02-05-2026, 06:55 PM
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
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