Root Management
Protecting Your Property
Without Losing the Tree.
Tree roots and built structures don't always coexist easily. We help find solutions that protect your property without unnecessary tree removal, wherever that's possible.
Tree roots follow water and oxygen. That means they'll find their way into cracked drains, under paving, into foundations, and through boundary walls, causing heave, subsidence and costly structural damage if left unchecked.
The default response is often to remove the tree. In many cases, that's not necessary, and where a tree is protected by a TPO or sits in a Conservation Area, it may not be permitted. We look for the right solution first.
Root Pruning
Where roots are encroaching on hard surfaces or structures, controlled root pruning can sever the offending roots without destabilising the tree. The correct technique, depth and proximity to the stem depend on the species, size and health of the tree: root pruning must be carried out carefully to avoid causing more problems than it solves.
We assess each situation before recommending root pruning, and carry out the work with the minimum disruption to the tree's anchoring and water-uptake systems.
Root Barrier Installation
Root barriers are rigid or flexible membranes installed vertically in the soil to redirect root growth away from structures. They're used proactively, when planting new trees near buildings or services, and reactively, as part of a remediation scheme following root damage.
We advise on the appropriate barrier depth, specification and installation method for each situation, and carry out installation to a standard that satisfies insurers and structural engineers.
Subsidence & Insurance Claims
Tree roots are a common cause of subsidence in clay soils, particularly prevalent across much of Kent and South East London. If you're dealing with a subsidence claim that involves trees on your or a neighbour's property, we can provide a written assessment and recommended management schedule to support your case.
“Root problems are almost always solvable without losing the tree. The solution is usually about early intervention: catching it before the damage becomes structural.”
Jack, Founder, I Am Lumberjack
Root management photography
Common Root Problems
- Drain damage
- Roots entering cracked or poorly jointed pipes
- Paving heave
- Roots lifting paths, patios and driveways
- Subsidence
- Moisture extraction causing clay soil shrinkage
- Boundary walls
- Roots undermining or cracking wall foundations
- New builds
- Root protection zones affecting construction zones
On the day
What to expect.
- 01
We turn up when we said
Then walk the job with you before anything is cut. Between March and August we check every tree for nesting birds first.
- 02
Qualified, insured crew
NPTC-qualified arborists, £10 million public liability insurance, documents sent beforehand if you want them.
- 03
A full clean-up is standard
Green waste is chipped on site and taken away. We are a registered waste carrier.
- 04
Keep the wood if you like
Timber can be cut into logs and left for you, or taken away. Keep your tree →
Cost
What the price depends on.
- How far the roots have spread
- What they are affecting, such as paths, walls or drains
- Access to the roots and the tree
Every quote is free, written and itemised, with no obligation to go ahead.
Our guide to tree surgery costs →“Punctual, knowledgeable and friendly. They left the garden spotless.”
My neighbour's tree is overhanging my garden. What can I do?
You can cut back branches and roots to the boundary line, but not beyond it, and the cuttings should be offered back to your neighbour. We can prune to the boundary on your side; anything more needs your neighbour's permission. If the tree has a TPO, the same consent rules apply whichever side you're on.
Do I need permission to cut down a tree?
Most garden trees need no permission. If the tree has a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), you need written consent from the council before any work. If you're in a Conservation Area, you must give the council six weeks' notice before working on trees with a trunk over 7.5cm. Even dead trees under a TPO or in a Conservation Area need 5 working days' notice. Unauthorised work on a protected tree can bring an unlimited fine. We check TPO and Conservation Area status before every job. Check your tree in 30 seconds
Can you work in difficult access situations?
Yes. We work in small gardens, next to buildings and over roads, using aerial climbing, cranes and grabs where a straight fell isn't possible. We've worked in some of London's most constrained sites, including beside the Gherkin. The Gherkin case study
Root Problem?