Do NOT plant a Sissoo tree whatever you do!!! (popular in Phoenix area) (trees, driveway)
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We have had a few suckers come up here and there but nothing as bad as yours. We have never had grass in our backyard but the nightmare we've had to put up with are the awful roots!!! We had our pavers redone in our yard May 2013 and workers cut the roots back and had everything leveled nicely. Not even one year later, our new pavers are lifting up. This tree is from hell...we love the shade but we are cutting it down next week. I don't want the expense of a cracking block wall and all the damage they will continue to create. Oh! and I found out that when the trees are removed, you MUST remove the root ball because the roots will keep growing after the tree is removed! My landscaper asked me to call one of his clients to confirm and I did. She told me she had the 4 trees professionally removed including the stump and they injected "root killer" into the remaining root areas. She remodeled the backyard with new pavers and 9 months later all of her new pavers are a mess. Roots removed for 8 months now and no sign of problems yet...that she can see anyway.
Well, I am not buying that. Without leaves, no photosynthesis and without photosynthesis the roots will die. I suspect what happened to her is drying out and dying of the roots caused movement of the soil and the overlaying pavers. I have had the same thing with my huge eucalyptus trees that I cut down last year. A corner of where my spa sits on pavers next to the tree roots is getting out of level.
Well, I am not buying that. Without leaves, no photosynthesis and without photosynthesis the roots will die. I suspect what happened to her is drying out and dying of the roots caused movement of the soil and the overlaying pavers. I have had the same thing with my huge eucalyptus trees that I cut down last year. A corner of where my spa sits on pavers next to the tree roots is getting out of level.
The Tree Pro's Arborist told me the same thing. I needed to remove the roots or they will continue to grow and send up suckers trying to establish a new tree. Said this could go on for years. I didn't want to pay the thousands of dollars to dig up every root so I took my chances of just removing the tree and trunk.
The Tree Pro's Arborist told me the same thing. I needed to remove the roots or they will continue to grow and send up suckers trying to establish a new tree. Said this could go on for years. I didn't want to pay the thousands of dollars to dig up every root so I took my chances of just removing the tree and trunk.
I hope you're right though.
They'll send up suckers for sure. But if you diligently kill off the suckers the roots are going to die without the nourishment provided by the leaves.
They'll send up suckers for sure. But if you diligently kill off the suckers the roots are going to die without the nourishment provided by the leaves.
Wonder how long that will go on for? Fingers crossed it isn't very long as my block wall can't take anymore growth of that root or it is going to be ruined.
Wonder how long that will go on for? Fingers crossed it isn't very long as my block wall can't take anymore growth of that root or it is going to be ruined.
It could be a while. My eucalyptus kept sending suckers up for almost a year and I don't think they are known for that. I would hit em with Roundup every once in a while. Even though the shoots are popping, I really don't think the roots are growing anymore once you cut the top - just sending up shoots to try to get nutrients for growth again. If you don't stay on top of that, then maybe they could grow. I am no botanist, but it seems impossible to produce new cells without products that the leaves provide. Once you cut the tree down, they stop getting bigger. Eventually they are going to die, particularly if you keep them away from any water.
Think of all the termites you will have when the roots die!
1st time posting, but I seem to have one of the longest Phx histories with this tree.
20 yrs ago, myself and 3 other neighbors sought the advice of a landscape architect as we all wanted to add additional trees in our flood irrigated lots, in areas which needed shade. Three species were purchased: Chinese Pistache, Elm, and Dalbergia Sissoo's. The architect said this was a "newly introduced species" (Dalbergia) that all the architects were using and the results were positive. Fast growing, great shade, 20'-30' max height, best tree to hit the Phoenix area in a long time. I planted 2, another neighbor 1, and another neighbor planted 3, all 15 gal in size.
My story: 10 years ago my two trees were almost 2' in diam and about 25' tall. A shared fence was being uplifted in multiple places and numerous large roots were present. I hesitated loosing the shade but decided that the tree presented a real danger both above and below ground. No advice was available from the local arborist community as the tree was too new to the Phoenix area. I hired someone to cut them down and grind the stump. Within weeks the tree's survival adrenalin kicked in and I had shoots all over my yard, many over 75'+ away. I decided to dig up and cut the roots in increments with a sawz-all which took me 6 months. Wanted to prepare the area for more suitable trees such as a decorative pears. I dug down 3' +/- and almost 10 around each tree. The roots never ended and they were ENORMOUS almost matching the diameter of the tree trunk...both at the surface and deep. The shoots lasted over 2 years with the constant vigilance of digging up and tracking the feeders back to the original stump. You couldn't kill them, and when you cut them with the mower, they only grew larger at their trunk base. I tried copper nails, spray chemicals, you name it, I tried in vain.
Neighbor who planted 1: Not the original planters of the tree, the new owners watched their concrete driveway up-lifted almost a foot till it cracked. Tree was 2'+ in diameter and they didn't want to pay the cost of removing. Eventually they wised-up and cut it down as they realized the risk the upper branches presented to their home. Even their brick garage foundation was being uplifted. They were shocked when they saw the extent and size of the roots. Shoots are still growing all over their yard.
Neighbor who planted 3: 10 yrs ago she was prepared to cut her trees down as she recognized the cost of trimming the super fast growing trees were straining her budget. She died unexpectedly. 15 yrs ago a wind storm totally uprooted the then 20'+ trees as they were top heavy. They grew back from nothing but roots and are currently 60'+ tall and 3'+ in diam. New (young) owners, infatuated by the shade, decided to keep the trees despite my numerous attempts to advise them of the trees undermining their home's foundation as well as my own, as we shared a property line. 12"+ roots have invaded my yard in humps that resemble the loch-ness monster. I've had to continually shave their root tops with a chainsaw in order to get my mower over them. Can't imagine what lies below ground. Trimming has been done regularly by the neighbor, but never trimming the tops, only the sides. If you looked at them you'd think they could withstand a hurricane but that's where the tree hides a deadly secret... they are weak and heavy as are most fast growing, water sucking trees.
Recent storm blew the tops off of 2 branches and one crushed one of my classic cars which was more than 35' away from the tree. The 1'+ tree top branches didn't just break, they pulled apart. No apologies from my neighbors despite a letter to them 5 yrs ago outlining the potential dangers, and repeated warnings of the risks their trees present. Even if you don't have one of these trees in your own yard, but your neighbors do, you better expect problems. They make eucalyptus and cottonwoods seem sensible. The roots also invade other plants roots, so when you pull them out you sometimes have to pull out other plants.
The cities and individuals who are planting these trees are uninformed FOOLS, just like I once was. Irrigated lot, non-irrigated lot, or strictly desert, This tree is a menace, and I'm not even going to go into the year-round mess they create. The cost and damage, due to the introduction and eventual removal of this species to AZ ,is going to be enormous.
1st time posting, but I seem to have one of the longest Phx histories with this tree.
20 yrs ago, myself and 3 other neighbors sought the advice of a landscape architect as we all wanted to add additional trees in our flood irrigated lots, in areas which needed shade. Three species were purchased: Chinese Pistache, Elm, and Dalbergia Sissoo's. The architect said this was a "newly introduced species" (Dalbergia) that all the architects were using and the results were positive. Fast growing, great shade, 20'-30' max height, best tree to hit the Phoenix area in a long time. I planted 2, another neighbor 1, and another neighbor planted 3, all 15 gal in size.
My story: 10 years ago my two trees were almost 2' in diam and about 25' tall. A shared fence was being uplifted in multiple places and numerous large roots were present. I hesitated loosing the shade but decided that the tree presented a real danger both above and below ground. No advice was available from the local arborist community as the tree was too new to the Phoenix area. I hired someone to cut them down and grind the stump. Within weeks the tree's survival adrenalin kicked in and I had shoots all over my yard, many over 75'+ away. I decided to dig up and cut the roots in increments with a sawz-all which took me 6 months. Wanted to prepare the area for more suitable trees such as a decorative pears. I dug down 3' +/- and almost 10 around each tree. The roots never ended and they were ENORMOUS almost matching the diameter of the tree trunk...both at the surface and deep. The shoots lasted over 2 years with the constant vigilance of digging up and tracking the feeders back to the original stump. You couldn't kill them, and when you cut them with the mower, they only grew larger at their trunk base. I tried copper nails, spray chemicals, you name it, I tried in vain.
Neighbor who planted 1: Not the original planters of the tree, the new owners watched their concrete driveway up-lifted almost a foot till it cracked. Tree was 2'+ in diameter and they didn't want to pay the cost of removing. Eventually they wised-up and cut it down as they realized the risk the upper branches presented to their home. Even their brick garage foundation was being uplifted. They were shocked when they saw the extent and size of the roots. Shoots are still growing all over their yard.
Neighbor who planted 3: 10 yrs ago she was prepared to cut her trees down as she recognized the cost of trimming the super fast growing trees were straining her budget. She died unexpectedly. 15 yrs ago a wind storm totally uprooted the then 20'+ trees as they were top heavy. They grew back from nothing but roots and are currently 60'+ tall and 3'+ in diam. New (young) owners, infatuated by the shade, decided to keep the trees despite my numerous attempts to advise them of the trees undermining their home's foundation as well as my own, as we shared a property line. 12"+ roots have invaded my yard in humps that resemble the loch-ness monster. I've had to continually shave their root tops with a chainsaw in order to get my mower over them. Can't imagine what lies below ground. Trimming has been done regularly by the neighbor, but never trimming the tops, only the sides. If you looked at them you'd think they could withstand a hurricane but that's where the tree hides a deadly secret... they are weak and heavy as are most fast growing, water sucking trees.
Recent storm blew the tops off of 2 branches and one crushed one of my classic cars which was more than 35' away from the tree. The 1'+ tree top branches didn't just break, they pulled apart. No apologies from my neighbors despite a letter to them 5 yrs ago outlining the potential dangers, and repeated warnings of the risks their trees present. Even if you don't have one of these trees in your own yard, but your neighbors do, you better expect problems. They make eucalyptus and cottonwoods seem sensible. The roots also invade other plants roots, so when you pull them out you sometimes have to pull out other plants.
The cities and individuals who are planting these trees are uninformed FOOLS, just like I once was. Irrigated lot, non-irrigated lot, or strictly desert, This tree is a menace, and I'm not even going to go into the year-round mess they create. The cost and damage, due to the introduction and eventual removal of this species to AZ ,is going to be enormous.
I'm one of those fools...even after having it removed my yard is overrun with suckers from this thing and just last weekend I found a sissoo sucker in the front yard which has to be 80' from where the tree was planted. My yard is being overtaken by these things and a month ago I started trying to dig up the roots to stop all the suckers and even when I dig up a root new suckers pop up in the same place from a deeper root.
That tree is a nightmare and I have no idea how long I'll have to keep fighting it even now that I've had it removed. I had them dig out the root ball and not just grind the stump and I'm still having problems.
I'm one of those fools...even after having it removed my yard is overrun with suckers from this thing and just last weekend I found a sissoo sucker in the front yard which has to be 80' from where the tree was planted. My yard is being overtaken by these things and a month ago I started trying to dig up the roots to stop all the suckers and even when I dig up a root new suckers pop up in the same place from a deeper root.
That tree is a nightmare and I have no idea how long I'll have to keep fighting it even now that I've had it removed. I had them dig out the root ball and not just grind the stump and I'm still having problems.
I stopped watering mine in May in anticipation of cutting it down this winter along with my conversion to a more care free landscape. It is looking pretty weak, turning yellow and the leaves are thinning considerably. 9 months without water (it don't rain in Estrella) might just finish it off.
I stopped watering mine in May in anticipation of cutting it down this winter along with my conversion to a more care free landscape. It is looking pretty weak, turning yellow and the leaves are thinning considerably. 9 months without water (it don't rain in Estrella) might just finish it off.
I wish I had that option, unfortunately, my lawn (dogs spot) is right near where the tree used to be so it continues to get water and seems to be growing further away looking for a place to establish a new tree.
That is a great idea on your part if you can kill that sucker before you remove it.
Wow. I had to google Sissoo, and I've lived here over 24 years.
I wonder about trees by block walls; I have a 9.5 y/o Palo Verde tree in one corner and I wonder about roots and wall damage. I had a Chilean Mesquite that grew like gangbusters, but I lost that along with a Palo Brea in a big monsoon in July 2009.
I love the flowers on the PV tree, but wonder if I should have it removed or leave it be...?
Anyway, good luck with your tree and tree offshoots. I didn't know that about other trees sprouting up; thought about it with the mesquite, but it didn't happen.
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Stop Planting Dalbergias
