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bloody concrete!
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Posted by Doona NSW Australia (My Page) on Sun, Jan 30, 05 at 23:00
This really sucks: I have a beautiful ivory curl tree which has been here for ten years. It flowers magnificantly and provides shade for the huge birds nest and bromeliads beneath. It also gives great privacy from the neighbours (my inlaws) and blocks our view of their very glary and imposing two-storey garage, which we used to have to put up with when sitting on our back verandah. Now it's lovely and private there. But...and here is the sucky part...now they reckon it is causing a crack in their new concrete driveway, which they have just put in recently, and which covers the area right to the fence (these are people who love concrete and didn't put a garden along the fence line or plant anything at all there, though there was planty of room for both driveway and garden). My argument is they have known for ten years that we had trees, and they could have planned their driveway better and not go so wide (I know, you say "why should they?"). Most people would have left space for some sort of garden along the fence. It's logical and more appealing! Our tree also gives them the pleasure of it's beauty and shade, and also the birds who love to hide there, in particular the honey eaters that they themselves have also admired. I am just so angry, even though I know council would be on their side, and we shouldn't have planted it near the fence (we thought it would be a safe choice of tree)but that we should have to cut it down just because of a stupid concrete driveway, which isn't living and they don't even use that part of the driveway for cars. It's just a bit of area that they filled with concrete between the front/side fence and their 3 car garage at the back of the yard, which houses no cars at all. Sorry for babbling. I'm just so mad and dread the thought of losing such a beautiful tree.
Donna. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: bloody concrete!
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| Such a lovely tree it is too witn non invasive roots. How close to the fence line is the tree. How old is the concrete driveway as all concrete gets hairline cracks when it dries out especially if the weather has been dry for a while then you get a fair bit if rain, it is caused by movement of the soil but the reinforcement keeps it together. It is a small tree I have seen shrubs bigger than that we have Grevillea robusta (Silly Oak Trees )on both our side boundry fences they grow massive 100ft (30 mts). I would not worry too much about it you show your In-Laws this link. Then blame the concreter did they do it or someone else as sub standard work could cause troubles too same as the mix. I hope it works out all right for you do let us know . MM. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Ivory curl tree
RE: bloody concrete!
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| A crack in their new concrete driveway ??? Those roots would have had to have grown damn quick. Sounds more like a fault with either to cement mix or the site preparation. I would recommend that they get the contractor back. |
RE: bloody concrete!
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- Posted by Doona NSW Australia (My Page) on
Mon, Jan 31, 05 at 22:25
I agree with you both. My husband had a look at the root and it was only a couple of inches thick and grew downwards. I will tell my inlaws what MM said about the dry weather, and yes, we have had a lot of heavy rain lately after a long spell of none.
Thank you both. I feel much better. Pity my husband cut the root already. I hope the tree won't suffer.
Donna. |
RE: bloody concrete!
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| DONT REMOVE THE TREE. Cut the roots off at the trunk then dig down say 500mm and install some root barrier. I agree that it would take some time for the roots to damage the new slab. When the inlaws prepared the ground for the slab they would have seen the roots if they were there. If they were not at the surface at the time then it is very unlikely that they are causing the slab to crack. If they were visable at the time and ignored then the inlaws can take responsibility for their own inaction. |
RE: bloody concrete!
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These trees are used as street trees, with the road on one side and a concrete footpath on the other. One would assume that the reason for this is that their roots do not cause problems with road or footpath.
You should not feel that you have to remove your tree even if it was causing problems with driveway - it's their fault for going overboard with the concrete. Your tree was there first and is of more value (in many ways) than concrete. |
RE: bloody concrete!
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- Posted by Doona NSW Australia (My Page) on
Sun, Feb 6, 05 at 23:23
Thank you all for your support. I expected someone to remind me of my responsibility NOT to plant too close to fences. I'm glad there are so many tree lovers out there. I am aslo grateful for the information you have given me to back up my argument, should I need it. So far though the whole issue has fizzled out. Lets hope it stays that way.
Thanks again.
Donna. |
RE: bloody concrete!
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That wonderful news Donna, they are such a pretty tree, our suburbs are alive with the flowers of these trees at present, they are everywhere you look, in peoples garden and as street trees, there should be more planted.
Cheers MM. |
RE: bloody concrete!
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- Posted by Liatris FraserCoast,Qld (My Page) on
Tue, Feb 8, 05 at 17:14
| >I expected someone to remind me of my responsibility NOT to plant too close to fences. Of more concern would be not to live next to the inlaws! ;) |
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