too close to tree?

[His200HerScout]

i never thought this tree would be a problem until i decided to go with a 32' garage instead of 26'. now, before construction begins, i wonder...

i staked the corners and the door locations, and this tree is not in line with either door, so it will not impede driving in/backing out of the garage. but i thought i'd ask those with trees near their garages...

does this (spectacular black walnut) look too close or in a difficult location??

 

[bgott]

It ain't in line with the doors but, if you use the shop at all, you are going to peg it, sooner or later. Plus, if you park anything in front of the doors it gives the birds a perch to **** all over your stuff. It's easier to drop it now rather than later. I put in a couple of small trailer parks and left as many trees as possible. Between borer beetles and hurricanes I've had to pay to have every last one of them cut down piece by piece. Scorched earth from now on!

 

[His200HerScout]

It ain't in line with the doors but, if you use the shop at all, you are going to peg it, sooner or later. Plus, if you park anything in front of the doors it gives the birds a perch to **** all over your stuff. It's easier to drop it now rather than later. I put in a couple of small trailer parks and left as many trees as possible. Between borer beetles and hurricanes I've had to pay to have every last one of them cut down piece by piece. Scorched earth from now on!

thanks for the advice

 

[Torque1st]

The concrete over the tree roots will kill the tree anyway. Bugs eating the weakened tree and decay will accelerate the process. It will be shedding rotten branches as it dies onto the drive and vehicles.

 

[chevelle64]

I'd say 22' is plenty of distance. I have 3 large oaks that are all within 12' of my attached garage. I didn't build it, that's the way I bought it.

 

[autoist]

Could you use pea gravel as a drive instead of concrete?

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Get rid of that tree before you regret leaving it. I left 2 big oaks close to my shop and it will cost big time to get rid of them.

 

[walrus]

If you build a driveway around it, it probably going to die anyway.

 

[ultgar]

or you could take this approach................

 

[curdy]

I'm a fan of leaving as many trees standing as possible, but where it stands doesn't seem to make sense keeping if there's going to be a driveway there.

I know it hurts to cut down the nice stately looking trees, but there is something you could do...

If you hire someone to cut it down, ask them to cut it as low as possible to the ground to maximize the length of the trunk. If its nice and straight, measure up from the bottom and cut it at 8' increments. If its twisted or bends, cut the truck in the spots that will yield the most straight sections over 5' long. then hire a guy with a portable saw mill to mill it up. Doesn't cost that much to have it milled either. Stack and sticker, and you'll have some really nice black walnut to play with.

Here's a couple of shots of what we did...

 

[35mastr]

In the end the roots will lift and crack you new driveway. Unless you are in love with it. Just cut it down and save yourself future head aches.

 

[curdy]

Oh yeah, and make sure the guy chases the roots with the stump grinder really well or else you'll have low spots in the driveway. If possible, get a guy with a back hoe to pull the sucker out.

 

[Lhorn]

Ultgar, is that your house? That is really cool. Gotta ask...if people say you can't build near a tree's drip line, how are those two huge trees able to survive having a house built near/around them?

 

[MXtras]

Oh yeah, and make sure the guy chases the roots with the stump grinder really well or else you'll have low spots in the driveway. If possible, get a guy with a back hoe to pull the sucker out.

If you take the tree down, take Curdy's advice. Yank the roots out, dig 'em out - whatever it takes, otherwise you will have issues once the root system rots away.

I love having shade on buildings, but not if the tree interferes with the function of the building.

It amazes me how all new construction involves ripping out every single tree first, then replanting starter trees. Cutting down an established shade tree just doesn't always make good sense to me.

Scott

 

[JMURiz]

or you could take this approach................

That's about the craziest idea I've ever seen. I'd be scared to death anytime it was over a 20mph wind.

 

[Torque1st]

Ultgar, is that your house? That is really cool. Gotta ask...if people say you can't build near a tree's drip line, how are those two huge trees able to survive having a house built near/around them?

Those two trees will die eventually. Disturbing the roots by covering them that cuts off the water and air or cutting them off weakens the tree. In it's weakened state the bugs get at it and rot sets in. In many places where there is heavy pedestrian traffic around trees they have found that even the compacting of the earth with foot traffic is killing the trees.

I had three trees die from this same problem on my own property.

 

[curdy]

If you do decide to remove it, ask the guy digging the footers to pull the stump for you with the back hoe. Some guys don't like to do it because it can be tough on the pins...but everyone I've ever dealt with didn't mind one bit. Its perfect timing since they're already going to be there.

 

[ultgar]

Ultgar, is that your house? That is really cool.

No...just a job I worked on 7-8 years ago. Here's a wider view...........

 

[rustbucket49]

How big is the tree? I would be concerned about the driveway and the drip line of the tree. Being 22 feet away is a pretty good distance, but the drip line of the tree will tell you how big the root system is (in general). I would keep it if possible, but definitely check w/ a specialist. I just had to take out 2 big oaks that were about 10 feet away from a swimming pool I had built 4 years ago. The trees struggled for 4 years and finally died even though they had very little of the root system covered by concrete.

 

[arusty28]

Rip it out now!!! I had a tree growing in the middle of my driveway for many years and it caused all of the previously mentioned problems. Yes, you will hit it, graze it, scuff it, and cuss it. Trust me! You can plant a new one somewhere else if it makes you feel better but please kill that tree!