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Whenever we
are working on a property distinguished by large, stately trees,
we have to sometimes use very innovative landscaping strategies
to protect tree roots. Structures built too closely to the
trunks of trees require a certain amount of digging to be
secured to the earth, and the sheer force of gravity will settle
any structure of significant weight even further into the
ground. To avoid damaging trees that may be hundreds of years
old, we employee a variety of tree root protection strategies to
ensure that tree roots are protected anytime we are laying stone
work or foundation nearby.
A recent example of this occurred on
River Oaks landscaping project where we were hired to
perform a number of landscaping upgrades and new constructions.
One of the new constructions that the homeowner requested we
complete on this project was the creation of a new walkway that
would encircle a portion of the front yard, cross over a primary
walkway, and wind around the home to the back, where the
swimming pool was located. This secondary walkway was a proposed
new structure which would run underneath several very stately
oak trees. To install it, we would need to utilize some very
innovative and environmentally friendly stone work to ensure
tree root protection.
The reason we have to be so careful is due to the way that tree
roots grow. Roots fan out in all directions, and many of the
larger ones run parallel to the surface of the earth, just
underneath the ground. One of the things that stoneworkers must
avoid at all costs is digging too deep into the ground with
tools. Spades and other implements can cut a root deeply enough
to kill it and severely injure, or even possibly kill, even the
largest of trees. This represents a significant challenge to the
landscaper, who typically digs down six inches, lays a concrete
slab as a base, then sets the stones over this concrete and
fixes them together with mortar. This simply could not be done
on this project, because even if we had somehow avoided cutting
into the tree roots, there would have been no way to protect
them from the pressure of people walking over them and pressing
a concrete slab directly down upon their surfaces. In order to
fulfill our clients expectations, we would either have to
landscape around the tree roots, or devise a strategy of
securely laying stones far enough above the roots that they
would be protected from the weight and pressure of human foot
traffic.
After careful study of both the
landscaping plan and the trees themselves, our designers
came up with a plan that would protect tree roots and still
create a very solid, sturdy walkway for people to travel on.
First, we replaced standard digging implements with air and
water tools known as an air space and hydrovac. These allowed us
to remove a layer of dirt and water without destructive impact
to the tree roots. Once we excavated to an appropriate depth, we
laid down plastic before a thin layer of concrete, then custom
cut each stone so precisely that the individual limestone blocks
fit together seamlessly. To prevent them from slipping when
people walked on them, we secured the edges of the flat blocks
with just enough mortar to bind them together in much the same
manner that glue would bind two pieces of wood.
This process both protected tree roots both during construction
of the walkway and after completion of the walkway. There is no
concrete slab that was graded down into the roots of the trees.
If you have been hesitating on moving forward on plans to
renovate or recreate the landscape features surrounding your
home because you are concerned about damage to your trees,
please give us a call at (713) 827-2255 and schedule an
evaluation with one of our
landscape designers. We can explain in detail how we employ
tree protection techniques that will protect your tree roots
and other indigenous vegetation while simultaneously adding an
entirely new look to your property.
For more the 20 years
Exterior Worlds has specialized in servicing many of Houston's
fine neighborhoods.
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