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Sidewalk and hardscape solutions

The idea is to create and maintain a system that can accommodate tree roots while minimizing damage to the infrastructure. Listed below are some suggestions and solutions that have worked for communities. Remember that sidewalks settle, rise, and crack for a variety of reasons including soil characteristics, freezing and thawing cycles, inappropriate installation, tree roots, and age. Many concrete sidewalks are only meant to last about 25 years so they deteriorate with or without trees. Sydnor et al. (2003) showed this in a survey on street trees in Ohio. Some communities require property owners to maintain sidewalks in a usable condition which includes damage from tree roots.

New construction solutions	Refurbishing solutions
appropriate sized tree pits alternative sub-base material tree grates tree grate alternatives channeling roots cluster planting elevated sidewalks root barriers crushed granite street light/wire location increase distance increase width alternate surface material rubber sidewalk pavers on sand engineered soil reinforced concrete	Although controversial, one of the best long term solutions may be to remove trees. root cutting ramp up to risen surface asphalt over roots reroute sidewalk slabjacking rock dust replace hardscape with stones or gravel rubber sidewalk crushed granite bridging design around tree cobblestones and pavers over sand reinforced concrete

• Trees
  • Urban design |
  • Site |
  • Selection |
  • Nursery |
  • Planting |
  • Pruning |
  • Health |
  • Species |
  • Roots |
  • Structure |
  • Wood |
  • Storms |
  • Arborists |
  • Plan |
  • See: Power lines
• Shrubs
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  • Production |
  • Maintenance |
  • Species |
  • See: Planting
• Groundcover
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  • Production |
  • Maintenance
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