Does reducing the canopy reduce the roots?

favajal45

I have read that roots can be said to reach to the extent of the canopy but does it mean if the canopy is reduced roots will reduce their spread in the future?

It's a beech tree.

The reason I ask is that a neighbour had a tree report done which included a tree in our garden. It stated that the roots almost reached to the boundary of their property.

They are now claiming damage to their extension as a result. I don't imagine that the roots suck all the water out from the ends alone if the ends of the tree roots actually reach the neighbours property) and it seems unlikely that the damage is a result of the tree.

Eric Frei

Nah, if it were true then Bonsai's would not have to have the roots trimmed.

Tree roots can cause subsidence on clay soils, many times that is what causes buildings to crack.

Roots also go further than the canopy.

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Brent Ferris

I agree with Eric's comment, that tree roots extend further than the canopy and that trees act like water pumps sucking the water out of the soil. But, the roots aren't sucking water only at the furthest extensions but everywhere the roots are.

And you have an advantage that the report states "that the roots almost reached to the boundary of their property". THis should be a big plus because an expert has written the roots are not actually near the extension -- unless the extension is virtually on the property line,. You could offer to install a root barrier on your side of the property line to mitigate future potential problems.

It sounds like your neighbour has had problems and wants you to pay for the solution,

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