I have a tree in between the sidewalk and the street. It is literally sitting on top of a storm drain. Recently, the city came out to replace some sidewalk sections in my neighborhood. From what I can see, they basically killed the root system.
I’m unsure of what to do to be honest. Should I reach out to the city or should I call an arborist first.
I’ve felt this tree should have been taken out a while back as the roots seem to want to travel directly to anything that is important. Now I feel like there’s no choice but to get it removed.
by FitAcanthocephala945
10 Comments
From my experience, tree roots still follow the 1/3 rule where if you prune 1/3 of them, it’ll be fine. My only worry would be how substantial the root system is on the otherside due to the road being there.
Also is that tree considered your property or is it the city’s property? Looks like it might be on the city’s portion if they claim right of way for maintenence- like they just did with the sidewalk repair
In fairness, the tree’s roots destroyed the previous sidewalk first. lol
Talk to an arborist THEN the city. They may just pay the arborist if it’s cheaper than them doing it. Otherwise, they may cut it down if they killed it.
How stable is that tree now that a substantial amount of roots have been cut away on one side? My fear would be that the tree could fall toward the house in a bad storm if it’s not rooted well on the sidewalk side.
That is the cities tree, sorry to tell you.
The pad they cut for the sidewalk is pretty shallow IMO
The root system that really braces and holds that tree are far deeper than what you’re showing.
I’d actually commend the city for preserving the tree and doing a good job with it.
Second- it’s in the city right of way, and in most cases that means you as the home owner can’t remove it without their permission… and they won’t remove it if it’s not a safety risk.
Third. It sounds to me like you just want them to remove it and this is an excuse to use to try to make them do it. – which is crazy to me, bc mature trees are worth a literal ton to the home value. Plus in the ROW like that reduce street speeding, reduce heat island effects etc. the value of that tree is enormous.
r/arborist
Usually the homeowner is responsible for the sidewalk. Consider yourself lucky you didn’t have to pay for it.
Almost every municipality reserves the right to do any work in the easement, and take measures to address encroachment upon public utilities, including sidewalks. From a legal standpoint, it’s almost certainly that your tree was damaging public property, not your tree was damaged by public workers.
Where I live now, you would be fined for the cost of repair as the homeowner, both for the sidewalk, tree removal and check/replacements of conduits and cabling running underground in the easement.
If the tree is in the right of way, you’re lucky they didn’t tell you to cut the tree down and make you pay for it.
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