Here is another angle

Trees and Garden · More Info

If you're talking about moving it right away, which you presumably are August is not a good time. And you would be likely to need to hire a qualified landscape contractor to do it regardless of timing. Even if it ends up being cut down you're going to be covering the cost of somebody getting the roots out of the way of the pipe.

Embothrium - when would be the ideal time to move a tree like this? What I'd LIKE to do is find a way not to move it, but the plumber doesn't think that's possible. So I want it put right back where it is and I certainly don't want it to die. This tree is very unique and i just love it and it's been around so long!!! I would hire an arborist or landscaper to move it. Thank you for the response!

Fall or winter. If it were my place I actually wouldn't put it back in the same exact spot, it has the appearance of having become too big for the existing bed plus there is a David and Goliath effect being produced by the larger deciduous tree being right there behind it. In addition it appears as though the two are conflicting physically as well as visually, with the cedar looking as though it is trying to escape the shadow of the other tree. Which is partly obscured visually by the cedar - both would benefit from a separation, with the cedar being placed elsewhere on the property, somewhere were it can reign supreme. And be allowed to develop unimpeded, show its full character.

Finally I wouldn't put a plant that had turned out to be in the way of a pipe replacement one time back on top of the new pipe, in case some day that second pipe also needed work.

Embothrium - that's a very good point. The tree behind it is a very old Black Tupelo. I could put the cedar in my back yard, but that is full sun all day - would that be too much sun?? I never even thought about it being too close to the tupelo - I guess because they're on opposite corners of the yard. One point worth noting - I have the cedar pruned so that it doesn't grow over the driveway or sidewalk - which may contribute to it's off balance appearance.

price out a decent sized replacement .... 350 to 600 US ....????

then price out moving it ... 500 to 1500$ US ... ????

compare such ...

my biggest concern .... is the odds of loss even with the job perfectly done ... i put it at 50/50 at best.. and maybe even lower ... and thats if you pay some guys $1000 to professionally move it.. and i doubt you will get any warranty/guaranty ...

so .. since im not really a gambler.. i would say goodbye to the old.. and plan on a new one ...

moving a tree with a trunk over one foot.. is not something to bet the ranch on ... imo ... [i think thats what i see in the pix.. but maybe it tree trunks behind????] ...

ken

ps: the other way of thinking of it is that many think the root system of a tree is twice as big as what you see above the ground.. in a flat pancake form ... even if you use a mechanical tree spade.. and took a 5 foot boot ball.. image all that you are cutting off ... and need to regrow.. before the tree would get re established ...

I never considered re routing! The plumber said water and sewer line both should be replaced. They are located on the opposite side of the tree from the drive, running under the far corner of the tree. i am going to ask the plumber. The city water shut off is right in front of the tree though, on the sidewalk.....

And the trunk is over a foot. I could never replace the tree though.... it is very special to me because I know the person who planted it worked so hard to train it....

Plumbing companies have technology now where they can replace an existing failed pipe right where that pipe already is, without digging the entire length of the run - that's what I had done here.

The project costs thousands, but I had a long run of pipe.

Embothrium - is that where they insert the new pipe into the old one? Someone in my neighborhood suggested that. They also need to install a new clean out because the three that I have are all cast iron and pretty rusted (in basement), only one can even be opened.

Yes, something like that. I think there is more than one version of the same general idea being offered.

Cedars are reasonably amenable to moving. I have moved two nearly as large as this one. It's chances of surviving the insult are very good.

I know nothing about US sewage systems but I too was wondering why it can't just be relined in situ. My sewage line goes right under the house from back to front and is then a good 6 feet below the street. If it needed repair it would just be relined. The same technique has been used on all our city water pipes.

i wish you luck... and hope you keep us posted ... ken

"The plumber said both should be replaced".........because he has an alimony payment?

Really if you are going to have them both exposed there is a chance its the right thing to do. I'm not above a little cynicism though.

I had a rare Abies planted right where they wanted to get into my line, up at the end near my house. They cut it and a ceanothus off so they could do the work. They also installed new access points, had to dig down at the end where my line met the city one. But otherwise there was no digging up of - or along the side of - the full length of the existing line. So - assuming you can wait the additional time it would involve - you should have some plumbing contractors that offer the same going-in-one-end type of replacements come and look at your situation, make proposals. Before it is decided the cedar definitely needs to be gotten out of the way.

Just like you prune branches, roots can be pruned too. No need to move the tree.