Home › Common Problems › Tree Roots Lifting Sidewalks and Driveways
Tree Roots Lifting Sidewalks and Driveways
in Springfield, MO
Older parts of Springfield like the Doling Park area have silver maples, Bradford pears, and sycamores planted right next to sidewalks, sometimes less than 3 feet away. Those were common choices 40 or 50 years ago before people understood how aggressive the root systems get. The heavy clay soil here does not drain well, so roots stay shallow and spread wide instead of going deep.
Quick Answer
Tree roots lifting your driveway or sidewalk happen when large trees are planted too close to paved surfaces, which is common in Springfield's older midtown neighborhoods. The roots grow out sideways and push up the concrete from below. The options are root pruning, removing the section of pavement and redirecting the root, or in some cases removing the tree. Left alone, the concrete keeps cracking and the trip hazard gets worse.
Telltale Signs
Warning Signs to Watch For
- A section of sidewalk or driveway is visibly tilted or raised on one side
- A crack running across the pavement in line with a nearby tree trunk
- You can see a root ridge running under the surface of the lawn toward the pavement
- The raised slab rocks or tips when you step on it
- Edges of the concrete have chipped or broken off where the root is pushing
- Water pools near the raised section because the slope has changed
Root Causes
What Causes Tree Roots Lifting Sidewalks and Driveways?
Shallow Root Spread in Clay
Springfield's heavy clay soil holds water near the surface and makes it hard for roots to go deep. Roots from silver maples and other aggressive species stay in the top 12 to 18 inches of soil and spread outward 2 to 3 times the width of the canopy. When a root hits pavement, it keeps growing and pushes up.
The Fix
Root Pruning and Barrier Installation
A trimmer or arborist cuts the offending root at a point that does not destabilize the tree, then installs a root barrier between the stump of that root and the pavement. The barrier deflects new root growth downward instead of letting it spread back to the surface.
Tree Planted Too Close at Build Time
Many Springfield homes built in the 1960s and 1970s had trees planted within 5 feet of driveways and sidewalks as part of standard landscaping at the time. Nobody thought much about mature root spread. Now those trees are 40 to 50 years old and their root systems are enormous.
The Fix
Tree Removal and Stump Grinding
When the tree is too close to ever coexist with the pavement, removal is the only real fix. Once the stump is ground down, the roots decay over a few years and the soil settles enough to re-pour the concrete flat.
Self-Diagnosis
Which Cause Applies to You?
Check the signs you're observing to narrow down the likely root cause before your inspection.
| What You're Seeing | Shallow Root Spread in Clay | Tree Planted Too Close at Build Time |
|---|---|---|
| Roots visible on the surface between the tree and the cracked pavement | ||
| Multiple trees along the sidewalk are all causing the same problem | ||
| The crack in the pavement is directly above a visible root | ||
| The tree is within 4 feet of the pavement edge | ||
| Pavement heaving on multiple sides of the same tree |
Free Inspection
Get a Diagnosis in Springfield
An on-site inspection is the only way to confirm which cause applies to your property. Free, no obligation.
(417) 815-4996Free on-site inspection
Written estimate before work starts
Serving Springfield & surrounding areas
Other Problems
Services That Fix This
Also Helpful