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Oak Tree next to pool. Please help.

13 years ago

Hi, I have a mature oak tree coming up through my deck (deck was built around the tree) and an in-ground pool about 12 feet away. I have to think that the previous owner considered this before the deck was built and the pool was put in. Should I have it cut down? I would hate to do that because it's so pretty but I'm worried about the damage the growing roots can do to the pool. Please help.

Featured Answer

Embothrium

13 years ago

If you cut the tree down then you'll have a deck built around a stump.

And no shade.

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Comments (10)

Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
13 years ago
I have to think that the previous owner considered this before the deck was built and the pool was put in.

You shouldn't think that. Much, much more likely the homeowner said 'we're only living here x years. It'll be someone else's problem'.

Should I have it cut down? I would hate to do that because it's so pretty but I'm worried about the damage the growing roots can do to the pool.

Impossible to tell with info provided. Even if pix were provided, you need someone at the site to analyze. Certified arborists working with others can do a better job than anyone here, doing a distance diagnosis with sparse info.

Dan
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
what kind of pool

a cement pond as jethro used to say???

if so.. i just dont see a tree working its way through otherwise ok cement ... or are we talking a liner ....

more facts and pix are really needed

ken
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the reason there is little or no impact is that pH is an exponential function ... to slightly move it.. one way or another.. you would need decades and tons of material ... in a centurys old forest ... you might find an impact on soil pH .... but in your yard .... as noted above.. you are not really going to ever experience any change or impact ... i am trying to simplify the concept ... not give a science or math discourse.. so if i missed by a bit ... oh well .. lack of flowering.. under large old trees ... would make me suspect lack of total all day sun ... of lack of water due to the trees .. especially the bad ones .. but i would even question the water variable.. with established older clumps of lilac .... they are no where near a foo foo plant that needs to be coddled ... so that would be bring me back to the need for full sun ... ken ps: if you want to change pH ... it can be done with soil amendments like sulphur https://duckduckgo.com/?q=change+pH+sulphur&t=ffcm&ia=web and note it takes pounds of it per 100 sq ft .... or other such things ... i think i am digressing.. so i will stop here ....
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Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
13 years ago
How big is the opening in the deck?

My feeling is eventually the oak will out grow the space and overhang the pool more than you would like. Is the hole in the deck for the tree like 6 feet across?

May as well plant a dogwood, redbud, japanese maple, or other small tree there this fall.

What part of the country are you in? Is the pool and the deck out where it gets full sun all day?
marymd7
13 years ago
An oak will outlive both the deck and the pool. It's unlikely to hurt either the deck or the pool within their "lifespans."

I, personally, would never cut down an oak in favor of a swimming pool or a deck, but I'm weird that way.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
13 years ago
Lord, if I had a dollar for the number of dead trees that I've seen with decks planted around them.
katrina1
13 years ago
I have a 30 year old scarlet oak which is about 30 feet tall, has a raised 30 foot width of spreading canopy, a 10 feet high portion of cleaned trunk, and a 16 or so inches diameter of trunk.

Any time I dig even ten feet out from the edge of that canopy I end up digging into that oak tree's feeder roots. they are very thin roots, which I could never imagine would be able to break up a cement or even gunite (sp ?) type pool.

But you really would need to know what type or cultivar of oak tree that you have before you could figure out how far its canopy or fine feeder roots have the potential to spread.
bec815
7 years ago
I have 2 big 30ft oak trees on each side of pool (concrete or gunite) and have to decide whether to take the pool out (repairs plus non usage..grandkids maybe?). Love the shade which is worth the leaf droppage (houston heat!) but, the trees are getting the ball moss some like the front yard trees (have heavy infestation..moisture from lake?) so don't want to take out pool if trees are failing.
bec815
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Hope the photo uploaded!
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
7 years ago
it did not.. but your issue really has little to do with this old post.. you should start your own post.. and figure out how to get the pics up ... ken

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