Weeping willow- too close to house?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

... Poplar roots had managed to breach the normal spec seals within both new types of drain and even past an additional external tape seal in one instance... The authors considered likely that the additional condensation around the increased surface area of the joints increase root proliferation which increased penetration.

 

This is one of our industries best kept secrets!.. QUOTE]

 

That's very interesting and I'll have to dig out that article.

 

I still can't totally accept that a tree will expend the energy producing roots and breaking through drain seals unless they are exploiting a resource that is already present, even if it's in miniscule quantities. Whether that's from a minute amount of seepage or from the condensation.

 

Hmm, I'm off to find someone with a handy pile of Arb Journal back issues

 

trees use pipes mechanicly too Janey, to the point of exploding gas mains on german high streets.

[Riggerbear]

Unfortunately not according to:-

 

D, Ridgers, K, Rolf and Ö, Stål. (2006) Management and planning solutions to lack of resistance to root penetration by modern PVC and concrete sewer pipes. Arboricultural Journal 2006, Vol. 29, pp. 269–290

 

Essentially Ridgers et al set up a field trial with intact and variously damaged pipes within a realistic usage situation and planted hybrid black pops above them. Six years later, they airspaded them out and looked for root intrusion. Poplar roots had managed to breach the normal spec seals within both new types of drain and even past an additional external tape seal in one instance. Roots were found to breach the drains around its entire circumference not just below the water level. The authors considered likely that the additional condensation around the increased surface area of the joints increase root proliferation which increased penetration.

 

This is one of our industries best kept secrets! I remember discussing this paper with some LA colleagues who were previoulsy unaware of it. Despite its compelling conclusion they were adamant that they would not revise their policy on drain damage...

 

Very intresting, i never knew these trail's was carried out, like you say Tony it's one of the best kept secrets.

[eggsarascal]

That's very interesting and I'll have to dig out that article.

 

I still can't totally accept that a tree will expend the energy producing roots and breaking through drain seals unless they are exploiting a resource that is already present, even if it's in miniscule quantities. Whether that's from a minute amount of seepage or from the condensation.

 

Hmm, I'm off to find someone with a handy pile of Arb Journal back issues

 

 

Janey, you don't need to consult the arb journal, take it from me that tree roots will break through the joints/crazed glaze of sewers. You know about the arb world and bar wenching, I know about sewers and firewood. Lets just take each others word for it.

[janey]

 

 

Janey, you don't need to consult the arb journal, take it from me that tree roots will break through the joints/crazed glaze of sewers. You know about the arb world and bar wenching, I know about sewers and firewood. Lets just take each others word for it.

 

Touche

[roberthill83]

Thanks for all the advice and helpful comments. I successfully removed it this morning with little effort required. Going to look for a less vicious replacement as the front looks a little bear now!

[Xerxses]

Unfortunately not according to:-

 

D, Ridgers, K, Rolf and Ö, Stål. (2006) Management and planning solutions to lack of resistance to root penetration by modern PVC and concrete sewer pipes. Arboricultural Journal 2006, Vol. 29, pp. 269–290

 

Essentially Ridgers et al set up a field trial with intact and variously damaged pipes within a realistic usage situation and planted hybrid black pops above them. Six years later, they airspaded them out and looked for root intrusion. Poplar roots had managed to breach the normal spec seals within both new types of drain and even past an additional external tape seal in one instance. Roots were found to breach the drains around its entire circumference not just below the water level. The authors considered likely that the additional condensation around the increased surface area of the joints increase root proliferation which increased penetration.

 

This is one of our industries best kept secrets! I remember discussing this paper with some LA colleagues who were previoulsy unaware of it. Despite its compelling conclusion they were adamant that they would not revise their policy on drain damage...

 

There has also been trials on the seals of the plasticpipes, the pressure that holds the pipes together is when the gaskets are new approximatly 4 bar and a oakroot has a growing pressure of about 12 bar... so if the gaskets or seals improve there will be problems in the future...