The Brew Cabin

I'm getting the plans together for this year's paving project - but I'm a bit concerned that it'll be too close to some silver birches already in the garden. They are about 10-15 m tall and are very shallow-rooted - if I pave too close I assume the flags will move over time.

How close can I get to these trees before I endanger my hard work, or can I do something such as use a greater depth of sub base to reduce the risk?

Many thanks

Neil

I like to stay at least a metre away from the trunk of any tree, but even then, you have to accept that, in the longer term, the flags will be lifted or moved slightly, so the occasional re-lay, every 4 or 5 years, might be required.

Digging deeper, adding extra sub-base or using a root-barrier membrane are all ineffectual. Time, Tide and Tree Roots stop for no man!

I can probably afford to leave about 1-1.5m from the trees - I'd rather do that than take them out since they're very attractive and provide useful shade in the summer.

Thanks again

Neil

Although people worry about movement caused by tree roots, there is more effect from tree root dessication than from the physical growth in diameter of the roots.

If you are on a well-drained soil this won't be a problem, but if you have solid clay like Tony and I, you will find the ground moving up and down with the growth season and after rainfall.

Thanks - my soil is a quite well drained silty clay loam, although the area I'll be paving over is currently laid to lawn is is quite compacted. I've had another look and I can definitely leave 1.5 m from the boles so by the sound of it, I should be OK.

Neil