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primarily by choosing an appropriate tree that doesn't do that. countersinking the tree can work in some cases too (often with a metal grating around the base o

primarily by choosing an appropriate tree that doesn't do that. countersinking the tree can work in some cases too (often with a metal grating around the base of the tree so people don't fall in and hurt themselves). i don't know that you can "fix" the roots once the tree has become well established, without seriously damaging the tree and potentially creating additional hazard.

bcrosby95 5y ago
You also have to be careful of mainlines and turning that into swiss cheese with the root system. Ultimately it takes a fair amount of research to pick the right location and tree.
- harmmonica 5y ago
  like parent commenter said LA actually has a list of acceptable “street trees” that they’ve approved so they don’t kill the sidewalks. some of the most glorious trees you’ll see here are ficus, but those are not on the list because they do blow away sidewalks, streets, utilities. unbelievable shade trees though that require very little water.
  - clairity 5y ago
    i just learned that a huge, grand old tree in my neighborhood is a species of ficus, and indeed, the sidewalk next to it is a buckled, gnarled mess. but i’d rather deal with that problem than harm the tree (it seems like it would be pretty straightforward to build a concrete ramp over the roots, like a mini-bridge).
    - Tempest1981 5y ago
      See if you can get a rubber sidewalk: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5615795 https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=561579... (2006)
      - clairity 5y ago
        that's neat, like the temporary flooring used for outdoor 3-on-3 basketball tournaments. a concrete bridge would probably be smoother, more durable, and require less maintenance, but the interlinked rubber segments would be easier to reuse/reposition over time and being semi-permeable is a useful property for other reasons.
    - harmmonica 5y ago
      ah super cool. fully agree that taking a tree like that out would be a travesty. and I'm not insensitive to the infirm or disabled when having to deal with broken sidewalks, but taking those trees out would be a sin when there are other ways to address the root damage like the ramp you suggest or those rubber tile things.
burnished 5y ago
Ooooh, countersinking a tree to get its roots below the pavement, with a metal grating to keep people out.. thanks, I used to wonder about this and had no idea why some one would do that.

bcrosby95 5y ago

You also have to be careful of mainlines and turning that into swiss cheese with the root system. Ultimately it takes a fair amount of research to pick the right location and tree.

harmmonica 5y ago
like parent commenter said LA actually has a list of acceptable “street trees” that they’ve approved so they don’t kill the sidewalks. some of the most glorious trees you’ll see here are ficus, but those are not on the list because they do blow away sidewalks, streets, utilities. unbelievable shade trees though that require very little water.
- clairity 5y ago
  i just learned that a huge, grand old tree in my neighborhood is a species of ficus, and indeed, the sidewalk next to it is a buckled, gnarled mess. but i’d rather deal with that problem than harm the tree (it seems like it would be pretty straightforward to build a concrete ramp over the roots, like a mini-bridge).
  - Tempest1981 5y ago
    See if you can get a rubber sidewalk: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5615795 https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=561579... (2006)
    - clairity 5y ago
      that's neat, like the temporary flooring used for outdoor 3-on-3 basketball tournaments. a concrete bridge would probably be smoother, more durable, and require less maintenance, but the interlinked rubber segments would be easier to reuse/reposition over time and being semi-permeable is a useful property for other reasons.
  - harmmonica 5y ago
    ah super cool. fully agree that taking a tree like that out would be a travesty. and I'm not insensitive to the infirm or disabled when having to deal with broken sidewalks, but taking those trees out would be a sin when there are other ways to address the root damage like the ramp you suggest or those rubber tile things.

burnished 5y ago

Ooooh, countersinking a tree to get its roots below the pavement, with a metal grating to keep people out.. thanks, I used to wonder about this and had no idea why some one would do that.