tree vs paver patio

last year

I am in my 3rd year of a 1955 bungalow in the Puget Sound area. The garden was designed in around 2007 and I think the paver patio was put in as part of this installation. There is a mature maple tree (silver maple???) that has a root lifting pavers in the patio. This is a tripping hazard.

Is there a way to remove or reduce this root without compromising the health of the tree? It is at least 3 stories tall and is one of the largest trees on the lot. Right now, I have a potted plant where the lifting is happening, to minimize the tripping hazard.

If discussion appears twice, it's because the website seems to have stalled when uploading to Houzz.... apologies if that occurred.

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Comments (7)

tracefloyd
last year
last modified: last year
I'm not an arborist but I know not to mess with tree roots. The patio is close to the trunk so this is not surprising.

If you increase the planting bed you would reduce the size of the seating area.

I would remove enough pavers and fill the area with walkable gravel or river rock to the proper level. Perhaps create a pleasing outline.
Jj J
Original Author
last year
Thank you. Agreed about leaving the root alone unless this species has enough redundant rooting (is there such a thing?).

The tree trunk is about 5 ft from the edge of the patio. Trunk flare is about 18-24” above patio level. The garden bed slopes down to patio from that.
I think the tree was either pre-existing or was sited for immediate vs long range aesthetics .

I am thinking I may need to take out enough pavers to create a gentle patio slope vs the edge that is the tripping hazard.
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Monique
last year
Silver maples are weak trash trees with roots that lift foundations and are hazardous to mowing. Get rid of the tree. It’s in terrible butchered form, which makes it even weaker, and that is as large as they get. It can easily crash down through your house in the next big storm.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last year
" roots that lift foundations and are hazardous to mowing. "

That's pretty common with many maple species :) OTOH, silver and sugar maples are not all that common in the PNW. In addition to our two native species, you are more likely to encounter red, Freeman and the odd Norway maple. The Asian maples are smaller and tend not to have many surface roots. OTOOH, most larger maple species can also tolerate considerable root disturbance, specially the removal of a few irritating surface roots.

I also agree that the tree in question is not particularly attractive nor has it been pruned with much skill. If it were mine, I'd remove it
Jj J
Original Author
last year
Good to know. I’ve been so busy removing some trees and pruning others, that this beast has just been waiting its turn. Its redeeming value is shade from the afternoon and setting sun.
Jj J
Original Author
last year
We call it the Laughing Tree is it mocks us when raking the bazillion leaves it drops for weeks in the fall.
BillMN-z4a
last year
last modified: last year
In that location, the silver maple will eventually shade out the surrounding trees/garden. Those trees aren't happy until they take over the world.

Take it out and remove the stump or after cutting, kill the stump and use it for a planter.

Some of your surrounding trees will grow larger with the increase in hours of daylight.

Just my 2 cents.