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Will cutting some conifer roots kill the tree?
Luke Powell
Posts: 11
Neighbour has a conifer tree right next to the boundery,
I'm hoping to dig down about 12-18" to level my garden off,
Will cutting through the roots of her conifer harm the tree?
I'm looking at a few roots at around an inch in diameter,
I know I've a legal right to cut through roots on my property but I've no objection to the tree itself and don't fancy harming it.
0
Posts
I think it may cause a few issues. First off, it's more the little tiny roots you don't see that cause the problem, especially cutting that close to the trunk. Also, as you're going down 18 inches you may run across a few more... and cutting those may cause the tree to become unstable in high winds.. as it's no longer 'holding on' in that direction.
Saying that, it's your right to do as you please in your garden.. and I do like the fact you've taken the tree into consideration. Is there a way to leave a short slope in that area? Why does the inside corner need to be level with the rest of the garden? What is going in that corner? If you're planting something, perhaps that could hide the slope if you find it visually unappealing?