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There are some trees that don’t just add aesthetic value to your garden, they can also be a helpful asset in other ways. On the other hand, there are certain trees that can be hard to manage – and those include trees with invasive roots.

What’s Wrong With Invasive Roots?

When the roots of a tree are invasive, they turn into a liability for property owners. Here are some of the issues invasive roots can cause: 

• They can create an uneven surface and pose a safety hazard
• They can infiltrate drainage networks and pipes (including septic lines)
• They can buckle and warp footpaths, paving, and driveways
• They can shift retaining walls
• They can lift and destabilise the foundation of a building
• They make it difficult to cultivate the ground around the trees
• They can emigrate to nearby properties and cause damage there
• They can be expensive to remove

Invasive Tree Roots – The Warning Signs

As you can see, invasive tree roots can cause a high degree of damage to the internal and external structures that surround a home. If you have a tree with invasive roots, you can tell that it’s doing damage to your paving and driveway if you see:

• Cracks in the tile or in the concrete
• Bumps or exposed roots in the general area
• The tiling or concrete surfaces buckling 

Regarding the drains of your home, you know invasive tree roots are causing damage if you notice:

• Clogged drains
• Slow-flowing drains
• A change in water pressure

If invasive tree roots are causing damage to foundation, you’ll notice:

• Cracks in the foundational flooring
• Vertical cracks running along foundational walls
• Uneven windows/door frames
• The floor surfaces buckling
• Shattered/cracked windows

If you notice any of these effects taking place, it may be necessary to call in our tree removal services, and after that, our stump grinding services.

What Trees Have Invasive Roots?

There are certain species of trees that should be avoided in order to avoid the structural damage that their invasive roots can cause. 

Here is the list of 11 trees with invasive roots in Australia:

1. Camphor Laurel

Camphor laurels can grow up to 20 metres tall, and they have a large canopy and a short, stout trunk. They typically grow in areas that see a lot of rainfall, but in a wide range of soil types. 

These types of trees don’t have many natural predators or fall victim to any serious diseases, and they produce seeds quickly. In south-eastern Queensland and New South Wales, this tree is considered a significant environmental weed. 

The camphor laurel is self-propagating and grows extremely quickly, and because of this, its root system is notorious for damaging sewer pipes.

2. White Poplar

Poplars are deciduous trees that can grow up to 20 metres in height, and they have a white/grey trunk with smooth bark. They’re typically planted as ornamental trees, and they love deep moisture and their roots will typically stretch out for long distances in order to find water sources. 

They are known for blocking pipes, lifting up paving, and causing damage to foundations.

3. Evergreen Figs

Evergreen figs, also known as ficuses, are pruned to have a ball at the top and grown as decoration in ornamental pots. But if they’re grown in a garden, they can be problematic. The root systems of these trees are strong and aggressive, and they can cause damage to paving, sewerage pipes, retaining walls, and even foundations. 

Even when these trees are grown in pots, the roots are capable of escape. If the pot is not elevated, the roots might just grow out of the drainage holes of the pot and find soil to invade.

4. Evergreen Alders

These are trees that can grow to incredibly large sizes, so they are not suitable for your typical backyard. These roots are strong enough to lift fences, break pipes, and buckle paving. Their canopies can spread across multiple yards and block sunlight, all the while the roots use up all available space in the soil. In New South Wales, these trees are not permitted to be grown in backyards. 

5. Pride of Bolivia

The Pride of Bolivia is a deciduous tree that is known for how fast it grows. It gets up to ten metres tall and is adaptable to most any environment. It can be recognized by its vibrant yellow/orange flowers and reddish/brown bark. 

While this tree is nice to look at, its root system is aggressive enough to lift driveways, damage foundations, and damage retaining walls. In many parts of Queensland, it is considered a harmful weed.

6. Palms

When palm trees are young, they can create a backyard that gives off tropical vibes. But as palms grow, their expanding root systems have the strength to lift pavers and damage retaining walls. 

7. Eucalyptus Trees

Eucalyptus trees, also known as gum trees, can vary in height, shape, and colour, but all shapes and sizes are problematic for planting near your home. They have aggressive root systems that reach far and wide to cause foundational damage to homes. 

8. Liquidambar

Liquidambar trees are known for how fast they grow and how big they are. They can get up to 25 metres high and 12 metres wide. They are conical trees with fine-toothed leaves that range in colour from orange to red to purple. 

But even though these trees are easy on the eyes, they have aggressive root systems that can clog stormwater pipes – so they do best when planted in parks and larger gardens.

9. Silver Maple

Silver maples are attractive trees that grow quickly in the shade and can get up to 12 metres tall. Their leaves have a distinct silver underside, and in autumn they can be anywhere from greenish brown to greenish yellow. 

But these roots are some of the most invasive out there. As they grow, they can crack pavement, driveways, pipes, and foundations. They do well when planted in parks, gardens, and private properties.

10. Southern Magnolia

The Southern magnolia is a beautiful tree that forms a dome shape with glossy green leaves. Their cup-shaped flowers are white and appear in spring and summer, and their beauty is what attracts people to this tree. 

This tree can grow quite large, and many are too big for a typical garden. They have knotted root systems that spread wildly and cause structural damage, crowd under-soil space, and leave no room for other plants to grow.

11. Willow Tree

Willows are deciduous trees that have long, narrow leaves and flower stalks decorated with tons of tiny flowers. But their large and aggressive root systems can spread up to 40 metres and cause extensive damage to drains, roads, and pavements. They are considered a harmful weed in Victoria and New South Wales.

How To Control Invasive Roots

If you’re concerned about structural damage to your property or the properties surrounding yours, the best route to take is choosing a tree with the least invasive roots – so, nothing from this list. 

You can be sure of the presence of invasive roots by digging close to the trees in question and checking to see if the roots extend and begin to grow downwards. If these roots are severely impacting your property, they will need to be removed professionally by experts like us at A-Local Tree Service.

Many different diseases affect trees throughout Australia, and some of them have invaded the country despite the government’s strict biosecurity measures. In many cases, early intervention can help save the tree in question, so any tree owner needs to inspect them often and take action as necessary. So, to help you remain vigilant, what are 10 of the most prevalent tree diseases in Australia at the moment?

1. Canker

This is one of the worst tree diseases in Australia, and at the moment, there is no cure. It is caused by a fungal pathogen that can enter the tree through tiny fissures and interfere with its ability to create sap. When infections reach the trunk, it will eventually split, but in the meantime, you’ll notice blisters around the branches. Canker is particularly prevalent in cypress trees, and the pathogen can easily be spread by weather conditions, nesting birds or burrowing insects.

2. Emerald Ash Borers

If you can see leaves on your ash trees turning yellow well before they should, they may have been affected by these borers (small beetles). By boring into the bark, they infect the tree and will eventually cause the branches to decay. Unfortunately, once they have invaded, there is very little you can do to save it, and you may have to consider tree removal.

3. Citrus Gall Wasp

Flying insects are to blame for infecting these citrus trees. In this case, the gall wasp lays its eggs within the branch structure, leading to infection. When this happens, the tree may begin to swell, and if you notice this, you may have to remove the branches in question to save the rest of the tree. If you don’t take any action, the situation will worsen when the eggs begin to hatch, and the disease will become more prevalent.

4. Anthracnose

This type of disease is caused by a fungal infection that leads to defoliation. It can be particularly prevalent in areas with high humidity or where trees are closely bunched, lacking airflow. If you notice holes in leaves and a loss of cover, employ tree pruning to cut out the affected areas as soon as possible.

5. Root Rot

As the name implies, this disease begins underground and is caused by a fungus in the soil. Again, this is characterised by wilting leaves during the summertime, but it is possible to treat this condition if caught early enough. The good news is that this problem can be selective and will not necessarily affect all trees in the vicinity.

6. Heart Rot

Insects may introduce heart rot disease as a fungal infection. The fungus can enter the tree’s trunk through fissures or where any bare wood may be exposed. The best way to avoid this type of infestation is to keep the area around the tree clear of any dead branches, mushrooms or fungi. When the disease takes hold, it can cause the heart of the tree, trunk and branches to decay.

7. Oak Wilt

Oak wilt is soil-borne and can be spread by underground root contact. It can also be introduced by burrowing beetles that carry the soil fungus with them. Be on the lookout for wilting leaves on your oak trees especially in peak season. This is highly infectious and can easily spread to neighbouring trees in your garden.

8. Powdery Mildew Disease

Look out for a greyish powdery-like substance on the leaves of your tree to try and avoid an infestation with powdery mildew disease. This substance is caused by tiny spores that form on the top of each leaf. And, as time goes by, the spores will release and fly through the air to affect neighbouring trees as well. Fungicides may treat this issue if caught early enough.

9. Myrtle Rust

Some think that this disease first originated in South America, but it has become prevalent in certain parts. Myrtle rust will affect a wide range of species, including eucalyptus, and it has proven to be very difficult to contain. It’s introduced by a fungal pathogen and is identified by yellowish spots on the leaves, which will begin to turn colour before the leaf starts to twist and fall. If discovered, it’s important not to touch the infestation but to try and contain it as soon as possible as the spores can break off and contaminate nearby plants. Fungicides may control an infestation.

10. Pink Disease

Pink disease is also caused by a fungal pathogen that is widespread across Australia and can affect a broad range of trees. And again, the pathogen will produce spores that can easily be carried in the wind to other trees. In this case, the pathogen grows inside the bark and causes it to bulge and eventually split. The problem can worsen during the rainy season when humidity is at its highest. Watch out for a strange pattern on the surface of the tree, which looks like a spider’s web. If you do encounter pink disease, you may be able to save the situation with tree pruning, followed by burning.

What Can You Do to Protect Your Tree Stock?

As already mentioned, every tree owner needs to keep an eye on these plants throughout the year and look for anything unusual. Be familiar with the appearance of each healthy tree, and if you see anything untoward, take action immediately. It’s also a good idea to keep up with tree pruning to get rid of any excess branches or leaves, and even tree lopping if the canopy has spread too far.

If you do come across problems that may have taken hold, you may have to bring in experts to carry out tree pruning and tree removal in the worst-case scenario. If you have to cut down any trees to try and avoid problems on the rest of your land, ensure that you take care of stump removal as well. Sometimes, the pathogen can remain in the stump or root system and could potentially spread to healthier trees nearby.

Tree diseases can be hard to contain and difficult to deal with. Always work with an experienced arborist if you encounter any problems.

Why should you invest in professional tree removal service?

Many people opt for the removal of trees in their property for various different reasons. It may be the case that their trees are dying of a disease or a storm has compromised the structure of the tree and it cannot be saved. However, one thing to keep in mind is that no matter why you require a removal but when you take on the service, you have to ensure that you hire professionals to do the job for you.

There are a lot of people who think that they are capable of dealing with the cutting down of a tree but the truth is that Brisbane tree removal should be left up to the experts. If you are still not convinced then here are a few reasons to change your mind:

Safety purposes:

When you are planning on removing a big tree, keep in mind that it requires serious considerations and there are a lot of factors that you have to think about. Removing a tree is not just about the manpower but you will require a lot of tools and appropriate equipment as well. If you take on the project by yourself, you may end up hurting yourself in the process. On the other hand, the tree professionals have a lot of knowledge and they take all sorts of precautionary measures before cutting down the tree. They make sure that no person is hurt and no part of the property is damaged during the removal of the tree. They can easily perform the task without anyone getting hurt.

Protection of your property:

Even when you are trimming down the trees, there is a risk that the branches would fall on the property and damage it. Or they can also fall on the vehicles parked underneath and leave a dent there. When you cut down a tree, this risk is increased to the maximum and without proper care; the tree can also fall on your property and damage it severely. If you hire professionals, they do their research before taking down the tree and cut it in such a way that it falls into the empty space. They make sure that no part of your property is damaged. Also, the company that sends you the removal team also has insurance so even if something goes wrong, they pay for the damages and you wouldn’t have anything to worry about.

Time-saving:

Even if you think that you can take down a tree safely, it would take a lot of time. This is because you don’t have any experience with the matter and you will have to spend a long time figuring out the best way to remove the tree. On the other hand, if you let the professionals do the job; they will be done in no time. Due to their immense experience in the matter, they are capable of handling the job easily and in no time.