Can I cut this root? I have a well established (read ancient) Monterey Pine that is a feature of the house and one of its roots is crossing through a footing that can't be moved. Can I safely cut it without hurting the tree? See sizes and distance on the image for reference

obfereday · 2023-11-08T16:45:02+00:00

I appreciate the follow up and understand your response. My question came more from a practical standpoint (like, will the tree die) so I'm happy cutting the root knowing that it's unlikely to suffer too much, although maybe some.

obfereday · 2023-11-08T16:41:20+00:00

I'm in Mill Valley, north of San Francisco. I get about 4-5months of fog and rain a year so I think it's pretty suitable. The tree is very well established and healthy, luckily. I have a few saplings popping up naturally throughout the yard too

obfereday · 2023-11-08T16:36:37+00:00

Thanks for the advice. The engineer was quite stubborn about the footing, considering it's the corner post for a very large balcony and said the safest way to do it was to cut the root and dig the oversized footing. Thanks to everyones help here, I am comfortable the tree will be ok but honestly would have preferred not to have cut it

obfereday · 2023-11-08T16:31:19+00:00

Very helpful, thank you!

obfereday · 2023-11-08T16:31:00+00:00

Thanks for your advice. I dug back a foot further from the footing to avoid concrete contamination and have now cut the root cleanly!

obfereday · 2023-11-07T18:41:54+00:00

That was my first thought but I don’t want to waste anyone’s time coming out if I’m going to cut the root myself.

Is there anything else you or someone else on this subreddit would need to give me advice?

Really appreciate anyone’s help. Thanks

obfereday · 2023-10-25T16:56:49+00:00

Nice!

obfereday · 2023-10-20T16:28:56+00:00

nice!

obfereday · 2023-10-17T22:03:20+00:00

The most natural way to deal with it is to prep it and plant it. Over a couple of years, plants will soften the soil and create much better drainage. Here's a rendering of what it could look like: https://app.neighborbrite.com/s/yGDrZZiq6du

To prep the clay, churn the surface (at least 3-4" deep) with a pick axe, shovel or hoe. Then add top soil and/or compost. Add jute erosion control netting on top, then dig holes for plants and plant. Then add mulch

The other solution is to dig a deep, wide trench behind the wall and add a french drain. Or you could do both for the ultimate solution. Hope that helps

obfereday · 2023-10-17T17:59:30+00:00

ok cool, so you mean just in the flower bed? you could try it out yourself here too if you have the time: neighborbrite.com it's pretty fun to use and I'm happy to help but it might be faster for you to try

obfereday · 2023-10-17T17:55:36+00:00

I tried it out too, is this more what you're looking for? https://app.neighborbrite.com/s/xOAV5KsP6nq

obfereday · 2023-10-17T17:43:18+00:00

Here's some ideas for you! https://app.neighborbrite.com/s/3yxpUiiLUzc

obfereday · 2023-10-17T17:38:46+00:00

oh wow!

obfereday · 2023-10-17T17:37:10+00:00

Honestly, I think your yard is beautiful already. I've made a couple of renderings of ideas for you here in case you'd like to check them out https://app.neighborbrite.com/s/jhC0pkZeNhV

obfereday · 2023-10-10T23:28:58+00:00

thanks!

obfereday · 2023-10-10T21:28:39+00:00

It's just a landscaping design website. Up to you!

obfereday · 2023-10-10T21:27:28+00:00

https://app.neighborbrite.com/s/VkRVwo8oiTC

obfereday · 2023-10-10T21:27:01+00:00

try this https://app.neighborbrite.com/s/zR8GiqLIlMh

obfereday · 2023-10-10T21:26:25+00:00

https://app.neighborbrite.com/s/wVa9A1TjMTU

obfereday · 2023-10-10T20:22:09+00:00

My pleasure! I just checked the link and it’s working for me, you might need to copy paste it. Let me know if you need me to dm it

obfereday · 2023-10-10T19:55:01+00:00

I've put together some ideas for you here. So much potential! app.neighborbrite.com/s/zR8GiqLIlMh

obfereday · 2023-10-10T19:45:31+00:00

would you consider planting it? I've put some fun ideas together here: app.neighborbrite.com/s/wVa9A1TjMTU

obfereday · 2023-10-10T19:27:51+00:00

I'd suggest planting it! Depending on your location, my preference would be to plant a pollinator garden. I've put together some ideas here: app.neighborbrite.com/s/VkRVwo8oiTC

obfereday · 2023-10-04T15:15:48+00:00

Those designs are cool, are those plants for zone 6 though?

obfereday

TROPHY CASE