Replies

1. 
   Clewless1 | Jul 31, 2010 09:55am | #1

   I'd think the drip line of tree would be totally appropriate. I dug my own basement a bit closer than the drip line (we had to trim limbs as we framed the roof) and we didn't really run into any serious root problems. I'd think the industry standard would be the drip line.

2. 
   joeh | Jul 31, 2010 11:14am | #2

   Barn bank?

   What's a barn bank?

   Joe H

1. 
   Hudson Valley Carpenter | Jul 31, 2010 12:12pm | #3

   Barn Bank?

   "What's a barn bank?"

   It's a place where farm animals leave deposits.

3. 
   DavidxDoud | Jul 31, 2010 07:08pm | #4

   drip line should be safe - if you want/need to go closer, lay out your dig line and do a nice clean cut thru the roots, causing the least disturbance possible to the roots that remain with the tree -

    - keep the equipment out of the area defined by the drip line and don't change the grade over the remaining root zone - cut the roots in the spring, if that's an option - for a deciduous tree, I'd reduce the top by the same percentage as roots removed - I'm not sure that's a good idea with a pine, tho - 

   if the area is to remain excavated over the winter, stack up some straw bales and cover with a tarp to keep the frost from infiltrating thru the cut -