Best option for driveway with significant root damage/beautiful tree?

6 years ago

We have two large, beautiful sycamores in the front of our house, and a large root from one has led to a significant crack and unevenness in our driveway. We'd like to repair/replace the driveway, but we don't want to cut the root, as doing so would (according to our arborist) likely lead to significant damage to the tree. We'd also like a driveway where we can play basketball, which we do frequently (even though the raised crack poses a risk when we play). My initial thought is to regrade the driveway so that the root is no longer above the surrounding surface level and then repave (with asphalt) over the root. As you can perhaps see from the pictures, if the driveway was regraded to be slightly less steep in the portion between the garage and the crack, it could "clear" the root while still being even with the walkway that connects the driveway to the house. (The driveway has apparently sunk slightly below the walkway, or perhaps it was never even with it.)

My questions:

1. I'm wondering whether people think it is simply foolish to pave over this root in order to preserve a mature and gorgeous tree while also improving the driveway. The current cracking is not only ugly, but it also poses a problem for basketball as well as snow plowing. We would be willing to have a driveway that did not last as long if it meant preserving the tree while having an improved surface for several years. That being said, we wouldn't want to pursue this path if it meant we'd be in a similarly bad situation in only a handful of years.

2. Does anyone have any other proposed solutions, other than living with our large crack or cutting the root and likely killing about half of the tree? In particular might there be some alternative to asphalt that would be superior given our situation and needs? (Might pavers be superior?)

We live in Connecticut, so thawing/freezing cycles are common. Typically, our driveway is cleared by combination of snow plow and some shoveling.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts/advice!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

PRO
Yardvaark
6 years ago
I believe that if you repaved the driveway, you would be in exactly the same spot ... much sooner than you think. I think the tree, in spite of its beauty, has become irreconcilably incompatible with your house and drive. If it were just another 20' away! While it would be sad to see it go, there is this old phrase -- 'out of sight, out of mind' -- that would kick in. When a new smaller tree, planted farther away, started blooming or showing off whatever feature it had, you'd eventually quit pining about the sycamore.
DavidR
6 years ago
I won't tell you what I think you should do. Instead, I'll just note that one of the things I admired about South Korea in my visits there years ago was the respect they paid to their oldest trees.

I saw walls, paths, and roads carefully and deliberately routed around these elder statesmen. In some cases, even buildings were shaped to let them live.

Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that when Japan occupied Korea, they stripped the country of much of its timber. Or maybe it harks back to their ancient Shamanic traditions, which recognize tree spirits. Or it could be related to the Confucian code of respect for elders. Maybe all of these, or something else.
Related Professionals
Cape Coral Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Charleston Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Oneonta Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Kenosha Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Salisbury Home Remodeling · Yuba City Home Remodeling · Manhattan General Contractors · Marquette General Contractors · Mission Viejo General Contractors · Stockton Bathroom Remodelers · Olympia Bathroom Remodelers · Orangeburg General Contractors · Alexandria General Contractors · Sebring Interior Designers & Decorators · Columbia Interior Designers & Decorators
cecily 7A
6 years ago
Are the basketball players adults or teens who will soon scorn your companionship anyway?
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
I'd repave. It may not be a permanent fix but should be good for a number of years.

There is a value, both economically and aesthetically, that a healthy, mature tree offers that cannot be easily replaced in one's lifetime by chopping down and replacing with a "new" tree. Aside from one's fondness for the tree, I'd think long and hard about removing just to satisfy a convenience factor that can be addressed differently.
John Pittard thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
Embothrium
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Cost of paying to have tree removed could instead be spent on at least one session of raising and replacing the drive. Since the drive currently looks somewhat sunken it may be feasible to have the replacement drive sitting a little higher, in order to better accommodate the roots for a time.

Of course, tree is not at present a particularly large example of its kind and may fairly soon go on therefore to become even more problematic. And there is another specimen over on the side, that is never going to affect the drive - it may not be necessary to have both present in order to retain the desired ambiance. Also in the first shot the two appear to be conflicting with one another, and the one lifting the drive can also be interpreted as detracting from the house visually. (As are the scraggly looking, window blocking shrub groupings).
John Pittard thanked Embothrium