Trees - Block paving around existing trees

[celeste]

I am having a new block paving drive laid, and two trees on the perimeter have been paved around in semi-circles, but they have gone quite tight to the trees and concreted right up to the truncks. I expected to see an area of soil left around each tree and I am concerned that as the trees grow they will lift the blocks - does anyone have any advice about whether this will be a problem or not?

[alan ditchfield]

You are right in saying there should be a ring around each tree,you should try and leave the largest ring around the base that is possible to allow water to penetrate the ground above the root system and to allow the trees to widen in girth. As for lifting the block this usually depends on the type of tree as to how severely and how soon they will cause damage to your driveway but as a rule if you block water from getting to the root system then the roots will go searching for the water resulting in damage somewhere.

[clive]

As well as water trees also need clear ground around their root zone to allow for gaseous exchange. It is often overlooked that tree roots have a need to breath. In water logged conditions it is not the presence of water but the absence of air that kills the roots and subsequently the tree.
As Alan says allow an area around the root collar for further development, and ensure the tree roots have access to the surface some ware for air & water.

[Paverman Dan]

In the US we have a product from Pave Tech called the Dep Root Root Barrier, a plastic stiff sheet that is supposed to keep roots from invading the base. Is that type of product available in the Isles?

http://www.pavetech.com/newtools/Deeproot.shtm

[clive]

Hi Dan
Root barrier is available over here. It tends to be used on commercial schemas at the moment although there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be used on domestic in appropriate situations. I have concerns for the over use. I think we are going to see a lot of wind blown trees, on development sites in 20-30years time, were the tree has not been allowed to develop anchor roots in response to wind load.



Edited By clive on 1102766743

[Tony McC]

Root barriers are fine when there's a critical structure to protect, but no matter how much we like our block paving, there's not many jobs where it could be described as 'critical' so I see no great need for such a barrier on a job like this.

Paving should never go right up to the trunk of a tree for the reasons Clive mentioned. there are special permeable surfacings that allow water and gases to pass through, but standard block paving is not such a surfacing. It's generally said that a tree's rootball extends more or less as far as does the leaf coverage above ground, so, in an ideal world, impermeable paving would not encroach under the canopy of a tree. However, there often has to be a balance between the needs of the tree and the needs of the property owner.

As a rough guide, paving should be kept away from any shrubs by 600mm, and by at least 1 metre for bushes and small trees (under 4.5m height). For larger trees, the farther away, the better but certainly not less than 1.8m

[simeonronacrete]

You can form a Tree Pit with resin mixed with aggregate.

Looks great, lets water through, can be walked on and driven on, is flexible so tree can move and grow.

See

SimeonRonacrete Tree Pit



Edited By simeonronacrete on 1103114236

[Paverman Dan]

You can form a Tree Pit with resin mixed with aggregate.

Looks great, lets water through, can be walked on and driven on, is flexible so tree can move and grow.

See

SimeonRonacrete Tree Pit

Simeon,

Downloaded and read your sell sheet found it very interesting!

Can you tell me more why this product is beneficial; wouldn't I just rather have grass around my tree than an aggregate. The only thing I saw is that it discourages druggies from leaving syringes near the tree . . . ???

Can your product be integrated somehow into a walkway? Also, how does it prevent from tree roots unrooting a nearby pavement. Just need you to sell me some more!

THANKS

[Tony McC]

Sim's on his jollies, in SE Asia, of all places. I can't recall whether he said Indonesia or the Phillipines - I'm hoping it's the latter!

[simeonronacrete]

It's OK, thankfully it was the Philippines and not Indonesia.

Happy New Year!

The Ronadeck Tree Pit System is appropriate in private, commercial and public areas. It replaces grass, earth, soil and loose stone and provides a stable, decorative and porous surround for trees.

In private areas it offers a superb and stunning finish to hard and soft landscaped areas. So too with commercial, where clients are keen to impress with the external and sometimnes internal architectural finish visible to clients and staff.

In public areas - perhaps the most frequent users of it - Ronadeck Treet Pit keeps the surrounding area, either block paving or resin bonded aggregate with Ronadeck Fast Grip, clean, tidy, attractive. It also makes it easier for street cleaners (or are they now called Urban Hygiene Technicians?) to clean up after the night before - fast food wrappers, bottles, glass, needles (sadly), doggy do, all the unpleasant odorous deposits of 21st Century living.

For the tree, it gets fed, watered, and has room and flexibility to grow.

"Integrate into a walkway". Do you mean a pavement or path where trees are present? If so, construct a frame around the tree, say 1m x 1m, excavate and fill with 50-75mm of loose gravel, then lay 50-75mm of Tree Pit resin and aggregate on top. Trowel smooth, allow to cure, finished.

It won't stop the tree roots; it's relatively thin, lightweight, and unbonded. Bearing in mind tree roots can dislodge house foundations and collapse walls, I can't see our product stopping root movement.

If you'd like to see a sample, let have your address (email it to me if you wish).

Thanks for the questions.

Simeon.

[simeonronacrete]

It's OK, thankfully it was the Philippines and not Indonesia.

Happy New Year to you and Tony M. and all readers of this post.

The Ronadeck Tree Pit System is appropriate in private, commercial and public areas. It replaces grass, earth, soil and loose stone and provides a stable, decorative and porous surround for trees.

In private areas it offers a superb and stunning finish to hard and soft landscaped areas. So too with commercial, where clients are keen to impress with the external and sometimes internal architectural finish visible to clients and staff.

In public areas - perhaps the most frequent users of it - Ronadeck Treet Pit keeps the surrounding area, either block paving or resin bonded aggregate with Ronadeck Fast Grip, clean, tidy, attractive. It also makes it easier for street cleaners (or are they now called Urban Hygiene Technicians?) to clean up after the night before - fast food wrappers, bottles, glass, needles (sadly), doggy do, all the unpleasant odorous deposits of 21st Century living.

For the tree, it gets fed, watered, and has room and flexibility to grow.

"Integrate into a walkway". Do you mean a pavement or path where trees are present? If so, construct a frame around the tree, say 1m x 1m, excavate and fill with 50-75mm of loose gravel, then lay 50-75mm of Tree Pit resin and aggregate on top. Trowel smooth, allow to cure, finished.

It won't stop the tree roots; it's relatively thin, lightweight, and unbonded. Bearing in mind tree roots can dislodge house foundations and collapse walls, I can't see our product stopping root movement.

If you'd like to see a sample, let have your address (email it to me if you wish).

Thanks for the questions. Hope I've answered them adequately.

Simeon.