On 8/12/2016 2:07 PM, Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:

- Thanks David. I checked just now, and it's far enough away from
the wall that it wouldn't touch during high winds. As long as the
roots are not a problem as far as damaging the wall, I'll just leave
it where it is. First choice would be to sell it to someone if it's
worth much and plant something else in its place. Probably not
practical unless the company has a crane to lift it up and out. The
only way to get equipment in the yard a 5-ft space between the house
and the block wall. Still, will make some calls and post what I find
out.

I was able to get to the other side of the wall today which is inside
a fenced yard. Bad news -- the wall is starting to lean away from the
tree at the top of the wall, and the mortar has broken between a few
blocks. I don't see anything close to the wall on my side, but it
is so overgrown around the tree I can't get close enough yet. Will
do some trimming this weekend and see.

Now I see that there are 4-6 smaller trunks coming growing around the
tree at the base. Not huge, but large enough to create pressure if
there is one against the wall.

If this turns out to be the problem, I could cut that trunk off and
have nothing within a foot or more of the wall. Latest questions
are....

Cut away the smaller trunks, not the main trunk.


After I cut that trunk off, should I put asphalt or some other
sealing agent on the cut?

With palms, I do not think sealing the cuts is important. Just be sure
the cut slopes away from the main trunk at least slightly. You do not
want water to sit on the cut or drain towards the main trunk.


If it turns out that the roots may be pushing up the wall, would it
hurt the tree if I dig down and cut the roots on my side of the
wall?

Cut away whatever you think is necessary as long as it does not exceed
half way around the trunk. Palms readily send out new roots from the
base of the trunk. Thus, you might want to place a vertical sheet of
aluminum or heavy plastic in the trench you dug to act as a barrier
against new roots. Steel will eventually corrode and disappear. Best
would be a sheet of copper, which would create both a physical and a
chemical barrier; but copper is very expensive.

--
David E. Ross
http://www.rossde.com/

When a Moslem shoots up a nightclub in Florida
or a party in California, it is terrorism. When a
Christian shoots up a movie theater in Colorado or
a church in South Carolina, however, it is not
called terrorism. Why is this so?