn’t think to divulge it to you under the disclosure portion on the sales contract, possibly because he wanted to hide the fact or because it had little or no merit. A better idea is to rebuild or remove the retaining wall in that area. Other trees have roots that grow thicker as they mature, which can lead to a crack in a sidewalk or concrete surface. (This author lives in an association and a tree fell on his house, causing damage … Trees that grow slowly are unlikely to damage retaining walls. I have already chopped them to ground level after five years of growth and need to chop them again as they are exceeding desired height. I’d like for this to be as accurate a resource as possible. It all comes down to those thin roots. Join me as I attempt to take my green thumb from a pale pastel to a rich British racing green. However, they do remove a lot of moisture from adjacent soil. There are 181 Genera and 2,600 Species of the palm worldwide. Misbehaving tree roots have no place in your retaining wall planting. To ensure that the water requirements of the roots are fulfilled, you can wrap a soaker hose around the root area to keep the soil around the roots moist. If you can’t provide adequate space for the tree’s roots, then you should think about trying something smaller or a different landscaping option altogether. – stormy Sep 29 '16 at 20:34 We can even see these roots if the tree is planted in shallow soil. They'll destroy a wall just as easily as they heave sidewalks and driveways. Let me know if you think that spacing approximation is right, and how far you would place a palm tree away from concrete if you wanted to make absolute sure nothing would happen to the concrete! Some trees have very aggressive roots that can damage pool walls or vinyl liners when planted too close to in-ground pool. There is of course another danger of large trees near to your property which is from impact damage to your property (or persons in the property or garden) following a violent storm. This causes the foundation to detach and shrink leading to its collapse. Filed Under: Palms, Plant Care, Plant Facts. The roots of a tree just aren't able to push their way through foundation walls and are often easily turned away by simple barriers. Avoid this method with these species (not a comprehensive list): Elms, cherries, plums, and lilac trees can regenerate from roots after the trunk is damaged. You could really help out a fellow gardener. While it’s unlikely, as you’ve likely put together yourself, that a palm tree root system will create problems for a house if it’s planted nearby, it’s still possible for a palm tree roots to cause problems in theory, and it’s certainly possible for palm trees to cause problems in other ways, which is why it’s advisable not to plant a palm tree too close to your home. In the United States, they can be found in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the southern-most parts of Florida. This wide spacing provides a large enough growing area for sturdy root establishment without harming your pipes. But in some cases, subsidence and structural damage can be linked to tree roots. Out of concern over growing palms in a spot that would potentially give me serious trouble later, I decided to do some digging (the pun was a happy accident! The reason is that since the roots remain in the topsoil around the Palm trees, they do not penetrate deep into the soil to reach the pipes. Does palm tree roots damage brick walls should we let our dad cut planting palms dave s garden does palm tree roots damage brick walls should we let our dad cut palm tree growing tips mounding trunk rot fungus discussing palm trees worldwide palmtalk palm tree growing tips mounding. Also be a fussy plant even in a sidewalk or concrete of your newly purchased palm, sure! Mess with the tree branch systems to correct any information in this,... 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