Is your rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis? If so, does it grow to 100 foot tall in your area?

Or if it's that other "rubber tree", Ficus elastica, the roots may well become a huge problem...

sounds like you have to list your priorities.. and act accordingly ...

you really can beat back a root mass... by cutting the surface roots ...

if your hard scape is really that important.. perhaps removal is you best choice ...

pic of tree and leaves.. will get you an ID ... and thats a great way to start ....

ken

I am not familiar with this tree, but the roots will never stop growing.

Here are 2 pics of the tree and the empty grass spots from the tree roots. I don't know what type of rubber tree it is. I purchased it originally as a house plant and it grew this large.

It grew that large in 5 years!!? Maybe ficus elastica or microcarpa?

It's been at least 5 years. I wasn't keeping count. Does the type of rubber tree make a diffference how I should prune it?

It's a ficus all right.

If you are smart you'll get rid of it. It can easily reach 100 feet tall and they very often go over. Add to this the fact that they develop both aerial and buttressing/support roots and you can see that problems aren't going to go away- they will only get worse.

I would think both types of ficus would be pruned in the same manner, but I am not familiar with this tree.

Perhaps those "not familiar with this tree" would be better off not giving advice?

F. elastica has no place in a suburban garden. Totally agree with cearbhaill...get rid of it, as it's only going to cause you grief in your given circumstances. Chainsaw the trunk(s) close to the ground and immediately paint the freshly cut cambiums/surfaces with a tree herbicide. Perhaps others here can recommend brand names.

And keep an eye on it, as it may well try to re-sprout...

Thank you for your comments and especially from those who have worked with these trees before.

Ficus may well be the genus with the most amazing roots! Agree with the above-where hardscape, etc. is in the way, this is a monster that will happily roll right over the top of the whole works.

For amazing Ficus (of varying species) after amazing Ficus, it is once again the Thomas Edison grounds in Fort Myers, FL. There, where there's room, these giant root systems are free to spread far and wide, usually with ferns and other plants growing in the pockets. A plant-lovers delight and amazement.

The roots on my rubber tree are nothing like what is pictured for the Ficus. They are not as erosive as those. One root that is noticeable and was cut back a few years ago had a diameter of about 6-8" wide. I thought it was 12" but it wasn't. Thanks for your comments.

Well, the "rubber tree" is a Ficus. So there's that. But mainly, it's just too young to have quite developed all that root system yet.

We have an 80+ year old Ficus in the yard, it is absolutely huge and doing damage, so it is shortly coming out, even though I hate to remove it for its shade. I have found its roots 120 feet from the tree.

I have the same situation: an ex friend planted one outside next to my pool lanai. I never pruned it but it is very tall: passed the lanai rooftop. I noticed a big root coming out on the side. I know I need to remove this plant. I just had the pool redone three years ago. The rubber plant is about three years old, too. BTW, I live in SWFL, so it is tropical, here. I don't know why he insisted it would be ok where he planted it even though I asked about the root system? I get cutting the branches and putting the herbicide on the stump, but will this stop the roots from spreading underground? Will I have to pull the root ball up?

Once the tree is dead, the roots will die also.

Use Triclopyr herbicide on the stump immediately or very soon after. the tree has been cut down.

Check your local ordinances in case there's a problem with using herbicides there.

leaves convert sunshine into energy which is then stored in the roots ... roots also find and use water which it pumps up to the leaves ...

when you remove the leaves.. and stop new leaves [the stump killer] ... then the roots will die and rot ...

if you allow ANY shoots to re-emerge .... then the root mass will not die ...

it would not be surprising.. if you have quite a mushroom show over the next few years ... they are natures decomposers... using the dead wood in the soil ..

ken

Thanks.

I have the same type of rubber tree which is my nexr door neighbors, It has crossed the property line, broken thru the fence, killed all of my grass, damaged walls, walkways, irrigation and more, Never plant this tree near any type of structures, This type of tree belongs in a jungle or rain forest.