root barriers -- protecting property from neighbor's trees

 Does anyone have any first-hand experience in knowing the chances of
an Aristocrat Flowering Pear Tree causing damage to a home's
foundation?

I have a neighbor who decided to plant an Aristocrat Flowering Pear
Tree about 5 feet from our property line and about 17 feet from my
foundation in highly expansive clay soil that is watered almost year
round: in Califorina where we go long spells without rain.  I have
water lines and sprinkler lines within feet of that tree, and a water
line about seven feet from it.

One of my concerns with this tree is potential root damage to my
home's foundation, concrete driveway, and anything I decide to put in
that area in the the future.

I've been researching root barriers, and the one idea I'm debating is
putting in a 4 to 6 feet deep (below ground) rebar reenforced concrete
wall along our property line to keep this tree from damaging my
property.  Does anyone know how effective root barriers are at
different depths in the soil?

How well would a rebar reenforced below-ground wall work?

Any other ideas for an effective root barrier system?

Has anyone ever had any success in taking a neighbor to court for
intentionally planting a tree that they know will encroach on your
land and will likely damage your propery over time?

 On 18 Jul 2004 16:58:36 -0700, franknewsgroups@yahoo.com (Frank)
wrote:


You must a real fun guy to live next to. . .

deg

 
"Frank"  wrote


Good Grief!  I pity the people of California for having to put up with you.

 Pogo wrote:

I once had a neighbor that forced me to remove an Apple tree
because every year it dropped Apples in his yard.  He said
his dogs ate the apples and it made them sick.  About six
years after the tree was removed he lost his property when
the bank foreclosed on it.  I wasn't sorry to see him and
his family go.
--
Bill R.      (Ohio Valley, U.S.A)

Digital Camera: HP PhotoSmart 850

For pictures of my garden flowers visit
http://members.iglou.com/brosen

Remove NO_WEEDS_ in e-mail address to reply by e-mail

 
You're in luck, then.  Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat' is very popular
as an urban and street tree, because it's a very attractive undemanding
tree that isn't prone to causing problems with the sidewalks/roads.

It's also very tolerant of variable soil and water conditions.


What is your specific concern here? I notice that you've mentioned
that your soil is watered year 'round, which is fairly unusual in
California - and certainly not particularly mindful of the water
problems in many parts of California.  Is there something unusual in
your garden that you think that this tree will bother?


Actually your neighbour has planted a tree that's very commonly used
in landscaping because it -won't- damage your property over time.  It
wolud be very hard for you to make any sort of case in the first place,
and given that the tree in question isn't known to be problematic,
even harder.

Other people have said this in a less friendly way, but it does sound
as though your primary concern here isn't the tree, and what the tree
might do to your property, as much as being able to carry on some sort
of disagreement with your neighbour.

Without having any idea what the issues are [nor quite frankly wishing
to], it might be worthwhile to attempt mediation to resolve whatever
the outstanding issues are.

cheers!
--
==========================================================================
"A cat spends her life conflicted between a deep, passionate and profound
desire for fish and an equally deep, passionate and profound desire to
avoid getting wet.  This is the defining metaphor of my life right now."