hi,

we are needing to get new rain gutters and the old underground pipe has been k-o'd by ficus roots.

The repairperson wants to dig down about a foot or so, clear out the roots in about a foot square trench, and put in a new pipe. (It's hard to know when the previous pipe got cracked - thus, it's hard to know if it makes sense to do a new one. Otoh, there was a decent water flow out of the pipe over the winter.) It has to go in the same spot because the pipe end goes out of concrete.

Will this hurt the trees? They are under heat stress (I think), and are dropping many leaves, have some type of insect, etc.

Otoh, they drop leaves every year around this time. (And yes, I realize, that's not great. Speaking of which, I suppose this is the wrong time to fertilize them, right?) Maybe it isn't a big deal?

I can try to do photos if that helps.

Thank you in advance.