Pipe protection from tree roots
Pipe protection from tree roots
(OP)
The situation: I have some (perf)piping is within bioretention areas that will also support future tree plantings. We are expecting that some root intrusion will occur, eventually.
Any advice, methods, or products for protecting perforated piping from shallow tree root intrusion?
Any advice, methods, or products for protecting perforated piping from shallow tree root intrusion?





RE: Pipe protection from tree roots
RE: Pipe protection from tree roots
CVG is right about cottonwoods and pipes, but when modeling evapo losses cottonwoods use more water than wetlands or rice.
RE: Pipe protection from tree roots
A put copper against the inner zone of a root and it dies right there.
Trees don't like copper and at the sharp edge of a slot or a drilled hole this contact of inner body of a root with copper will occur.
However, your project may have other stuff that copper affects.
Price is high these days.
RE: Pipe protection from tree roots
RE: Pipe protection from tree roots
Trees should be great for bioretention. They typically keep infiltration in a area high. The roots and deeper penetration often give a better soil development.
Small bioretention in parking areas you may want to be careful because with all of the compaction Terryscan is right in that the pretty shallow sandy mix will not be enough. However, if your deeper soils are not overcompacted trees should be fine.
RE: Pipe protection from tree roots
RE: Pipe protection from tree roots
I have seen bioretention used in the context of stormwater quality. Oldestguy mentions that copper can be used to protect pipes from root intrusion. Whereas this has some definite merit, as a stormwater quality treatment device it would probably not be acceptable to the local authorities. Some municipalities are concerned with copper to the degree that they require a retrofit or other changes to copper downspouts.
RE: Pipe protection from tree roots