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Leylandi roots

rjm62270scVY64TUrjm62270scVY64TU Posts: 9
in Problem solving
About 6 years ago we cut our giant leylandi trees down to stumps. We've noticed that the boundary wall at the side of two stumps is cracking and being pushed out but the stump is about a foot away from the wall. Could this be roots under the wall after all this time?

Posts

  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    It could be as a result of cutting down the trees. Now that there are no leylandii sucking up gallons of water, the moisture content of the soil will have changed. It would be wise to get a professional to look at the wall and to get the problem rectified.
  • rjm62270scVY64TUrjm62270scVY64TU Posts: 9
    My husband is a bricklayer and built the wall years ago but if it collapses he can rebuild it but we'll never be able to get to the roots because of location 
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    As Ceres says, the ground has swelled as it is no longer bone dry. I'm surprised it has taken 6 years to have an effect though. The roots will be dead, and slowly decaying. 
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Is this  what is known as heave rather than subsidance? I have walls in my new garden and they will be treated with kindness. Where I lived before there were wall issues from trees/ bamboos in neighbours gardens lifting patio and affecting wall/ and a retaining wall. All were still sound and if you are a bricklayer not so bad, if not a worry for the future, very expensive and the damage can be done many years later. A innocent shrub in a 2 litre pot can become a big problem.
    Leylandii and walls don't go together and there is a long list including running bamboo that surveyors look for, personally not sure if they know the difference between running and clumping but it is their job to point these things out. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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