Avoid costly home damage caused by wayward tree roots
Nothing turns a front yard into a verdant oasis like a mature tree with graceful limbs that shade the plants beneath.
But over time, you may notice your house’s water pressure is waning a bit. Or a clogged drain won’t clear no matter how many treatments are applied. Consulting a professional may reveal the culprit—roots from that stately tree have found their way into the plumbing pipes.
“Roots will grow where there is available air and water,” said Joel Koci, a Virginia Cooperative Extension agriculture and natural resources specialist and a Board Certified Master Arborist.
Many times, Koci said, a tree can become a detriment because of the soil. If it doesn’t get nutrients it needs from the soil, its root system will expand, and could end up in a leaky water pipe.
Augusta County horticulturalist Mark Viette has seen this firsthand with a weeping willow tree. “I’ve got a 4-inch diameter root that grew all the way into a pipe for 40 feet.”
While roots can occasionally grow into pipes, direct root damage to a house’s foundation is rare. Signs of potential damage include buckling or cracks in the foundation floors or walls and uneven window or door frames. Further investigation is needed to determine if a tree is at fault.
Watch this video: Horticulturalist Mark Viette offers suggestions on planting the right trees to avoid root damage to the home and landscape.
“There are a few trees that are pretty aggressive,” Viette said. “But usually it’s a poorly constructed foundation that succumbs to root damage.”
To keep soil nutrient-rich and minimize potential root issues, Koci and Viette suggest mulching. “When you properly mulch, the mulch will encourage soil microbes, which will fertilize the soil and make it more congenial for roots,” Koci said. “The roots will grow under the mulch and not go out away from it.”
Root guards or barriers placed in the ground near a foundation also can prevent roots from growing where they aren’t wanted.
Get a taste of the old days at Henricus Historical Park
In May 1611, Sir Thomas Dale arrived in Virginia with instructions from the London Company to find a secure and healthy area to establish a new town and principal seat for the colony.
In September 1611, Dale moved up the James River to establish Henricus, the colony’s second successful settlement in the New World.
Today in Chesterfield County, Henricus Historical Park demonstrates what life was like 400 years ago for English settlers and the Native Americans who inhabited the area. Visitors can see re-created Colonial structures and experience history through hands-on encounters with historical interpreters.
The park represents various military functions, trades and farming elements of Henricus from 1611 to 1622. It also interprets the culture of the Arrohateck people of the Powhatan Indian chiefdom during their time of contact with the English colonists.
Henricus Historical Park is a nonprofit partnership of the Henricus Foundation and the counties of Chesterfield and Henrico.
Hearty Beef and Vegetable Soup
Who doesn't love hot soup on a bitterly cold day? This recipe uses potatoes to ramp up the heartiness factor.
See Recipe
No matter how you slice—or dice—it, many of us love to eat potatoes
February is the month of love, but did you know it’s also dedicated to those who love potatoes? That’s right, February is National Potato Lovers Month.
And what’s not to love? Potatoes are delicious baked, diced, fried and mashed. They are good alone, and they are yummy mixed with other ingredients.
Nutritionally, potatoes offer a lot to love. They are a source of vitamins B and C, are high in complex carbohydrates, are fat-free (when unbuttered) and are high in fiber if you eat the skins.
Virginia is a major producer of early-summer potatoes. Farmers grow about 200,000 pounds of potatoes on close to 6,000 acres, with the bulk of that concentrated on the Eastern Shore.
So, for the love of potatoes, treat your sweetie—and yourself—to a delicious potato dish for dinner tonight. Consider this Hearty Beef and Vegetable Soup.