Residents in many western communities are concerned about the upkeep and dangers of uprooted sidewalks caused from oak trees that line streets. Concrete lifting, otherwise known as slabjacking, may offer a more cost-effective and convenient solution. From evergreens to trees with showy flowers or bright fall color, you have lots of options when choosing fast-growing shade trees. A number of these trees have noninvasive roots that … Are Your Sidewalks Safe? Note: Property owners remain liable for sidewalk damage caused by street trees if the damage existed prior to July 1, 2017. Placement. Some communities pay for damage … Trees are usually prized elements in a landscape, but a sprawling root system may sometimes pose a threat to sidewalks… Small trees should be a minimum of 10 feet from structures while large trees must be at least 30 feet from them. The optimal tree to plant on the edge of a property line to prevent trees from damaging the sidewalk is slow-growing trees. Trees That Can Be Planted Over Water Pipes. Where you plant your trees is an important consideration because tree roots can damage concrete walkways, walls, septic tanks and swimming pools. Trees with superficial roots that grow along the surface pose an additional risk to sidewalks and driveways. Homes, sidewalks and driveways are also in danger of becoming puckered or … Seattle, in fact, has formalized a process under its Trees and Sidewalks Operations Plan (approved in 2015) in which both an arborist and an engineer perform a joint field review of tree and sidewalk conflicts that need to be addressed and make initial recommendations for repairs. Trees with Roots that Don’t Spread (By Zone) Tree roots want all the water they can get! But when encroaching tree roots start to make your sidewalk buckle or sink, ripping it out and re-pouring it isn’t your only option. The space is likely owned by the city and it is their (that is: the taxpayers') sidewalks, curbs, and infra that will heave & form a trip hazard; therefore the tree species is up to them. Root pruning is highly stressful to trees and cannot be done indiscriminately. Some trees—such as Bradford … Tree root sidewalk damage makes a mess of concrete and creates major trip hazards. It is important to have appropriate trees for the treelawn width - inadequate or no - to avoid unnecessary damage and expense. As a part of StreetTreeSF, the City is repairing sidewalks with severe damage and walkways in heavily traveled corridors to reduce tripping hazards. SFGate.com cites that in a 2011 survey by the University of Michigan Extension, tree root damage to sidewalks costs an average of $3 per tree per year to repair, and sewer damage costs $1.66 per tree more. Even a tree with a non-aggressive root system can cause damage if it is too close to a concrete structure. 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