OK, all you green thumbs

[DannyD]

I want to put in a walkway to "hide" a drainage ditch at this location by my patio. What I plan is to dig a ditch about 15" deep, put in black corrugate drain pipe with slits, rock and a covering over the pipe. It will drain down to a ditch beside my property, that I also will have to redig for my neighbor. (backhoe work, smile)

 

[DannyD]

My problem is that a tree (see later post) has some roots growing up to and in the area of the future tilling and taking out of about 6" of topsoil to allow for colored rock walkway and to cover over the ditch mentioned above.

If I take these roots and cut them back will I kill the tree? I would be fine with it, but the wife has the next chore for the bh if I do, something about digging 6' deep to plant me in

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Danny, there are 2 types of black corrugated pipe with perforations, one has a fabric over it. I'd suggest you use the fabric coated pipe as it helps to keep some of the fine particles of dirt from clogging the holes of the pipe. For the path itself, I really like tumbled bluestone. It is modestly priced compared to many other natural stones, and it has a nice smooth surface that makes it comforatable, even if you walk on it with bare feet.

 

[DannyD]

This is the tree

 

[DannyD]

Thanks Bob. I used last time beside my barn the slit pipe and a covering that is used for weed control, cheaper than the "socked" pipe I have found, and I have enough left over to do this project without buying more.

Your information is dead on as usual

 

[BigAl]

Ok ,
If you are looking for my permission to go do this , you have it . /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifJust make sure you put on your hat , rubber boots and coat first and don't let Mom catch you playing in the water ! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Since your Post mentioned "Green Thumb guy's", I guess I really don't count ,as I have a Kioti and I believe your talking about those John Deere Guys. They are pretty much green all over !!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Is it envy because that I got a big ,bad Kioti . hummm.... I wonder .... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Just funnin guy's! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Big Al

 

[DannyD]

I will also need to remove this root that has grown beside the patio

 

[DannyD]

Green thumbs meant as in you can actually get things to grow............and know something about it.

I/We can kill artificial plants at my house.

And I am orange, Kubota with a hoe........and a tiller, YELLOW, etc..........

 

[DannyD]

I plan on the walkway to be 4' wide from end to end, with colored gravel and step stones along the way, or maybe brick if I can get the wife to like the idea, then in the future, brick pavers on the patio.

This will end at the patio end, and be angled off to go up to the pond

The main reason for it is water control, we get a rain and my patio is flooded as the ground about 75' out drains down to the patio but has no where to go after that.


Many thanks in advance. project will commence when dry enough and/or in March during vacation

 

[DannyD]

the blue stone sound sort of what I had in mind, only ours is multicolored, but it is tumbled for smooth and good to walk on. of course the wife has to approve and the step stones will help, but this is again to hide the drainage mostly, anything else is icing on the cake.

 

[BigAl]

Hi Danny ,
Yes I know what "Green thumb" means ,but I saw a great chance to stir the pot ,as they say . Cutting roots on any tree can be a iffy situation . Can you dig a holeunder or through the root system and use a solid pipe in just that section to lessen any trauma the tree might recieve ? I would use some B-1 on the area around the tree to help stop tree shock .
Big Al

 

[DannyD]

Yes I can probably get it tilled and removed without damage, but I was unsure how the roots in gravel might fair afterward. I plan on there being about 6" of the colored stones the whole length and these are above that grade in the soil.

 

[EddieWalker]

Danny,

If the tree is important to your missus, I'd bring a leaf and a branch to your local nursury and explain to them what you want to do.

Two reasons for this. First is that many people may know the general species of their trees, but an aweful lot of people call them the wrong species or get the variety wrong. The other reason, and the more important one, if the tree dies, and they said it shouldn't, then it's not your fault.

I do know that winter is the best time to prune, transplant and basically mess with trees with the minimum amount of impact.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[DannyD]

it is a maple tree, which gives lots of leaves, which is the reason I dont care, but she does.

thanks for the way to get the monkey off my back though.

 

[RonR]

I did a job for a lady this fall involving tree roots. Her smallish front yard was so overgrown with maple roots on top of the ground, you couldn't walk across it without tripping.

She was selling the house and needed the front fixed. I told her that the right way to cut out the roots was to cut 1/8th pie shaped sections out each year on opposite sides and the tree would survive. Doing it all at once might put the tree at risk, but she said go for it!

I tried a couple of tools (axe, etc) and figured out that a reciprocal saw with a tree blade (I bought 4 for the job) did the best.

I started at one side and started cutting and pulling. Took me 4 hours and one full pickup load of roots to finish. Hauled in 8 yards of topsoil to spread over the top and reshape the yard, then scratched in fescue.

Looked great when I got finished. My two cents.
ron

 

[Junkman]

Would you like flowers or donations at the funeral? I believe that anything you do to that tree is going to kill it. It is quite large and the root system is quite extensive. Now is the time to tackle it if you are going to do it. Once it starts to leaf out, it is too late. Your window of opportunity is rapidly closing. You might just shock the tree and get away with it, but tell her that it is a 50/50 proposition. If it doesn't make it, you will dig that one out and plant another. You never can tell with trees how they will survive. If you do go for the root cutting, then make sure that the tree is well watered at least twice a week for the entire summer. This will help it to survive with the loss of the root system on that side. Don't feed the tree either. Wait till the following year to see how well it makes out. If it does survive after the next winter, then feed the tree. Good luck and please post pictures..... Junk...

 

[DannyD]

Thanks Guys,

I am thinking that I should backhoe the ditch, then, if I can get the roots to move without cutting them I might be better off. I can then see if I can get the pipe around them as you suggested Al. I am now thinking about not doing the 4' wide path, but making it only the width of the pipe ditch. Putting rock in and decorative rock on top to "hide" the ditch.

 

[have_blue]

Whack the roots off pretty close to the tree. Maple roots will recover quickly, and you will find yourself having to trim them back to keep them from invading your pipe. Consider a concrete root barrier...a deep narrow trench filled with dry concrete mix up to about 1-2" from grade. Takes 1 hour with a sharpshooter shovel, lasts a lifetime.

 

[aondre]

I agree with 'have blue', the maple roots will recover quickly and they should be cut back further than your trench. A couple of other tips: cut the roots cleanly with a chainsaw or sawsall, apply vertimulch where the roots were cut, trim a few of the branches (5%) from the crown of the tree, only do the root pruning while the tree is dormant, extra water and some fertilizer will help the tree through the critical first summer. If you do these things the tree will probably recover fine, but remember anytime you deal with mother nature there is no sure thing.

 

[Nasty135]

DannyD, With trees if you take some off the bottom you should take some off the top ,because the bottom supports the food to the top. If the bottom can't feed the top /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Not sure about the safe amount . A good friend of mine who worked for a nursery always said the best thing you can do for a tree is prune ,prune ,prune . Doesn't look like it going to be a fun job