Cutting Juniper tree root during house bldg, bad for tree?

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I don't know the Juniper species of about a 35' tall Juniper tree that would be adjacent to the foundation wall of house I will be building in the Oregon high desert. The tree is old and generally seems healthy even though one side major vertical limb of it has no green growth on it and looks very sculptural. The foundation would be about 25" from the drip line, and this would continue for about 6-8' before the distance to the tree would be significantly greater.

The tree is quite wonderful and I don't want to put it into too much stress if the excavation cuts through some major portion of its root system. What do you think? Also would it be a good idea to give the tree some supplemental watering say every other week (for a month or two) since the same amount of growth would now be "supplied" by a smaller root system?

In photo, blue is about where foundation would be; the red area is another Juniper in the background and not part of the tree I am asking about.

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Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
it wont be a positive ...

but do you have any options???

the blue line sure doesnt look 25 feet from that tree ... in this pic ... or i dont understand your words ...

do you have a water source out there.. at this time??

ken
Mike McGarvey
8 years ago
It looks like it will be alright. Those trees are tough. You might want to give it a little extra water, but don't kill it with 'kindness'.

Will your house cast much shade on the tree?

Most people don't think of Oregon as having a an environment where Juniper trees grow but central and southeastern Oregon is quite dry. I love those trees and wish I could grow them here and have them look like they do there.

The Oregon High Desert Museum just south of Bend, Or. is a must see if you are ever in the area.

Mike
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lite1
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you both. @Ken FYI blue line is 25 inches not 25 feet. There is well.
@mike Yes the house will cast quite a bit of shade on tree; latter is to north of house and this part of house will be two stories so the the roof line will come within probably 15 feet of the top of the house. So the micro climate for the tree will be greatly changed - do you think the shade will be an issue?

I really don't have much choice on house location. Fortunately Junipers are tough (some in Oregon even think of them as being quite invasive), so hopefully tree will be OK. Since it will be close to house, I'd like to enjoy its sculptural features and am happy if it does NOT thrive - very slow growth would be best. And yes I have visited the wonderful museum.
Embothrium
8 years ago
With the current heating up of the climate and the resulting burning up/dying off of conifer forests in the interior the shade from your house might actually help the tree.
Mike McGarvey
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Maybe the shade would compensate the juniper's loss of roots?

Fire would be my biggest concern if I lived there. That's pretty dry country.

Mike
lite1
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you, this is good information, and relatively encouraging. I think that I will check with some of my future neighbors and see if they have perspective on having to do something similar. But at this point it seems like this is worth the risk and that the tree will most likely be tenacious enough to continue on for many decades.

Cutting Juniper tree root during house bldg, bad for tree?

Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Mike McGarvey

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Cutting Juniper tree root during house bldg, bad for tree?

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

Mike McGarvey

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