Discover what the current average tree removal cost is based on different factors to know how much it will cost to take care of a dead or troublesome tree on your property.
Can I Cut Tree Roots on My Property?
Handle tree roots with confidence
Photo: Sunanta / Adobe Stock
Photo: Sunanta / Adobe Stock
Highlights
Property owners have the right to eliminate tree roots or branches that stray into their property.
Avoid future conflicts by talking with your neighbors about overgrown trees.
If you cause the tree to die by cutting its roots, you may be held liable for the damage.
Don’t forget to call 811 before you dig into unknown tree roots.
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Before digging tree roots to cut them, remember to call 811 to mark your local utility lines. The last thing you want when you’re trying to save your sidewalk is to cause a water pipe to burst.
Since cutting a tree’s roots can cause damage to the tree, there are some things to know about trimming the roots safely. For larger trees over 15 feet tall, you should never cut roots within five feet of the trunk. For smaller trees, you should leave roots within a two-foot radius of the trunk. In all cases, it’s not safe to trim more than 25% of the roots from a tree. Damaging a tree can result in the need to remove a dead tree later, or worse, can result in a dead tree falling onto your property.
Before digging tree roots to cut them, remember to call 811 to mark your local utility lines. The last thing you want when you’re trying to save your sidewalk is to cause a water pipe to burst.
Since cutting a tree’s roots can cause damage to the tree, there are some things to know about trimming the roots safely. For larger trees over 15 feet tall, you should never cut roots within five feet of the trunk. For smaller trees, you should leave roots within a two-foot radius of the trunk. In all cases, it’s not safe to trim more than 25% of the roots from a tree. Damaging a tree can result in the need to remove a dead tree later, or worse, can result in a dead tree falling onto your property.
Photo: Teodoro Ortiz Tarrascusa / Wirestock / Adobe Stock
Before digging tree roots to cut them, remember to call 811 to mark your local utility lines. The last thing you want when you’re trying to save your sidewalk is to cause a water pipe to burst.
Since cutting a tree’s roots can cause damage to the tree, there are some things to know about trimming the roots safely. For larger trees over 15 feet tall, you should never cut roots within five feet of the trunk. For smaller trees, you should leave roots within a two-foot radius of the trunk. In all cases, it’s not safe to trim more than 25% of the roots from a tree. Damaging a tree can result in the need to remove a dead tree later, or worse, can result in a dead tree falling onto your property.
Before digging tree roots to cut them, remember to call 811 to mark your local utility lines. The last thing you want when you’re trying to save your sidewalk is to cause a water pipe to burst.
Since cutting a tree’s roots can cause damage to the tree, there are some things to know about trimming the roots safely. For larger trees over 15 feet tall, you should never cut roots within five feet of the trunk. For smaller trees, you should leave roots within a two-foot radius of the trunk. In all cases, it’s not safe to trim more than 25% of the roots from a tree. Damaging a tree can result in the need to remove a dead tree later, or worse, can result in a dead tree falling onto your property.
Photos: Lucy Lambriex/ DigitalVision / Getty Images, Faraonvideo / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images, FluxFactory / E+ / Getty Images, SimplyCreativePhotography / E+ / Getty Images, baza178 / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Before digging tree roots to cut them, remember to call 811 to mark your local utility lines. The last thing you want when you’re trying to save your sidewalk is to cause a water pipe to burst.
Since cutting a tree’s roots can cause damage to the tree, there are some things to know about trimming the roots safely. For larger trees over 15 feet tall, you should never cut roots within five feet of the trunk. For smaller trees, you should leave roots within a two-foot radius of the trunk. In all cases, it’s not safe to trim more than 25% of the roots from a tree. Damaging a tree can result in the need to remove a dead tree later, or worse, can result in a dead tree falling onto your property.
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