Worried about my Weeping Willows and new pool
 

My wife and I bought a couple Weeping Willows for our back yard a
couple years ago. This year, we had a pool built in the back as well.
The pool isn't just done yet, but, a friend informed me that Weeping
Willows' roots extend very far and can tear up pipes and such. How
true is this? Do they only stretch out a certain distance? Right now
they are on the very back of my yard, it's about a 10-15ft rise. On
the other side of the hill there's a sort of dip where it stays wet
for long periods after it rains. I guess it was the builders' attempt
in making a drainage path. These Willows are still young but they're
growing fast and are so beautiful, we really don't want to get rid of
them. Thanks!

-Wing

"Wing" wrote in message
om...
My wife and I bought a couple Weeping Willows for our back yard a
couple years ago. This year, we had a pool built in the back as well.
The pool isn't just done yet, but, a friend informed me that Weeping
Willows' roots extend very far and can tear up pipes and such. How
true is this? Do they only stretch out a certain distance? Right now
they are on the very back of my yard, it's about a 10-15ft rise. On
the other side of the hill there's a sort of dip where it stays wet
for long periods after it rains. I guess it was the builders' attempt
in making a drainage path. These Willows are still young but they're
growing fast and are so beautiful, we really don't want to get rid of
them. Thanks!

-Wing

Maybe a pond would be a better idea than a pool. :-)

Willows are waterpigs, they will definetely be attracted to the pool and
pipes. What distance are they from the pool?

Dave

"Wing" wrote in message
om...
My wife and I bought a couple Weeping Willows for our back yard a
couple years ago. This year, we had a pool built in the back as well.
The pool isn't just done yet, but, a friend informed me that Weeping
Willows' roots extend very far and can tear up pipes and such. How
true is this? Do they only stretch out a certain distance? Right now
they are on the very back of my yard, it's about a 10-15ft rise. On
the other side of the hill there's a sort of dip where it stays wet
for long periods after it rains. I guess it was the builders' attempt
in making a drainage path. These Willows are still young but they're
growing fast and are so beautiful, we really don't want to get rid of
them. Thanks!

-Wing

David J Bockman wrote:
Willows are waterpigs, they will definetely be attracted to the pool
and
pipes.

How do they know there's water inside the pipes, or beyond the concrete?
Wouldn't the roots grow just as much in the other direction - maybe even
more if there was no resistance? What attracts them to the pool and
pipes? Smell? Visuals survalence from the branches, passed to the roots?
Can you fool them to think there's water in the oposite direction?

--
Warren H.

==========
Disclaimer: My views reflect those of myself, and not my
employer, my friends, nor (as she often tells me) my wife.
Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is
coincidental. No animals were hurt in the writing of this
response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants
to go outside now.
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"Warren" wrote in message
news:74ffd.247265$wV.40076@attbi_s54...
David J Bockman wrote:
Willows are waterpigs, they will definetely be attracted to the pool
and
pipes.

How do they know there's water inside the pipes, or beyond the concrete?
Wouldn't the roots grow just as much in the other direction - maybe even
more if there was no resistance? What attracts them to the pool and
pipes? Smell? Visuals survalence from the branches, passed to the roots?
Can you fool them to think there's water in the oposite direction?

I can't answer that question, but I can pose a similar one, which backs up
the question from the Bud Light ads from years ago, "Why ask why?"

I used to plant (and will plant again) some pole beans. I used 8 ft high 4x4
posts with a crucifix-like bar across the top of each. Strings ran from
stakes in the ground to the cross bar at the top, to keep the plants
somewhat separated and allow more even light penetration. I installed two of
these posts about 8 feet apart (opposite corners of the garden). When the
beans reached the top and wanted to go further, they would begin growing
toward the opposite poles, actually sending their branches horizontally. It
was as if they figured out where their next best support option was. There
were NEVER any branches headed anywhere EXCEPT for the opposite pole, and
there was no string between the poles. Very strange.

If it happens again next season, I'll take some pictures and post them.

"Wing" wrote in message
. com...
My wife and I bought a couple Weeping Willows for our back yard a
couple years ago. This year, we had a pool built in the back as well.
The pool isn't just done yet, but, a friend informed me that Weeping
Willows' roots extend very far and can tear up pipes and such. How
true is this? Do they only stretch out a certain distance? Right now
they are on the very back of my yard, it's about a 10-15ft rise. On
the other side of the hill there's a sort of dip where it stays wet
for long periods after it rains. I guess it was the builders' attempt
in making a drainage path. These Willows are still young but they're
growing fast and are so beautiful, we really don't want to get rid of
them. Thanks!

-Wing


Then be prepared for the possibility of them perforating the pool walls. Willow
roots are very aggressive and will cut through concrete and burst through pipes
and anything in their way. So, keep the trees if you aren't concerned about
your pool possibly being punctured. Even unite can be punctured.





Need a good, cheap, knowledge expanding present for yourself or a friend?
http://www.animaux.net/stern/present.html

"Warren" writes in article 74ffd.247265$wV.40076@attbi_s54 dated Mon, 25 Oct 2004 22:26:11 GMT:
How do they know there's water inside the pipes, or beyond the concrete?
Wouldn't the roots grow just as much in the other direction - maybe even
more if there was no resistance? What attracts them to the pool and
pipes? Smell? Visuals survalence from the branches, passed to the roots?
Can you fool them to think there's water in the oposite direction?

I disagree with the being attracted part (unless the pipes leak), but they
can definitely tear things up.

I had 2 willows (now, after a hellacious battle, 1). Both grew roots across
the surface of the lawn and under the sidewalk, lifting it up and cracking
it. Cracking a pipe would be easy work for willow roots.

The one that remains is a giant. It looks good from a distance, but close
up it's a mess. It's always dropping branches, and the roots are horrible
to mow around. It's getting the axe soon, in favor of some bamboo.

-- spud_demon -at- thundermaker.net
The above may not (yet) represent the opinions of my employer.

"Spud Demon" wrote in message
...
"Warren" writes in article
74ffd.247265$wV.40076@attbi_s54 dated Mon, 25 Oct 2004 22:26:11 GMT:
How do they know there's water inside the pipes, or beyond the concrete?
Wouldn't the roots grow just as much in the other direction - maybe even
more if there was no resistance? What attracts them to the pool and
pipes? Smell? Visuals survalence from the branches, passed to the roots?
Can you fool them to think there's water in the oposite direction?

I disagree with the being attracted part (unless the pipes leak), but they
can definitely tear things up.

I had 2 willows (now, after a hellacious battle, 1). Both grew roots
across
the surface of the lawn and under the sidewalk, lifting it up and cracking
it. Cracking a pipe would be easy work for willow roots.

The one that remains is a giant. It looks good from a distance, but close
up it's a mess. It's always dropping branches, and the roots are horrible
to mow around. It's getting the axe soon, in favor of some bamboo.

Spud is correct - unless there are obvious leaks or cracks in the concrete,
willow roots will not necessarily be attracted to or "invade" pipes or break
through a vertical wall of concrete, although they can and will lift
concrete slabs. And if you have leaks in the pool enough to attract the
roots of the willow, you have more serious problems than the trees will
present.

OTOH, they are aggressive, surface rooted and messy trees and subject to a
whole host of wind and insect and disease damage. Not a tree recommended for
a smaller sized garden (ie., your typical suburban lot) and not one to be
located in very close proximity to a pool if for nothing more than
maintaining the pool will be an enormous and constant chore.

pam - gardengal

On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 16:17:05 GMT, "Pam - gardengal"
wrote:


"Spud Demon" wrote in message
...
"Warren" writes in article
74ffd.247265$wV.40076@attbi_s54 dated Mon, 25 Oct 2004 22:26:11 GMT:
But, they are great if you have a low wet spot or natrual seepage area
in your lawn - they'll suck that moisture right up. I'll take dealing
with a willow, which can easily be sheared, to a seepage area breeding
slime and mosquitos any day.



OTOH, they are aggressive, surface rooted and messy trees and subject to a
whole host of wind and insect and disease damage. Not a tree recommended for
a smaller sized garden (ie., your typical suburban lot) and not one to be
located in very close proximity to a pool if for nothing more than
maintaining the pool will be an enormous and constant chore.

pam - gardengal

On Fri, 29 Oct 2004 01:34:56 GMT, fran
wrote:

On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 16:17:05 GMT, "Pam - gardengal"
wrote:

OTOH, they are aggressive, surface rooted and messy trees and subject to a
whole host of wind and insect and disease damage. Not a tree recommended for
a smaller sized garden (ie., your typical suburban lot) and not one to be
located in very close proximity to a pool if for nothing more than
maintaining the pool will be an enormous and constant chore.

But, they are great if you have a low wet spot or natrual seepage area
in your lawn - they'll suck that moisture right up. I'll take dealing
with a willow, which can easily be sheared, to a seepage area breeding
slime and mosquitos any day.

I have a soft spot (emotional, not landscape) for them because of
amusing examples in my neighborhood. Just posted a small pic to
alt.binaries.pictures.gardens