Trees atop a retaining wall

[OliverPeach]

HI, I want to try to get a general answer to my question of:

Is the current thinking that reduction work will control to some extent structural root pressure on retaining walls?

 

 

 

some context:

My client has a mixed row of large but by no means fully matured black pine, cypress spp. and yew growing directly on top of a 1m retaining wall. 

They are keen to protect the retaining wall as it is a heritage construction. There are very mild signs of bellowing form root pressure in one place and we want to minimise this in the following years top come, they're also keen to protect the trees rather than remove the lot if possible.

 

Thanks in advance for any advise

 

Oliver

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Probably not generally, but reducing wind-loading by height/crown reduction may reduce some of the deflection / pressure on the wall...perhaps.

[Stere]

Shame thoose species don't coppice (apart from yew?)

 

Is the retaining wall drystone or concreted?

 

Drystone are would be better easier to repair if roots are pushing it down.

 

https://www.drystonewalling.wales/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ClawddConstruction.pdf

 

Many clawdd(also cornish hegde) have mature trees on top and roots push the stones out bit they can be repaired.....

 

So leave  could trees alone repair wall as necessary?

 

 

Edited January 11, 2021 by Stere

[Khriss]

Soil type known?  K

[Khriss]

( and a pic please) 

[Mark Bolam]

Lose the pine for a start, you can’t reduce them meaningfully.

[Arboraeration]

It is generally accepted now that reductions do not reduce the root spread, do you have any pictures of the site in question? Is there the option to root prune and install a root barrier to protect the wall?