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Posted by on April 24, 2007, 1:12 pm
> wrote:
>
> >I am wanting to tear up a small portion of my yard (about 300 sq ft) and
> >make it a patio area with pavers. Unfortunately, I have a huge maple tree
> >very nearby and I think there may be a problem digging the required 6 inches
> >or more because of the roots from the maple. I like the tree, therefore,
> >killing the roots and increasing the chance of it dying is not an option.
>
> How big is the tree-- what kind of maple- how close to the trunk do
> you need to go? Ask a local arborist for their opinion- they can
> come to the site and tell you how much root pruning the tree will
> bear.
> My patio is within 4' of a Swamp Maple - about 3' in diameter. I dug
> down 2' & cut off roots as big as 4" in diameter on about one third of
> the perimeter of the tree. It never blinked. It is just as healthy
> as it was 3 yrs ago- and it provides a great deal of shade for the
> patio. [it also sheds blossoms, sap and leaves on the patio- but I
> consider that a fair trade]
>
> >One suggestion was to dig about 3 inches or so, until we start to see roots,
> >then level it off with mulch or something, compress it, then lay pavers on
> >top of the mulch, thereby, providing a so called "raised" patio area, which
> >I would support with treated wood borders where necessary. I was wondering
> >if I could use pee gravel in place of the mulch also.
>
> If you want a raised patio- use lumber. If I understand what you
> want to do, you are as likely to harm the tree as if you cut the
> roots- and you are not likely to end up with pavers that stay in
> place. Mulch [or pea gravel] under pavers is a bad idea.
>
> Jim
Putting a paver patio over the root zone of a tree known to have
surface roots is never a good idea. The roots will likely cause the
patio to heave.
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