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Tree root problem, any nursery experts?

We have a fruitless pear tree and need to cut away a large root that is in the way of a water line it is also going under the driveway.

The tree is very large its a good shade tree and we don't want to kill it.

Is there anything we can use or do to prevent shock to the tree? It is autumn and we think this might be the best time to cut it.

Update:

We moved to the house 8 years ago and the tree has been pruned by a professional 3 times now and its still a great shade tree!

6 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Wait until the tree loses its leaves for major root pruning. Any root over 4" in diameter cut will hurt the tree(but the tree can recover).Anything less than 4" isn't anything to worry about.Apply a root stimulator when you root prune to the entire drip line once a week exactly according to the instructions on the bottle.Do this through next Summer.Fruitless pears are short-lived trees to begin with, weak wooded and shallow rooted, but they sure are pretty.

    Source(s): I am a landscape contractor.
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I would agree with tvlscat...just make sure you make a good cut. In other words, use a sharp saw (not an axe!). You don't need to cover the severed root with anything. In the old days, they used to apply paint or shellac to the cut root, but it's really not necessary. If the tree is an evergreen pear, fall is a good time (late summer dormant) to perform this operation. The tree should survive.

  • Anonymous
    4 years ago

    nicely, i'm in awe of your cherry tree. i comprehend in balmy 14 months of growing to be season Oregon issues boost quicker (perhaps larger) than they do in fridged Michigan... i'm purely twiddling with you. frequently i recommend smaller (top) trees, because the roots are frequently smaller too. commonly cherry ought to fall into that determination for me. I agree, commonly, with a large kind of the solutions you've gotten consequently some distance. i ought to stay faraway from Maples (Acer), because the better kinds for positive, have shallow roots that really will reason complications. i ought to guage Linden (Tilia) and the recent hybrid Elms (Ulmus), Zelkova (Zelkova) too. those may all be severe-high quality color trees, with roots that are a lot less on the outdoors than others. As for flowering trees... Dogwood (Cornus), Redbud (Cercis), or Pear (Pyrus) may all be outstanding for you. i wager I have yet another questions too. How previous is your Cherry? Any tree it really is put in now will take a lengthy time period to get to some extent the position it ought to lift a sidewalk. in case your cherry is 30+ years previous... you spot the position i go... you are able to plant purely about something and in time the roots would purely get to that aspect, regardless of in case your objective is to guard the stroll. i desire that this helps sturdy success-

  • 1 decade ago

    cutting a large root will just be the beginning of the end for the tree.... better to remove it completely than to start it's decline.....

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  • 1 decade ago

    The best chance you have is to just keep it watered and maybe even use a fertilizer like nursery special.

  • KitKat
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    trees are very valuable to a home, so contact an arborist to assess.

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