There is no definite answer because there are many variables (soil type, soil moisture, etc). I can tell you that about 90% of the tree's roots will usually be in the top two or three feet of soil.

Did you put the hardware cloth in to fence out pests?

The roots will go through the mesh, but will be girdled as they grow. I certainly wouldn't recommend the situation you describe!

Yes, I did it to keep gophers out of my yard. These are small gophers and all the holes I've found don't go more than 12 inches down.

I spoke with a couple local nurseries and they both said that Italian Cypress roots are fibrous and I have nothing to worry about. They said the roots would go right through the mesh and if they expand they will simply break the mesh.

I appreciate your input. I've already buried all the mesh. I think the trees will find a way and be fine. Nature isn't perfect and tree roots have to go around lots of obsticles naturaly, rock, etc. The mesh itself isn't going to last forever and will certainly start to corrode after years.

As I said the nurseries said the trees would be fine and everyone else I've talked to (non internet based) said that nature will find a way.

I'm going to leave everything as is. Thanks again for your input.

The tree(s) may develop root problems and like someone told you they can potentially fall over or not have any foliage on that side or have a poor appearance.
The trees will probably look fine for a few years until that mesh becomes a problem.
Italian cypress and related species are drought tolerant but you can't expect them to be drought tolerant without a well developed root system.
There may be natural obstacles like rocks but this isn't a natural obstacle and don't bet on it biodegrading in the soil. By the time that happens, we'll all be long gone.

I'm not surprised the nurseries tell you the trees will be fine because they're trying to sell you the trees and will say whatever it takes. The people onthe internet like myself really don't know what you're trying to do because we can't see the mesh or really understand what you're talking about. But what I can say with certainty is nature doesn't always find a way.

I'm failing to understand how FIBROUS roots will be blocked/hurt by 1/4 inch openings for 2 feet down. The openings are larger that the roots. The roots can go straight through without any problems.
As I've explained, I am keeping gophers out of my yard. That is why I dug a trench 2 feet deep and inserted the mesh.

The nurseries aren't trying to sell me anything, I already purchased them and they have a 1 year guarantee. And the guy I talked to could care less about selling/returning, I know the guy personally.

So anyway, I'd appreciate your take on why 1/4 inch openings for 2 feet down will cause problems with fibrous roots.

Is it Ok to plant Italian skinny cypress very close (1/2foot) next to our sewerage pipe? Will it damage it?

tuffloud1 - six months ago I took out 20 young Italian cypress of the Totem Pole variety planted in loamy soil. Most of them were 6-7 feet and I wouldn't call their roots fibrous. I didnt' see any taproot to speak of, but they'd already developed pretty thick side roots, as well as some roots going downwards. A couple years more and those roots would be much thicker than a quarter inch.

What I found on google is that cypress don't have fibrous roots per se, but their roots are fibrous in comparison to those of other trees.

"Conifers such as cypress have finer and more fibrous roots than a lot of other trees.

https://www.hunker.com/13426970/can-cypress-tree-roots-cause-foundation-trouble

Your cypress are too close to the underground mesh wall, which will prevent them from developing those side roots they need for stability.

Marf Vern,

You should've started your own thread as the original is near a decade old and when on phones, people don't always notice the dates and respond like it's a recent post.

To your question: New style PVC plastic pipes that are glued at the seams will not be affected by tree roots entering the pipe and clogging it.

But, 1/2 foot away?, The trunk will expand in years to come and most likely will cause problems in the way of pushing the pipe sideways resulting in possible breakage down the road. How deep is the pipe?

Older clay and cast iron pipes that are not 'air tight' at the seams will be affected by eventually clogging with roots. The type of tree really doesn't matter although some will take less time to do so. So knowing what type of sewer pipe you have will answer your question on root clogging issues.

where are you.. that your septic pipes are so shallow ...

since im in ground freeze area.. perhaps our code is different ...

i agree.. this topic has little to do with the original ... i wonder what happened with the original poster???

ken

"I'm failing to understand how FIBROUS roots will be blocked/hurt by 1/4 inch openings for 2 feet down. The openings are larger that the roots. The roots can go straight through without any problems."

The feeder roots may be fine or fibrous but as a root structure forms, the roots grow in diameter as a branch would. With the restricting effect of your mesh 6" away, you are completely preventing the formation of any structural roots on that side. Feeder roots will penetrate the mesh and travel another 2'-3' before being constricted and dying. That process will repeat again and again. There will be little to no structural support of the tree on the mesh side.