You may be asking yourself what it is your trees are up to underfoot. How extensive is their root system? What is behind a tree that has raised your sidewalk or put a crack in the driveway? And with so much out of sight, how can one tell if the specimen in the yard is in good health?
We at ArborTech Inc. have been in the business of putting those questions to rest for homeowners and commercial clients in the San Francisco Bay Area for close to 30 years. An ISA affiliate with our home in Hayward, we are of the mind that the unseen part of a tree is as important as what is on display. Should you have any queries regarding the trees on your property, (510) 913-9912 is the number to reach us.
But first, let us get to the bottom of what is happening down there.
Roots Have a Greater Reach
The common notion is that roots are a deep reflection of the branches overhead. Not so. You will find most of them in the top foot or so of soil where they can make do with the available water and oxygen. They tend to go wide rather than straight down, in some cases two or three times the expanse of the canopy.
That accounts for why a tree some way from the house can put in an appearance at your foundation or plumbing. It is also a matter of selecting the proper species and location to begin with.
More to a Root System Than Meets the Eye
Think of the root system as a hardworking network. On any given day it is:
- Putting down anchor against the kind of wind you get in the Bay
- Taking in nutrients and water from the earth
- Laying in stores of carbohydrates and other energy for the spring
- Making hormones to see to the tree’s development
- In communication with the soil’s fungi for an exchange of nutrients
That final point is not something everyone expects. A lot of trees and the beneficial fungi around them have a mutually advantageous arrangement. The fungi put in the work to expand the root system’s reach and in return the tree provides sugars from the sun. Quiet teamwork of a sort.
How Sidewalks and Concrete Get Broken
It is not the intention of roots to ruin your hardscaping; they are after air and water and will take the easiest route. A crack in an old pipe or a space under a slab will be followed by a root. With time and girth, the result is the uneven concrete surfaces familiar to many a homeowner.
With some forethought this is avoidable. We factor that in on our hardscaping and landscape projects, advising on placement and the use of root barriers to spare one future trouble.
What Is Below the Surface
Tally up all the fine root hairs on a mature tree and the mileage is in the hundreds. This is where the bulk of absorption is done, yet these are fragile things. A vehicle parked over the root zone or some trenching for utilities can do them harm without leaving a mark above ground. Construction in the vicinity of a tree should be done with care; an arborist’s opinion beforehand can mean the difference between saving the tree and losing it.
When to Be Concerned
One has to interpret the signs from above since the roots are hidden. Be on the lookout for:
- Foliage that is thin or smaller than normal
- Any deadwood in the upper canopy
- Mushrooms at the trunk base
- A new lean to the tree
- Heaving or cracked soil about the root flare
A small problem can turn into something else if left to it, so have a pro come by and have a look.
Put ArborTech to Work for You
There is more to a tree below ground than is generally appreciated and it is key to its long term health. For arborist consulting, landscaping, hardscaping and general tree services in the Bay Area, the team at ArborTech Inc. is at your disposal.
We are locally run and provide free estimates. There is 24/7 emergency service on hand when required. Make a call to (510) 913-9912 and we can discuss the state of your trees.
