Hi Dave! Well done! I would have done it the same way with a sawsall on the ready if needed. It’s good to see you on your backhoe again! Thanks for sharing!

Wow Dave, I have a yard full of huge pine trees and you get me thinking maybe I should trench the perimeter of my septic system to make sure I'm not going to have future problems with roots!. Thank for bringing this to my attention!!

Dave, I was an arborist for 10 years before I was an electrician. That said, I'm not there so I can only guess. You on the other hand are wise and you're also there. Probably the right approach is to not do it in one fell swoop and just kind of feel your way forward. There's something called a "shoot to root ratio" that you have to imagine... like trying to imagine the size of an iceberg. What you're doing is very intuitive so you have to think about it a lot and try to feel the feedback which is difficult with trees. Best to you and Mom.

I Dave, I saw in some comment some folk writhing down that your root will decompose and collapses.Up here were I live when we build road in the forest and when it's muddy we put wood under ground to make road more solid . I seen road 50 to 75 year old and older the wood still intact. Have a nice weekend.

Hey Dave: Nice to see the tractor back up again .I hope your tree doesn't die losing the roots, but that is better than getting into your septic . Hello from Ontario Canada 🇨🇦

I am by no means an expert, but here are my thoughts about this. What you did is fine... for now. Eventually the roots under the asphalt are going to decompose and cause the asphalt to sink (I think). Although it's more expensive I think the "right" way do do it would be to cut out the section that is damaged, remove the roots/top soil, put in some good base material then pack in some new millings. One other thought is that damaging the root(s) on the tree could kill it and eventually the tree will have to be taken down. For now though I think this fix will work for a few years.

Good problem solving. I think I would only cut the root on the tree side and then leave the rest till it rots out. Time for new asphalt in a few years.

Great use of the sawzall Sir ( My favorite tool 👍😉 ) and great backhoe therapy 😉👍 Cheers 🍻

that narrow trenching bucket makes all the difference. cuts clean. nice video

That bucket is great for digging roots. I wonder, if you have no utilities close. If running a root ripper on each side every couple of years. So you can cut them when they are small and when they die you won't having the drive way falling back in. It would leave a much smaller hole to fill. Have a good weekend my friend! See ya!

This seems about your only good choice with the roots to save your driveway. Something that others haven't mentioned that I think needs mentioning. Make sure that you pack the sides of the driveway in good. I'm just thinking if you get rain or something heavy wanders toward the side of your driveway, you don't want it to sink and destroy your driveway. I know that you didn't undermine it but between the heat softening the blacktop or if you get rains it can weaken the base. Great to see you back in the saddle.

Good idea Dave. I have had to do a similar thing at my place where the maple's roots are headed right towards the candy store. Could be a real mess.

That's the way. Know that the dead root will decompose over time, leaving a void under your driveway. Therefore you can either dig up that part of the driveway and repair or wait until it collapses and then repair. I'd inform your neighbor of same, so he doesn't come back later and say, hey look what happened... Smile.

I have a BH on order. I hope Kubota ships soon. Thanks for the video.

That bucket is really nice for roots and small stumps. I’d say it is good to get the roots eliminated but as Paul Bruni said I’m not sure about once the root decomposes. I don’t think it would cause much issue but you don’t know till you try!

As the old saying goes. For every action there is a reaction. Lets hope its not enough root loss to weaken the trees for a wind storm. Looks like a great idea though. I would do it if I were there, not even worrying about what ifs

Great to see the tractor back to work! Hope mom is runnin as well as the tractor. HE doesn't give us what we can't handle 🙏 Sometimes we just need a reminder 😉

I have to do this regularly to keep my digger pines from wrecking the asphalt drive. I dig out either side of the root and chain saw or sawzall the root like you did. Then just peel the root away from the asphalt. Then I treat the area the root is still in with copper sulfate. That will keep the old root from trying to regrow and it prevents any new root growth. Yes, I have had abandoned root grow suckers and try to start a new tree.

Dave, I think digging on each side of the asphalt is a fine idea to remove the root. I'm sure you know the root under the asphalt/concrete will eventually rot and the asphalt above that severed root will eventually collapse. If it's concrete atop the severed root, it will crack. The 6 inch bucket is ideal for what you used it for. I too have that bucket and it can get into areas too narrow for a standard 16 inch bucket. Imagine the hole along the driveway had you used a larger bucket. Had to laugh when you said "I don't quite know exactly where the utility line is". Well, I think you'll find it 😀 . Good seeing your video, my friend. Enjoy yourself on upcoming Independence Day (4th July).

Well looks like the tractor is running good , I would have done it the same way . Before i'd do the neighbors I'd have him mark out where any lines are . I always enjoy your videos , be safe ,stay healthy

I recommend a call to dig safe before you did any work at your neighbor’s house. Not sure if it’s free down in your neck of the woods but it is in Vermont. The root cause (pun intended) is too big of a shallow rooted tree too close to a concrete or asphalt driveway. I don’t have that issue with my gravel driveway. Cutting one or more main roots may kill the tree or make it more prone to blow over. Tree removal a few years down the road or a tree on top of your house are much bigger problems than a cracked driveway.

Dave make sure you have your neighbor sign a waiver that you are not responsible if the asphalt is destroyed in anyway you are not liable for. Later

Not sure why you dug up both sides, I'd just dig up one side, closest to the tree. Love that bucket, what's the brand name on that?

Dave either way, as it stands now you have a water issue with that crack. Sooner you can patch the better. Tractor sounds good!👌🏻

Sounds like a plan, call the utilities & get their loc marked.

How's she goin'? This looks like a good idea to me Dave!!! Cut the root on both sides of the lane and the root should go dormant and start to rot over time. Then you're good. I hope it works out like that!!! Take care!!!

I'd cut the asphalt, remove the root and asphalt then re patch the drive. $$$

If you get frost in the ground, it may be the frost pushing the root up in the wintertime. Is the lifting of the pavement worse in the winter? If that is the issue, the root under the pavement would have to be removed.

that bad bad tree. lol. over time the root will disappear and let the driveway collapse just like what paul bruni said. glad to see your tractor going again. oh and your gonna break your cell phone in your back pocket. lol. i did with mine one time.

I think that I would just cut that root on both sides and not remove any of it for now.

It looked like a good idea to me!

I think this may be a 3rd degree felony in California. Right up there with not wearing a mask while eating dead shirmps