I'm planning to expand my house but don't want to damage the trees in my backyard, especially a tall redwood tree. How far is the minimum safety distance away from the tree? Heard that the diameter of trees' longest branches is that minimum distance, is it true? Thanks.
"Your Actual Mileage May Vary". In general cuts and fills can be murder on trees. However, coast redwood grows on flood plains in part of its habitat, where it may be suddenly buried by a substantial depth of fine mud and survive. This very tall-growing, exceptionally massive tree (perhaps at one time containing more wood volume than the surviving large Sierra redwoods) also produces an extensive network of shallow roots which extends well beyond the spread of its branches. So, make as few changes as possible and hope for the best. If you have to take it out later, it will cost thousands to do so. Definitely mark off as big an area as possible and keep all construction-related activities and objects out of this zone around the tree. Repeated trampling by feet can be worse than vehicle tires, but neither should be permitted. Likewise no dumping of excess paint or rinsing of cement containers onto the root zone.
Sounds like you already have the trees. What is the size of them - height, trunk diameter and spread of branches? Know the age? Photo?
Thanks Ron and M.D.Vaden for your answers. I measured the tree. It is ~100' tall, trunk diameter is ~2'1'', the spread of the branches is ~15' from the center of the trunk. I'm not sure its age. In the past 12 years, it has grown ~30' of height. Currently, there is 17'6'' distance from the center of its trunk to the house. I'm thinking to add a room and the new room will be 5' wider then current house, so from the wall of new room to the center of the tree trunk will be 12'6'', or say to the edge of the trunk will be 11'5''. In other words, the new room will step into tree's branch spread area for 3'. I'm afraid that'll damage the tree. Will it? If I build a sun room type of room, with only 1' deep foundation, will that help the tree? I haven't figured out how to post a photo here, but will try tomorrow. Thanks!
Do you build your houses on a concrete base or are they on stumps like we have here? The soil is not too disturbed by digging out except for the post holes and of course the concrete that goes in to set them. So I did not disturb my garden area at the time I went up rather than out. Might be an option. Liz
Contact a registered professional arborist to review the situation at your project site. There are many many factors that need to be evaluated before work starts, soil type, construction type - basement, crawl space, or slab-on-grade, slope, etc. They will review the tree, your plans, and work with a contractor before construction to establish rules, and during construction to insure that all protective measures are taken to protect the tree. I have one concern, however, is that these trees are HUGE, and may pose future problems with your home which will be very close to the tree, i.e. tons and tons of leaf drop, limb drop (big limbs too), and aggressive roots. The arborist will offer very good advice. good luck.
