killing established root system

michele read

Hi Everyone.

I have two well established bottle brush trees in the front yard (pre our residency) and their root system is now interfering with the sewer pipes.

The front area is sunny. We have already cut one down this week and aim to do the other this weekend but we need to kill the roots.

How do we go about this and how long will the dying process take.

After this I would like to plant at least one that is friendly to the pipes and and good for our old cat to lay under.

Waithing for help.

Michele Read

Eric Frei

Even if the roots died immediately they wont just disappear, takes time for them to decay away.

If roots are in pipes then pipes have access for them to get in, likely any new tree will also find the access.

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Gadwall

Did you camera the line? Sometimes, the damage done by roots and other forces is not reverseable simply by killing the tree. Once the openning is form dirt can seep in and cause additional damage. If it has already formed a belly, in the line, then it will likely not return to it's original state. Concrete pipes are notorious for allowing roots in. Also, poor glue techniques on a PVC line can also lead to these types of problems.

Eric Frei

Larger dia pipes can be sleeved these days too, saves digging up etc.

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Brent Ferris

Why not keep the tree, and just replace or resleeve the pipes - the result will be best all around.

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