horse chestnut tree roots

Question

I have a horse chestnut tree, about 20 feet high, in my front garden. How can I find out to see if it is anywhere near my foundation. And how deep and far reaching are their roots? Horse chestnut tree is aprox. 5 feet from foundation now. If I trim my tree significantly, will I stop roots from spreading?

Answer 1

Tree roots generally reflect the canopy, so as wide as the canopy goes, that is normally how wide the roots go. That being said, trimming the canopy will not reduce the size of the roots. They will simply grow to be what the canopy should be when not pruned.

Whether or not it is a danger to your foundation is a question for an arborist who has looked at the tree in person. Most trees are actually pretty lazy and their roots will not put too much pressure on foundation walls UNLESS they become crowded. Without physically examining the tree, it is hard to say whether your trees roots are crowded.

I would recommend having a arborist come in and look at the tree. They will tell you whether you need to remove it or if it is fine where it is.