Invasive roots from neighboring tree

[Punatang]

A dead tree weighs much less than a live tree, full of water. This is why people poison the albezia and wait for it to die and start dropping branches.

Since it is into the septic, pour a gallon of bleach into the toilet and flush about once a week.

kneift -I doubt you need to be asked but please do not flush a gallon of bleach into your septic system and the earth.  As you probably know your septic functions via a delicate balance of bacteria which a weekly gallon of bleach will destroy.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Roebic Foaming Root Killer, I used to put it down the drain once a year.

I recently had roots in a line to the cesspool. In reading about what to do and what not to do, most cautioned about pouring bleach, salt, vinegar into a cesspool or septic as it interferes with bacteria that break down the waste. Obie’s suggestion for some type of foaming root killer was recommended as the safest. It kills tree roots without harming bacteria. I also looked into pouring salt and 30% vinegar on the ground above the tree roots, but again was cautioned that it could leach into the cesspool/septic. I didn’t try it but if you do I would be careful about applying it to your neighbors yard, or you may get sued in return.

[MyManao]

So, how to kill the roots on our property?

First off, engaging with a lawyer should be your last resort.. your very last resort. Based on the initial description of your situation, there's nothing going to come of it other than you throwing money at folks who would love to take it from you. And all the while the roots will continue to grow.

As to killing roots.. assuming you have some exposed.. scrape/cut off the outer bark layer and put a healthy dose of undiluted Triclopyr on the Cambium layer. It's usually about 60% of whatever brand product you buy it in. Do this in as many places as can. I even would use a drill, or a syringe. Literally dose the thing over and over.. at every point there's exposure. If you have to dig, and expose whole (rounds) of root, cut it and paint that stuff on it.

You have to apply the Triclopyr as soon, within a minute if can, as you cut.. so the plumbing system of the tree is still active and the Triclopyr will be taken up into the tree itself. You should see a reaction.. the parts of the tree that those particular roots feed, in short order.. days.. a week..

And for good measure, when you are pau cover it back up.. and if the neighbor ever says anything.. feign ignorance.. hey, maybe some bug got to it..

[kalianna]

Another option is to use a large-ish drill bit and drill holes into the root, then pour vinegar into the holes. I use household grade and it takes a few injections. You can also use ag grade, available at Home Depot or BEI. It is much stronger but very expensive.

[MyManao]

Another option is to use a large-ish drill bit and drill holes into the root, then pour vinegar into the holes.  I use household grade and it takes a few injections.  You can also use ag grade, available at Home Depot or BEI.  It is much stronger but very expensive.

I'd try kalianna's vinegar first.. but go to the ag grade up front. Triclopyr will work if the vinegar don't.. but is a whole lot more toxic. Even though you're stuffing it into the tree, not on it.. it's always better to err on the side of caution, and take care of mother whenever can.

[HiloJulie]

While I understand and can actually appreciate the resistance at hiring a lawyer as a last result, like expecting a doctor to have a miracle cure after a lifetime of bad health choices or needing a cop when you're being robbed or assaulted after a lifetime of hating cops, but, since your original post is dated from 2022, you've been dealing with this issue for going on 4 years now. Your first post says you already spent $3,600 in trimming costs back in 2022, how much more have you spent in chemicals as well as how many man hours have you spent dealing with an issue that is not your fault? Also, intentionally trying to kill this tree, and succeeding might just land you in a bucket of hot water if the neighbor decides to hire someone to determine why his banyan tree died and they find out you intentionally killed it, regardless of reason why you did so.

I think maybe spending a few hundred bucks on a lawyer might be wise at this point as to what direction is proper and appropriate. Further, it seems that whomever your neighbor is, there is no real financial "meat" to go after them to do anything, so maybe another recourse to follow would be to have your homeowners insurance policy(ies) reviewed to see where you would stand from making a claim.

At any event, good luck!

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

If you decide to bring on the lawyers, you might check the Hawaii Real Estate Tax site first to see whether the owner of the lot is up to date on taxes. If not, you may have to wait until a tax auction to collect anything should you win a ruling against them.

[MyManao]

If you decide to bring on the lawyers, you...

..should be prepared to have lawyers come after you.

[Obie]

If you have a recent septic and leech field, I would suggest about 2 lbs of copper sulfate crystals poured into the distribution box and repeat annually or whatever. That will kill the roots on your property but will also kill the roots from any trees in the drain field.
The roots in your drain field will eventually rot away.

You are not going to be able to kill a banyon tree by any other means than cutting it down to the ground.

Salt,vinegar, dawn are all a joke.

I have a quart of milestone but we would have to sneak into your neighbors yard, cut and poison every part of it that is above ground.
It would take about a week to do that.
It's a giant weed.

[knieft]

Thanks all the replies!

Yes, litigation does unfortunately feel like a last resort, and I am not at all interested in litigation by nature (MyM’s thought resonate strongly with me). I figure we have about $10k into the non-solution of keeping the shit out of our house, literally. This leads to coming around to HJ’s POV to a degree, and my new post.

We use Roebic directly into tank and salt in the leach field. Copper sulfate earlier. While I am assuming the tank is more or less clear enough of roots, we are essentially fertilizing this monster. $500 a pop to pump out tank, twice a year. The septic appears to be simply a holding tank with any little leach field simply feeding evermore densely packed new roots in the leech field.

I won’t be trying to kill the tree directly or indirectly with any treatment. Sorry, but that might make me a murderer, which wouldn’t be cool. It is a huge tree.

I also don’t see copper sulfite being successful in killing roots in the leach field, but may not understand the method referred to. Certainly putting it in the tank isn’t going to reach out into leach field, is it?

A friend recently got an excavator, and I am researching how much it would be to dig a trench along the property line to cut off the roots directly. Unclear how deep the trench would have to be, and as to whether a chemical (lime, salt, etc.) or physical barrier (plastic or metal sheeting? I don’t know, Grok mentioned it) would be best or cost prohibitive.

There aren’t many surface roots, but I have used Milestone and Triclopyr on the ones I can find. This has not led to any effects on the tree that I can see. Likely a very minuscule percent of the roots.

FWIW, early on we contacted an outfit that we intended to pay for a camera inspection, and when they came out, they said to save our money since with one look at the tree they knew what they find. I am still stunned at that, them declining the money for the job basically.

5-0 Tank pumping guy says we’ll be a regular customer until that tree goes no matter what we do. No functional leach field.

Several plumbers have offered similar advice as thread responders, from poison the shit out of everything to only using Roebic.

Trenching seems like a potentially realistic action that could restore the leach field for a reasonable time. Who knows? Not me…

HJ, just from the website of the law firm you shared (thanks!) they appear to be overkill, though I won’t know till I contact them. Maybe they can give a referral or something, but it sure does seem like more that a pretty penny, and more than the few hundred dollars mentioned in your follow up post.

Anybody have experience or ideas about trenching the property line?

Cheers,
Kirt