I have 2 Mexican Sycamore trees in my front yard - both planted at the same time about 10 years ago. One tree's roots go deep no problems. The other has a ton of roots right at the surface and the majority headed right toward my front porch flower bed etc. They have torn up my brick landscape edging and I just realized are affecting the porch under a column. They are also crossing the sidewalk from door to street etc.

They have to go so I am just digging them up and cutting them all off well back into the yard - but how do I keep them from growing back on the exact same path? At this point I don't care if I kill the tree, although I'd rather not.

Any advice on how to manage them would be greatly appreciated.

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About to try some sketchy sheet - think I will hook onto those roots headed under the porch and use the winch on my wife's Jeep to pull them out.

How bad an idea is that?

AgTech88 said:

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About to try some sketchy sheet - think I will hook onto those roots headed under the porch and use the winch on my wife's Jeep to pull them out.

How bad an idea is that?

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Good luck with that lol

Just dig down around them. And chainsaw / axe cut them back. They may grow back but it could take years.

Don't cut the tree down. You're already committed.

We have big oak trees and a couple pines in the front that were planted in the early 90s when our home was built. When we did a foundation repair 8 years ago, installing a tree root barrier was one of the options discussed with the foundation repair company but we decided not to do it at the time. I wish we would have looking back now.

They basically dig a trench about 3 feet deep between the home foundation and the trees and install a root-blocking barrier to prevent roots from growing past the barrier in the future. I don't remember the material recommended but google searches show the possibilities. When the barrier is dug, all of the roots are obviously cut, but I would not want to pull any out from under an existing slab which would leave a hole for the foundation to settle into.

I have installed a pair of 4 inch drain pipes down the side of our property when installing a pool in the back, and repaired a few water main leaks/ irrigation lines over the years and digging/ chopping/ chainsawing thru those tree roots is a job for a young person. Our retirement home I build one day will not have any trees near the house.

I would not winch/ pull the roots under the foundation. Some of the ones I've cut were 6 or 8 inches in diameter.
I would think all of the foundation repair companies install root barriers also. Even if you don't need the foundation repaired.

I was told by the owner of a foundation company that tree roots should not hurt a home foundation but might damage sidewalks or porches.

I've had best luck cutting them with the heaviest splitting maul you can find. Works better than an axe but you don't have to clear the dirt away for a saw.

I'd cut, leave, and reevaluate in the future.

I have to try to get them out from under the brick surrounding the porch so it can lower back down.