I love this tree even though it's been a pain in my ass for the last 25 years. I didn't plant it but it is literally touching my septic tank. it hasn't caused me any problems….yet.
I just had the tank cleaned and inspected today and the tank is good and it hasn't impacted my drain field or distribution box at this time. The general consensus is it's probably fine but will one day lead to a catastrophic septic failure due to the water seeking roots.
I'm much sadder than I thought I would be over this. I bought my house because I thought the tree looked great but I'm sick of cleaning the gutters,the smell of the leaves,constant anxiety over septic tank failure and the risk of it breaking my water line that runs right under the canopy. My health is also failing and I worry about leaving my wife at the mercy of contractors if she ever has to deal with this on her own one day.
I got a quote of $2500 to remove the tree and grind down the stump and large roots.
Any advice?
by Deep_Register2350
4 Comments
Because it is alive
Which is cheaper and less disruptive to your family? Cutting the tree down or replacing the septic tank?
You waited to long and now do not have the physical ability if you ever had the skill to take that tree down. If I was your neighbor I would take it down for the wood. Maybe you could call around to the local smoked wood food trucks to find someone to take it down for you.
Do it – get it cut down. Replace with a slow growing evergreen that can be a focal point if you still want something there. we cut down 3 along the driveway. Previous owner planted them. We tried to rationalize that they were pretty. But the small sticks and the constant leaves dropping mess that rained down on the cars and driveway and the neighbors too… oof. The roots were lifting our driveway causing it to crack. We had an arborist come to the house to look at a separate issue and asked him what he thought of the river birch. He said River Birch is a tree that belongs at the back of a property- away from the house. It was strange at first but we quickly got used to it and honestly the constant daily cleaning up debris stopped. It’s a good thing to get it out.