Having green and large trees around your property makes the space look more lively and connected to Mother Earth. However, sometimes it backfires and becomes a threat to properties. One such tree is the “palm tree,” which targets the plumbing, foundation, look, and surrounding area. Therefore, to make you completely informed about the palm tree roots damage, we made this complete guide. Here, we will be discussing everything from palm tree existence and potential damage to contributing factors and ways to control them. Hence, without any further ado, read this blog and explore how palm tree roots become a challenge for nature lovers.
Introduction To Palm Tree
Before learning about palm tree roots damage, let’s first learn about the tree itself. Thus, palm trees come under the perennial family which can grow in any form including stemless plants, trees, shrubs, and so on. Moreover, it is known as palm tree due to its leaves which resemble finger- like appearance. In addition to this, palm trees have a very long life and can live more than even a century.
Talking more about appearance then, palm trees have a straight gray-brown colored trunk that begins from a swollen base surrounded by heavy roots all around. Also, it has large leaves on top of the trunk, which gives it a bushy and green look. Over and above that, some of the regions where you can find palm trees easily are South America, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.
Common Cause Of Palm Tree Roots Damage
After learning about the appearance and existence of palm trees, it’s high time to know, “Do palm tree roots cause damage or not?” So yes, this tree targets the infrastructure nearby them or their roots specifically. Thus, some of the signs that reflect the destruction are as follows:
- Bad smell from the area near a palm tree
- Visible tree roots around the foundation of the building
- Clogging of drains
- Uneven lawns or raised paths
- Decrease in water supply or pressure
- Growth of mold inside the house
- Visible cracks in the walls
- The presence of sinkholes in the yard
Thus, these are some of the warning signs which are enough for you to give attention to the issues and resolve them to protect your place. However, they may vary depending on the severity of the damage caused by the roots of the palm tree.
Types of Palm Tree Roots Damage
Hence, there are different types of damage that a palm tree causes to a certain building. Therefore, to learn about them in detail, read the below-shared points:
Foundation Damage
This happens when the roots of the tree start growing either near or under the base of the infrastructure. Thus, it puts high pressure on the foundation and makes it eventually start cracking. Hence, it results in many compromises such as safety and structural instability.
Plumbing Damage
So, basically roots grow and move to the direction of moisture or water resources such as sewer lines or water lines. This makes the root grow rapidly and penetrate the pipes which leads to leakages as well as blockages of those passages. Not only that but this palm tree roots damage also asks for water unavailability and costly repairs.
Landscape Damage
In this palm tree roots damage, the roots grow inside the landscape features installed around the building such as flower beds and retaining walls. Thus, it soon breaks out the base and forms cracks everywhere. Not only that but it also leads to displacement of land and soil congestion to grow other plants. Hence, reconstruction is needed to get rid of the damage.
Septic System Damage
One of the other harms that palm tree roots does is septic system damage. In this, the roots infilter the septic tank which is used for wastewater treatment. Hence, it infilters the tank and disturbs the drainage field. Moreover, it also results in bad odor and contamination.
Underground Utilities Damage
Apart from all the harms, the palm tree roots also damage the utilities installed underground. It includes destruction of electrical conduits, drainage systems, and gas lines. Moreover, this also leads to various safety hazards that need immediate costly repairs.
Prevention Tips For Palm Tree Roots Damage
Now that you are informed about the harms and problems caused by the roots of palm trees, it’s high time to know about its prevention tips and tricks. Hence, read about them briefly in the below-shared points:
Do Proper Planting
You need to keep a check that all the plants and trees are planted within the appropriate and safe distance from the building as well as its utilities. Moreover, you also need to ensure the right depth of those plants so that they get healthy growth in enough area.
Choose the Right Tree
Another prevention tips from palm tree roots damage is to choose a tree which has non-invasive roots. Thus, it helps in optimal growth habits that does not harm your property from aggressive root growth.
Right Water using the Right Technique
Furthermore, you should use the right water technique such as mulching in which you need to cover the soil with grass, leaves, and wooden chips. Hence, it helps in keeping the soil moist for longer hours and also protects the land from soil erosion.
Use Root Barriers
One of the most high-tech and successful ways to protect the home from palm tree roots damage is by installing root barriers. This is a type of membrane that is set up at a certain soil level as it redirects the root’s growth and protects the infrastructure from root-pushing force.
Keep the Soil Moist
Make sure to keep the soil of palm trees moist all the time so that they do not aggressively search for water near the foundation or utilities of the home. However, you also need to maintain the balance, as overwatering can result in soil erosion as well as a weak tree foundation.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we briefly discussed palm tree roots damage. Therefore, ranging from palm trees to an introduction to the symptoms it shows after damaging the property, we discussed everything in detail. Moreover, we also highlighted the different types of palm tree roots damage that people usually encounter. Finally, we highlighted some of the prevention tips for dealing with the same issue in the future. I hope the page answered all your queries and briefed you well about palm trees.
FAQs
How deep are palm tree roots?
The roots of palm trees are one of the major reasons behind all the damages it causes. Hence, it can go up to 12 to 48 inches deep inside the soil.
What are the factors that lead to damage by palm trees?
The proximity of the tree and your home, condition of soil, and roots depth are some of the main factors that contribute to the damages caused by palm trees.
Can palm tree roots cause damage?
Yes, the roots of palm trees can cause drastic damage by disturbing the landscape, foundation, underground utilities, plumbing, and septic system.
