Foundation built near tree (arborvitae)

[aunsafe2015]

Is there a rule of thumb for how far to build your foundation from a tree? The tree in question is an arborvitae green giant (something like this: https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/Thuja-Green-Giant.htm). It's probably 6 or 7 feet in diameter, and is fairly mature so isn't growing very fast any more.

I have a small backyard with limited space. Would I be OK building the foundation so that the rear corner of the foundation is about one foot away from the longest branches of the tree? That would have the foundation about 4 to 4.5 feet away from the tree's trunk.

Assuming folks think that would be OK for the foundation, any thoughts about what impact it would have on the tree? If the tree is not likely to survive, I might as well go ahead and remove it anyways.

By the way, the tree is part of a privacy hedge, so I'm trying to keep as many of them as possible.

Thanks for any input!

 

[bczygan]

I would go ahead and build.

If the tree is impacted, you can always remove it later.

Bill

 

[Bob P1]

Well, generally the roots of a tree usually are as wide in circumference as the top of the tree.

 

[lakeroadster]

"The root systems of arborvitae are generally shallow depending on the variety and they may spread to the drip line edges of the branches."

You should be just fine.

 

[brownbagg]

five feet outside the canopy of the tree, or it will kill the tree

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I'd build. I doubt the roots will do any damage to the foundation and if the Arb is damaged it's easily replaced. You're lucky to be able to have them. Around here Arbs are just deer salads...

Tommy

 

[glentre]

In these cases, you just never know the outcome of installing a foundation too near a tree because there are too many variables. The foundation of our present home was installed three feet from one 30" diameter oak tree and another 24" oak some five ft away 18 yrs ago and some roots had to be cut to do it. Both trees are still alive and doing fine. The septic field lines were dug maybe 10 ft away from two poplar trees and they both died.

Our new garage had a medium sized gum tree and two other poplars located just inside the perimeter of the foundation so all three of them had to be removed before construction. In this case, the problem, especially with a tree with spreading roots, is you end up with a hole that has to be filled so you are not laying your footers or the concrete slab on virgin undisturbed soil. We used gravel fill in this area and compacted it well. In addition, we laid substantial rebar in the footers and also under the slab to hopefully beef up the area in case the filled hole sinks due to natural compaction over time and the rotting of the remaining cut off root runners under the slab. The garage is less than a year old so only time will tell.

In your case, I would advise to go ahead and install your foundation but to ensure it and your slab (if you are going to have one) is beefed up and made as structurally sound as possible in case the tree dies in the future. If that happens, the tree will have to come down but the roots under your building will eventually rot and the soil in that area will sink somewhat and may cause cracking of your footers and slab.

Glen

 

[cvairwerks]

Hate those stupid trees. We've got two of them at one house. They're about 15 feet high and about 20 feet in diameter. The wasps and yellow jackets love them. Can't wait to cut them down this summer.

 

[lakeroadster]

Hate those stupid trees. .... The wasps and yellow jackets love them. Can't wait to cut them down this summer.

Testify my Brother.... Wait until they get bagworms... Holy ****!

We had about a 100 foot privacy fence of arborvitae and they got attacked by bagworms. Looked like the snakes on Medusa's head.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

Well, generally the roots of a tree usually are as wide in circumference as the top of the tree.

I agree


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Slednut]

Hate those stupid trees. We've got two of them at one house. They're about 15 feet high and about 20 feet in diameter. The wasps and yellow jackets love them. Can't wait to cut them down this summer.

We have around 200 of them, the main roots aren't wide spread and there are others that are really small.

Arbovitae need to be sprayed in the fall and again in August to keep bugs away.

 

[rburke65]

Cut it. Just my opinion.

 

[cvairwerks]

We have around 200 of them, the main roots aren't wide spread and there are others that are really small.

Arbovitae need to be sprayed in the fall and again in August to keep bugs away.

Haven’t found anything yet that I can use on the wasps and yellow jackets that won’t mess with the cardinals that spend a lot of time in them. Paln is to start cutting them back a little at a time to encourage the cardinals to spend time elsewhere, then get rid of them completely.

 

[aunsafe2015]

Thanks for all the replies.