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Trees & Shrubs - Australia

Root system of jacaranda trees

21 years ago

Hi

Can anyone tell me how extensive the root system of a jacaranda tree is? My tree is well over 30 years old and I fear that it's roots will result in cracked paving etc.

Many thanks

Andrea Botha

Featured Answer

robyn5760

21 years ago

If your tree is over 30 years old, then it should have done its damage by now. Jacaranda trees do have extensive roots systems - especially at 30 years old, but a 30 year old tree is a magnificent thing, so a bit of cracked paving (I assume you mean concrete paving?) is a small price to pay for being the caretaker of a beautiful tree. I loved when ours carpeted the lawn in deep mauve flowers - just wonderful.
Robyn

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Comments (8)

Doona
21 years ago
I wonder if you could cut the root that is most likely to crack the paving, if it was going to. Cutting one shouldn't hurt, should it? I agree that its better to put up with a crack than to lose such a beautiful tree, if it's healthy and thriving that is. If it's straggly and ugly, like some can be, then its a different story.
Donna.
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I had a similar/worse problem with a neighbor's bamboo. In order to get rid of it, I had to dig up all the bamboo and the perimeter, lay down one of those black garden mats, put down a layer of small rocks, then add back the soil. That included going into the neighbor's yard and digging up his bamboo and doing the same thing over there. Of course he denied that he planted the bamboo but since it was a rental, I had to get it out because it can damage the foundation of a house. I also had another renter that planted a tree within 15 feet of the house. By the time I realized that he had done that, it had already traversed under the foundation. I was told to leave it alone. This renter had 1/3 of an acre to plant it but since he was lazy, I guess he didn't want to walk far to water it.
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The maple roots will not cause any conflict with the pavers - they are just not aggressive enough......but the pavers or any significant disturbance in the immediate area will cause a significant disturbance to the tree!! Japanese maples have a very delicate root system and resent any kind of root disturbance while in active growth. I have seen JM's start to decline with even the mild cultivation necessary to plant within the root zone or to carry out routine but vigorous weeding. Damage to the root system is also an ideal way to introduce ever present soil pathogens like Verticillium wilt, which can take a JM down in just a matter of days. Damage to even a small portion of the roots is not worth the risk if you value the tree. Anyone that will try to convince you otherwise does not have a lot of experience with Japanese maples.
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alisonoz_gw
21 years ago
The root system wil be about as extensive as the height of the tree, but they generally have just a few of the big anchor-type roots that can run close to the surface. Drought conditions could bring some change but generally I agree with the above comments. Knowing the heartbreak it caused my Mum when she sold her home - and the first thing the new owners did was chainsaw the jacaranda - I would suggest you pay a qualified arborist a (probably) modest fee for a quick assessment visit and advice on removal of any offending roots.
greyfox_1_earthlink_net
17 years ago
I have a beautiful and massive 30 year old Jacaranda tree in my backyard about 40 feet high. I have recently noted some cracking in my pavers both inside and outside my home as well as major leakage in my in-ground Spa, all within 10 to 30 feet of the tree. Are the tree roots agressive enough to cause these problems. Thanks
zakiekhoury_live_com
15 years ago
Hi, I have a 40 year old Jaccaranda in my front yard and I wanted to plan seasonals or grassy plants at the base; Does anyone know if it's suitable to plant small rooted flowers around the anchor roots of a Jaccaranda Tree?
bonnie_preston1_verizon_net
15 years ago
We want to build a stone seating wall around our 25 year old jacaranda tree with a diameter of 16 feet (8 ft from the center trunk in all directions). The tree needs a major haircut and the roots 8 feet from the tree all around will have to be cut. My concern is that I don't want to spend $5000 on a seating wall that encloses the tree and then lose the tree due to root damage. And, if I did lose the tree, how in the heck would they remove it after the wall is in place.? Is 8 feet a reasonable distance from the trunk? Advice welcome.
jodybelinato_hotmail_com
15 years ago
HI I have a 20 year old jacaranda tree in my front yard. BEAUTIFUL as it give us a very cool house in summer.
Is there a special way to trim the branches to give sun in winter.
and would the roots do any more damange?
thansk
chezron
10 years ago
You are so right Robyn!

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