How to Protect Homes From Tree Root Damage

When most people hear the words “tree damage,” they picture a heavy limb crashing through a window or falling onto their home’s roof. But a tree’s roots can be just as problematic as its branches if they are not properly cared for.

When given the chance, roots can interfere with plumbing lines, foundations, and hardscapes. The good news is that you can mitigate nearly all of these problems without interfering with the health or beauty of your trees.

Today, we’ll walk you through the best ways to protect your plumbing, property, and home’s structural integrity from tree root damage.

A Look at the Damage Tree Roots Can Cause

Tree roots are incredibly strong, and their natural instinct is to seek out moisture, nutrients, and space to grow. Unfortunately, the paths they choose sometimes lead them right into your home’s most vulnerable systems.

Plumbing Damage

As we mentioned, roots are naturally drawn to moisture, so even the smallest crack or loose joint in a pipe becomes an open invitation. Once inside, the roots expand and form dense clusters that clog pipes, slow drainage, cause backups, and, in severe cases, lead to pipe collapse.

Septic System Damage

If your home has a septic system, tree roots pose an even bigger threat. After all, septic tanks and drain fields hold nutrient-rich wastewater, and this is exactly what roots crave. If given the chance, they will invade the tank or its perforated pipes and eventually cause leaks, backups, and slow drainage.

Sidewalk and Driveway Damage

Tree roots and hardscapes do not coexist peacefully. As roots thicken and elongate, they create upward pressure beneath walkways, patios, and driveways. This leads to cracking, shifting slabs, tripping hazards, and costly repairs.

Foundation Damage

While it’s rare for healthy tree roots to crack a structurally sound foundation on their own, they can worsen existing weaknesses. Roots can also displace soil around your home, leading to moisture imbalances that cause foundation settling or shifting.

Additionally, roots sometimes grow underneath the perimeter of a home, destabilizing the soil and impacting the structure above it. In homes with crawl spaces or basements, improper moisture control from root activity can contribute to mold issues or wall bowing.

Landscape Damage

You might not have realized it, but roots can also disrupt your landscape. As they expand, they may push up grass, compact soil, hinder other plants’ growth, and create tripping hazards.

Shallow-rooted species (such as maples, willows, and poplars) are particularly notorious for surface-level root spread. Over time, these roots can make mowing more difficult, cause bumps in lawns, and choke out neighboring shrubs or garden beds.

How to Stop Tree Roots From Causing Property Damage

Fortunately, you don’t need to remove your beloved trees to keep your home safe. With proper planning and guidance from an arborist, you can help your trees grow to their full potential without sacrificing the condition of your property.

Choose the Right Trees for the Right Location

If you’re planning new plantings, consider the mature size and root spread of each species. Some trees have more aggressive root systems than others, and planting them too close to your home’s foundation, driveway, or septic system can create long-term problems.

Examples of species with aggressive roots include:

• Willows
• Silver maples
• Poplars
• Cottonwoods

If you love these trees, plant them far from any structure, ideally 50 feet or more, depending on the mature root span. Our certified arborists in Charlotte and Lake Norman, NC, can help you determine the best placement for your preferred species with our tree planting services.

Invest in Root Pruning

Just like a tree’s branches, the roots can occasionally benefit from professional pruning by an ISA-certified arborist. Since this must be done with extreme care to avoid destabilizing the tree or causing irreversible damage to its health, the arborist will assess the percentage of roots that can be safely removed and use proper techniques to promote new growth that’s directed away from your home’s foundation or plumbing.

Consider Plant Growth Regulators

Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are another effective tool for managing aggressive root systems. These treatments gently slow down a tree’s growth rate (above and below ground) while improving its overall health and stress tolerance.

PGRs are especially useful when a tree is planted closer to structures than is ideal, but is too valuable or mature to remove. When applied correctly by an arborist, these treatments offer longer-term protection and healthier, more predictable growth patterns.

Install Root Barriers

Root barriers can be highly effective at redirecting root growth away from foundations, driveways, and underground utilities. These barriers are typically made from durable plastic or woven fabric and are installed vertically in the soil to guide roots downward or away from protected areas.

Root barriers are especially beneficial when:

• A new driveway, foundation, or septic system is being installed.
• You’re concerned about root growth from existing trees.
• Large trees are located on small lots.

For the best results, you should invest in professional installation, as poorly placed barriers can lead to restricted root growth and tree health problems.

Maintain Healthy Soil and Proper Irrigation

Roots often invade plumbing or foundations in search of water, so maintaining consistent soil hydration can reduce this behavior. A few ways to promote healthy root behavior include:

• Watering trees deeply but infrequently.
• Avoiding overwatering near foundations.
• Improving soil drainage.
• Applying mulch around the base of trees.

Let Heartwood Protect Your Home & Plumbing From Root Damage

If you suspect that tree roots are interfering with your plumbing, septic system, driveway, or foundation, our ISA-certified arborists at Heartwood Tree Care can help. We’ll thoroughly inspect your trees and develop a customized plan that protects your home from damage while preserving the health and longevity of your trees.

In addition to offering treatment, we can regularly monitor your trees to stay ahead of future issues. We can even perform a tree removal if this is the best solution for preventing root damage.

Connect with our teams in Charlotte, Lake Norman, and Asheville, NC, today to schedule an inspection and discover the benefits of tree root maintenance!