| [College of ACES] | [University of Illinois] | [Illinois CES] |
A CLIENT IS HAVING HER TREES PRUNED TO ACCOMODATE HER
HOUSE RENOVATION. SHE IS REMOVING SEVERAL LARGE SIBEREAN ELMS
AND PRUNNING SEVERAL RED AND BUR OAK TREES.
HER CONTRACTOR FOR THE FOUNDATION HAS TOLD HER THAT THE
TREES WILL BREAK HER FOUNDATION AND THEREFORE SHOUD BE
REMOVED. THESE TREES ARE ABOUT 75 TO 80 YEARS OLD AND ABOUT 60
T0 70 FEET TALL. THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE DEAD WOOD AND ARE AS
CLOSE TO A SPECIMEN TREE AS I HAVE SEEN.
THE CLIENT HAS TOLD ME THAT THE CONTRACTOR IS HAND
DIGGING AROUND THE FOUNDATION (BECAUSE OF SPACE LIMITATIONS)
TO A DEPTH OF NOT MORE THAN 4 FEET.
MY SUGGESTION WAS LET THE CONTRACTOR HAND DIG AND
RECORD THE AMOUNT AND SIZE OF ROOTS THAT HE COMES INTO
CONTACT WITH; A SORT OF EXPLORATORY SURGERY. AND THEN DECIDE
WHAT SHOULD BE THE NEXT STEP BASED ON THAT INFORMATION..
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF A BARRIER COULD BE INSTALLED TO
PREVENT THE ROOTS INVADING IN THE FUTURE AND WHAT WOULD THIS
INVOLVE..
FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE I COULD USE THE MONEY, BUT
ETHICALLY, I CANT JUSTIFY REMOVING THESE BEAUTIFUL OAK TREES
THAT PROBABLY WONT GROW TOO MUCH LARGER.
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP
JIM