Can Removing a Tree Affect My Baton Rouge Foundation?

Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas are home to some of the most amazing landscapes and trees. From the tall water oaks to the serenity of a bald cypress, our trees make the wind whistle and seemingly slow down time. However, as a homeowner, even the most gorgeous trees can be a threat to your home. Every hurricane season reminds us of the possibility of falling trees. Additionally, there is the danger of a tree’s root system growing to the point it damages a driveway, or worse, ruins your home’s foundation. But will removing it solve the issue, or could tree removal cause large amounts of foundation damage to your Baton Rouge home?

Surprisingly enough, it can! But by taking a few simple precautions, you can help minimize the possibility of that happening. Find out how from the foundation damage experts at WCK Foundation.

Replace the Soil

After removing the tree and stump, you will need to deal with the hole in your yard next. Some people will just refill the hole with dirt or topsoil, plant grass seed, and think they’re done. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. There’s so much more to do!

Because of the expansive root systems of most trees, sinking occurs for some time after you remove the tree. And this sinking happens because, as the remains decompose, it leaves many smaller voids. If the tree was close to your house and you don’t have a root guard, further settling under your home’s Baton Rouge foundation may occur. When you replace the soil, refill the hole until there is a mound about a foot taller than the rest of the yard. And as you refill the hole, you should pack the soil down and even water it. This will help it settle where it needs to be much quicker.

Growing New Grass at the Site

Naturally, you don’t want to have an unsightly dirt patch in your yard. But immediately planting grass where the tree used to be can also create problems.

Instead, it’s best to have a plan in place to ensure that the grass grows properly. Make sure to take the following steps for a more beautiful lawn.

  • Plant your grass during the appropriate season to help it grow up healthy. And make sure the type of grass that you plan to plant matches up with what you already have.
  • Get your soil ready for the grass seeds by removing rocks and any weeds that may be in or around the area. A tiller can also help during this process. 
  • Get your soil nice and level, and then add your compost.
  • Sprinkle your grass seeds on top of some quality soil. And be sure to give them an adequate amount of water.

Following these steps should increase your chances of growing beautiful new grass where the removed tree used to be.

Making Drainage Improvements

While the void in the ground may cause some short-term settling, it’s more likely that removing a tree will affect your home with drainage issues. For example, because trees absorb a lot of water, removing them can make your yard reach its saturation point sooner. This means, after a rainstorm, standing water hangs around longer and the soil under your home shifts with the inclement weather. The best way to avoid this is to improve the drainage in your yard to help avoid oversaturation.

Take Care of Your Baton Rouge Home’s Foundation With WCK

While the trees in our yards provide shade and are beautiful to look at—you want to make sure you aren’t creating new problems while eliminating old ones. If you have removed trees from your Baton Rouge home and think you have foundation damage, please call our team at 225-664-5956 or contact us online. Our professionals do their best to ensure your home is as safe as possible.

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