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Roots Lifting Sidewalks and Driveways
in Montgomery, AL
Montgomery has a lot of mature trees planted close to sidewalks, especially in neighborhoods developed in the 1950s through the 1970s. Back then, trees were put in without much thought about how far the roots would eventually reach. Water oaks and willow oaks are the most common offenders here because they have aggressive shallow roots that spread wide. Once a root starts lifting a slab, it does not stop.
Quick Answer
Tree roots grow toward water and oxygen, and when they hit a sidewalk or driveway they push up underneath it and crack or lift the concrete. In Montgomery, large water oaks and willow oaks planted near older sidewalks in neighborhoods like Forest Hills cause this regularly. Root pruning and concrete repair can fix the immediate problem. Left alone, the crack widens and the trip hazard grows.
Telltale Signs
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Concrete slabs are cracked and one side is raised higher than the other
- You can see a root visibly running under or alongside the cracked section
- The lifting is concentrated near the base of a large mature tree
- Trip hazard at the edge of a lifted slab that keeps getting worse
- Cracks in the driveway radiating outward from a spot near a tree trunk
Root Causes
What Causes Roots Lifting Sidewalks and Driveways?
Shallow Root System Expansion
Water oaks common throughout older Montgomery neighborhoods grow most of their roots in the top 18 inches of soil. Those roots spread wide looking for water, and when they hit the underside of a concrete slab they keep going and push the slab up.
The Fix
Root Pruning and Barrier Installation
A trimmer cuts the offending root at a safe distance from the trunk without killing the tree. A root barrier can then be installed to redirect future growth away from the hardscape.
Inadequate Planting Clearance at Build
Many homes in Forest Hills and Vaughn Meadows were built in the 1960s with trees planted right at the edge of the sidewalk. As those trees aged and grew to full size, there was never enough room for the root system to spread without hitting the concrete.
The Fix
Selective Root Removal and Tree Evaluation
Roots that are directly causing the lift are removed, and the tree is evaluated to see if it can stay healthy with that root removed. In some cases the tree may need to come down if the root system is too compromised.
Self-Diagnosis
Which Cause Applies to You?
Check the signs you're observing to narrow down the likely root cause before your inspection.
| What You're Seeing | Shallow Root System Expansion | Inadequate Planting Clearance at Build |
|---|---|---|
| Root visibly running under the cracked slab | ||
| Tree was planted right at the sidewalk edge and is now very large | ||
| Multiple cracks spreading out from one spot near the trunk | ||
| Older property where the tree and sidewalk are clearly the same age |
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