- Jul 22, 2013
- 84
I've been lurking on here awhile, and have been quietly planning my pool build in North Central FL.
This question is for those of you here in the southeast. In my backyard, there are plenty of longleaf pine trees. One of them happens to be right where my pool decking will eventually go. It is probably 50 ft tall, and 14'' in diameter. Obviously, this thing will be cut down. However, due to the very sandy soil, and longleaf's tendency to want to develop a trunk sized taproot all the way down to the water table, there is a possibility this thing may go 15-20 ft down.
I am inclined to think that I should insist that this thing should be fully dug out, and removed from the earth as well as total removal of the shallow lateral root system. I imagine that a significant amount of earth will probably have to be added to the pit the tree currently occupies, and that a total packdown of the spot is necessary as well.
Am I correct in my logic? I just don't want to get burnt here, as the tree is sitting where the terminal footer for the screen enclosure will go, and I obviously don't want settling issues/crackage of the footer if this situation isn't handled correctly. I have read widely varying reports on decompostion rates of longleaf taproots, so I am assuming that I don't want that thing left in the ground.
I am also politely asking that those of you unsure/unknowledgeable of this soil type or root structure of longleaf pine please abstain from commenting if you are not certain on the right course of action to take. Thanks for your time.
This question is for those of you here in the southeast. In my backyard, there are plenty of longleaf pine trees. One of them happens to be right where my pool decking will eventually go. It is probably 50 ft tall, and 14'' in diameter. Obviously, this thing will be cut down. However, due to the very sandy soil, and longleaf's tendency to want to develop a trunk sized taproot all the way down to the water table, there is a possibility this thing may go 15-20 ft down.
I am inclined to think that I should insist that this thing should be fully dug out, and removed from the earth as well as total removal of the shallow lateral root system. I imagine that a significant amount of earth will probably have to be added to the pit the tree currently occupies, and that a total packdown of the spot is necessary as well.
Am I correct in my logic? I just don't want to get burnt here, as the tree is sitting where the terminal footer for the screen enclosure will go, and I obviously don't want settling issues/crackage of the footer if this situation isn't handled correctly. I have read widely varying reports on decompostion rates of longleaf taproots, so I am assuming that I don't want that thing left in the ground.
I am also politely asking that those of you unsure/unknowledgeable of this soil type or root structure of longleaf pine please abstain from commenting if you are not certain on the right course of action to take. Thanks for your time.