Environmentally Tree Friendly Stone Work in River Oaks Landscape Remodeling Project

We would like to install a new patio in our backyard and add an outdoor kitchen. We would like these structures to be located in the back areas of our yard away from the large oak trees that dominate the center of the landscape. We have thought of having a walkway installed as well that would connect the patio, outdoor kitchen, and back patio of the house all together. We are wondering if there is a way to install a walkway that will wind underneath the trees without harming the very large roots just under the ground.

Thank you for your question. Tree root protection is a high priority in our business, because we feel that trees provide some of the most, if not the most, significant elements on any landscape. Damaging a root close to the surface of the ground can have devastating effects on a tree—possibly even killing it. Many landscapers do not want to install walkways near tree roots because creating a solid surface to walk on and protecting a tree at the same time are difficult to do for two reasons.

First, most walkways have to be laid on top of a concrete foundation that is 6 inches below the surface of the earth. Digging this deep into the ground can expose a root or result in it being cut with a digging tool. Even if the root is not cut, it is has no protection from the weight of the concrete and subsequent passing foot traffic if a slab is laid directly on top of it.

In order to work around this challenge, it is necessary to use a different method of excavation and a different method of stonework to protect tree roots. First, rather than using shovels or other metal digging tools, we use air and water pressure tools that vacuum dirt and water out of the ground. If a root is exposed, there is no impact to its structure and not damage to the wood. We can then lay plastic over the area instead of concrete, creating a flat surface onto which we can lay custom-cut, flat limestone blocks. These blocks are cut with such precision that they fit together like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle. No concrete is needed to set them, and only a little bit of mortar in between the edges is necessary to prevent them from slipping when people walk on top of them.

This type of walkway more evenly distributes human weight than a heavy concrete slab, and it also protects tree roots from the grinding wear of too much pressure a concrete slab would place on it.. It also eliminates the risk immediate damage that standard digging tools can cause. Such a winding walkway can indeed be installed on your property, along with the outdoor kitchen and patio you mentioned, in a way that is environmentally friendly to tree roots.

Please email us pictures of your yard, or call us at (713) 827-2255 to setup an appointment at your home.