Garden Guy said:

Eggs Zachtly wrote:

How much oxygen do you think can get to the roots, more than a
couple feet below the surface, again especially in heavier soils?

I would have thought that water supply was a more important function
for the roots than air supply.

Both are /essential/ to the survival of the tree.


Presumably the roots need air for their own needs, and not to
transport it up into the trunk, branches and leaves - in which case
paving over the roots is of more concern than cutting them (as far as
oxygen goes).

Even covering shallow (or above ground) roots with soil, is bad. The roots
have established themselves that shallow for a reason. When you place them
deeper by covering them up (with anything), you shorten the life of the
tree. Maybe the results won't show for years, but they'll evenually show.
Things planted deep, rot.


I'm curious as to what kind of fence you're installing

It's a concrete sound wall (about 2-3 inches thick) but it requires a
shallow foundation between posts. The posts have been in place for
several years (6" x 6" spruce, set into 12" concrete piers, spaced 10
feet apart).

Ahh, you didn't say "wall"; you said, "fence".

Quote:

I'm digging a trench about 1 foot deep for a fence.

/quote

There's a big difference between a 'fence' and a 'wall'. With a fence, you
could alter the span of a post or two, and get away with it. Something as
heavy as a 'concrete sound wall' most likely needs support it's entire
length. Sounds like someone missed something, during the planning stages.
If the design can't be altered to save the tree, it may not be salvageable.
All you can do is put up the wall and hope for the best.


IMO, I'd avoid doing any more serious damage to the tree.

I'd really like to not have to cut these roots, but they are too
shallow and I can't form the footing with them there, even if I modify
the design. I wonder if I could tap into the root with a connector
and attach a water line and feed water directly into the root?

That may just shorten the life of the tree. It's not the large root that
collects the water. It just transports it. All the little tiny roots that
you severed are the ones that "get" the food/water/gas. By "injecting" the
larger root with water, you're just hastening the rot.

Who knows? The tree may last you another 40 years. It may also only last
you 4. All you can do is try and provide it with it's needs, and hope
mother nature doesn't deal you a blow that puts additional stress on the
tree.

Good luck,
--

Eggs

-Two aerial antennas meet on a roof, fall in love get married. The ceremony
wasn't much, but the reception was brilliant.