"People underestimate how strategic you need to be against nature sometimes..."
Yeah, couldn't agree more. Roots seem simple, but man, they're relentless. Glad the angled barrier worked out—beats digging up pipes every other year... been there, done that, not fun.
Had a similar issue a few years back—neighbor's maple tree roots kept invading our sewer line. Thought I'd outsmarted nature by cutting them back and patching things up, but nope... they just came back stronger. Eventually went with copper sulfate treatments every few months, and that finally did the trick. Nature's stubborn, gotta give it credit for persistence. Glad you found a solution that works long-term, though. Digging trenches every summer gets old fast.
Copper sulfate definitely helps, but if you're looking for a more permanent fix, installing a root barrier can save you headaches down the line. Did this at one of my properties—dug a trench about 3 feet deep along the sewer line and installed a heavy-duty plastic barrier. Took some effort upfront, but haven't had root issues since. Just make sure to overlap the barrier sheets properly so roots can't sneak through gaps... learned that one the hard way.
Totally agree on the root barrier idea—wish I'd known about it sooner. We had this massive maple tree in our yard, beautiful shade but a total nightmare underground. Copper sulfate helped for a bit, but those roots were relentless. Eventually had to dig up part of the driveway... yeah, not fun. Curious though, did you use any specific type or thickness for the plastic barrier? Wondering if thicker material makes much difference long-term or if it's more about proper installation.
Went through something similar with a willow tree—beautiful but those roots were relentless. From what I've read, thickness does matter somewhat, but proper installation depth and angle seem to be the bigger factors. Did you angle yours slightly outward? Apparently, that helps redirect roots downward instead of just around the barrier. Either way, sounds like you're on the right track... definitely beats tearing up driveways and patios every few years.
