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Root Proof Weeping Tiles? Question

natgas | Posted in Construction Techniques on March 14, 2009 06:12am

I have a century home that has no weeping tiles. I am doing some sewer work, and think I should install some weepers, as the basement is very damp. My problem lies in that I have a large tree and english ivy close by, both with very aggressive root systems. These roots are in the area of the sewer, under the concrete floor, etc. If I put a standard perforated weeper in place, I suspect it would only be a year or so before the roots will enter and then fill the weepers with thirsty new growth roots.

Is there a product or a technique available to overcome the root invasion problem? Ideas would be very welcome.

Thanks in advance.

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Replies

  1. User avater
    popawheelie | Mar 14, 2009 07:23am | #1

    The only thing I can think of is to get rid of the root problem. Probably not what you want to hear.

    I am a gardener as well as a home improvement DIYer.

    I recently planted trumpet vine on a one brick wall and i got a lot of conflicting opinions on it.

    What it came down to was that people on more moderate climates warned me vigorously about trumpet vine. But up here in No CO they said it would be fine.

    So I planted one and will keep an eye on it.

    Maybe you need to get rid of the ivy and plant something else that is less aggressive in your climate.

    One thing i have seen is to put rock salt around the areas where you don't want the roots to grow.

    1. natgas | Mar 14, 2009 07:42am | #2

      The tree is a really great specimen, and the ivy is useful for summer cooling of home, and I rather like it unfortunately. I hear what you say, however.As a gardener, have you seen any geotextiles that are able to resist plant/root growth 100%? The thought is maybe to cover the tile in the geo textile as I install it. The salt idea may work but has drawbacks in that it is so corrosive, I really don't like it anywhere near my home if I can help it.

      1. User avater
        popawheelie | Mar 14, 2009 07:55am | #3

        I've seen plants roote go through geo textiles. As long as they can get one little shoot through it is over. I do think it limits them but they do go through.

        Our last house had a cottonwood near our septic tank. I took it down. To close.

  2. Danno | Mar 14, 2009 03:30pm | #4

    You can wash about a cup of copper sulfate into the weep tiles every six months or so, that is supposed to keep roots out.

    1. natgas | Mar 15, 2009 04:16pm | #5

      Thanks for the info, gentlemen. Thanks for the welcome here. Been getting FH for many years, been meaning to get over here (forum) for a few yrs, finally got on board. Hope I can offer something.

    2. Piffin | Mar 15, 2009 04:20pm | #6

      Does that just kill the local roots without hurting the full sized specimen tree?And what about the runoff location? is this something not to allow where it runs to fisheries? 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

      1. Danno | Mar 15, 2009 10:32pm | #7

        I have wondered the same thing--whether it hurts the trees, but have been using it (not as often as I should) and trees don't seem to be suffering. As for it going into the lakes, I don't know. I know that there is a subdivision in town that has fairly expensive McMansions and they are built around a big pond in the center and someone treats it with copper sulfate--nothing grows in it except some cattails near shore and it's is a pretty shade of blue-green I haven't seen in any other pond. The developer late one night dug a channel to a nearby river, so....

        1. Piffin | Mar 15, 2009 10:40pm | #8

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_sulphatehttp://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA008I was curious because I use copper for the fruit trees and recalled the label being explicit to not use where runnoff can flow to fish waters.but apparently it is used for aquaculture too, but needs careful monitoring 

           

          Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

    3. natgas | Mar 16, 2009 01:24am | #11

      I haven't heard of copper sulphate - where does one buy this stuff? Sounds like it may work as a control, but not a prevention.

      1. Danno | Mar 16, 2009 04:20pm | #13

        I think you can get it at hardware stores, maybe drug stores (the stuff my wife had was just crystals in a paper sack--maybe got it at a grain elevator place that sells ag products?).

        --I did recently find something called "Root Clear" which is 99.0% by wt., copper sulfate pentahydrate and I found it at a local hardware store. The label warns that it is toxic to fish, corrosive, poisonous, etc. It warns against breathing the dust or touching it or getting it into eyes. Sooo...be careful out there!

        1. natgas | Mar 16, 2009 07:29pm | #14

          Thanks, will check stores soon.

  3. john7g | Mar 15, 2009 10:50pm | #9

    besides just the weeper tile (drain tile at the footings, right?) are you going to ensure that you have good drainage away from the house when you're done?  I'm not a plant expert but spend a fair amount of my time messing with them.  If you backfill with a washed gravel and a fabric separating the dirt from the gravel, it would tend to be drier (and not as tasty) than the adjacent soil .  Seems to me that the roots would have less incentive to travel through the gravel to reach the tile. 

    1. natgas | Mar 16, 2009 01:13am | #10

      Yes I was planning to do as you suggest on the outside of my foundation wall. Most of the water is ground water from below the floor level, however, and the roots have demonstrated the willingness to grow right under the concrete floor. One of the weepers, I was hoping, to put under the floor to try to get that water disposed of via the sewer. I just can't figure out how to keep those roots from growing into the (perforated) weeper pipe. I know they will if I don't do something, as they did enter (and fill) the old cast iron sewer that had a couple small holes in it previously.

    2. User avater
      popawheelie | Mar 16, 2009 04:31am | #12

      You have a good point. Where i have seen plants roots go through the weed barrier is when there is something on the other side they really want. Take that away and the might be much less aggressive.

      Basically, what I've seen is plants in gravel with some soil in it on top of weed barrier.

      When it gets hot and dry they really need the moisture below the barrier. And they do get through.

      Is there a stronger weed barrier out there? Seems like there would be a market for some heavier material.

      I'm just calling it weed barrier.

      Edited 3/15/2009 9:33 pm ET by popawheelie

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