Surface Tree Roots Destroying Your Yard? Solutions That Work

If you have large tree roots snaking across your lawn, cracking your driveway, or lifting your sidewalk, you're not alone. Surface root problems are one of the most common property issues we see across Hampton Roads. The region's soil conditions, high water table, and popular tree species all contribute to roots that refuse to stay underground. After 14+ years of solving root problems for homeowners in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and beyond, we'll explain exactly why it happens and what you can do about it.

Why Roots Come to the Surface

Understanding why roots grow above ground is the first step toward finding the right solution. Roots don't surface randomly. There's always a reason, and in Hampton Roads, several factors are usually at play simultaneously.

Clay Soil

Much of Hampton Roads sits on clay-heavy soil, particularly in Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, and parts of Newport News. Clay soil is dense and compacted, making it extremely difficult for roots to penetrate downward. Instead, roots spread laterally along the surface where the soil is looser, oxygen is more available, and moisture collects after rain. As these lateral roots grow in diameter year after year, they eventually push above the soil surface.

High Water Table

The Hampton Roads region has a notoriously high water table, especially in low-lying areas near the Chesapeake Bay, Elizabeth River, and James River. Roots need oxygen to survive, and they won't grow down into permanently saturated soil. This forces them to stay in the upper 12-18 inches of soil, where they eventually become exposed.

Compacted Soil

Foot traffic, vehicle parking, construction activity, and even repeated lawn mowing compact the soil over time. Compacted soil has fewer air pores and is harder for roots to penetrate. Roots respond by growing along the path of least resistance, which is typically the loose soil right at or near the surface.

Species Tendency

Some tree species are simply genetically wired to develop shallow, spreading root systems regardless of soil conditions. Planting these species near sidewalks, driveways, and foundations is a recipe for problems.

Tree Species Most Prone to Surface Roots

Across Hampton Roads, these are the species we deal with most frequently for surface root problems:

• Silver Maple: The single most common cause of surface root damage in our service area. Extremely fast-growing with aggressive, shallow roots that can extend 30+ feet from the trunk
• Sweetgum: Develops a wide, dense network of surface roots that make lawn mowing nearly impossible
• Southern Magnolia: Thick, rope-like surface roots that are very visible and create major trip hazards
• Willow Oak: Popular street tree in Hampton Roads, but the extensive lateral root system lifts sidewalks throughout older neighborhoods
• American Beech: Shallow, plate-like root system that covers large areas near the surface
• Willow: Aggressively seeks water, with roots that invade sewer lines and spread far from the tree
• Red Maple: Similar to silver maple, though somewhat less aggressive

Problems Caused by Surface Roots

Lawn Mowing Difficulty

Surface roots create an uneven, bumpy lawn that's difficult and frustrating to mow. The mower blade catches on exposed roots, scalping the bark and damaging both the roots and your equipment. Over time, the area around surface roots becomes a patchy mess of dead grass, exposed soil, and weedy growth.

Tripping Hazards

Exposed roots are a serious tripping hazard, especially for children, elderly family members, and visitors who aren't familiar with your yard. As a property owner, you could be held liable if someone trips over a root on your property and is injured. This is particularly concerning for roots that cross sidewalks or walkways.

Sidewalk and Driveway Lifting

Growing roots exert tremendous force. A single root can lift a concrete sidewalk panel several inches, creating a dangerous uneven surface. Driveway slabs can crack and heave as roots grow underneath them. Repairing the concrete without addressing the root only provides a temporary fix, as the root will continue to grow and lift the new slab.

Foundation Pressure

While tree roots rarely penetrate foundation walls directly, large surface roots growing along a foundation can exert lateral pressure over time. More commonly, roots growing under a foundation can cause differential settling if the tree is later removed and the roots decay, leaving voids in the soil.

Solution 1: Root Grinding

Root grinding uses a stump grinder or specialized root grinding attachment to grind individual surface roots 6-8 inches below the soil surface. The ground-up root material is mixed back into the soil, and the area is topped with fresh topsoil and seeded.

Pros

• Fast and effective for individual problem roots
• Minimal yard disruption compared to excavation
• Cost-effective at $200-$400 for a few roots
• Restores a smooth, mowable lawn surface

Cons

• May need to be repeated if new roots surface over time
• Can stress the tree if too many roots are ground at once
• Not a permanent solution if the tree is still growing

Solution 2: Root Barriers

Root barriers are physical or chemical barriers installed underground to redirect root growth away from specific areas. They're typically made of thick plastic sheeting or copper-infused fabric and installed in a trench 18-24 inches deep between the tree and the area you want to protect.

Pros

• Prevents future root intrusion in specific areas
• Doesn't harm the tree when properly installed
• Long-lasting solution (15-20 years for quality barriers)

Cons

• Only protects one direction; roots may redirect elsewhere
• Installation requires trenching which can be disruptive
• Doesn't address existing surface roots (must be combined with root grinding or removal)
• Higher upfront cost ($500-$1,500 depending on length)

Solution 3: Tree Removal + Stump Grinding (Permanent Fix)

When surface roots are causing extensive damage and the tree is not particularly valuable or healthy, removing the tree and grinding the stump is the only permanent solution. The roots will decay naturally over 5-10 years, and no new roots will grow. Surface roots can be ground down at the same time as the stump to immediately restore a smooth yard surface.

Pros

• Permanent solution - no recurring root problems
• Eliminates all associated issues (mowing, tripping, lifting)
• Opens up the area for new landscaping or a better-suited tree species

Cons

• Loss of the tree and its shade, aesthetic value, and environmental benefits
• Higher cost when combining tree removal and stump grinding
• Existing roots take years to fully decay underground

Solution 4: Landscaping Around Roots

If you want to keep the tree and the roots aren't causing structural damage, landscaping around them is an attractive, tree-friendly option. This approach works with the roots rather than against them.

• Mulch beds: Create a mulched area around the tree extending to or beyond the root zone. Use 2-3 inches of hardwood mulch to cover exposed roots, suppress weeds, and retain moisture. This eliminates the mowing problem and gives the yard a polished look
• Raised garden beds: Build a low raised bed around the base of the tree and fill with shade-tolerant plants like hostas, ferns, liriope, or vinca
• Decorative rock: River rock or gravel can cover exposed root areas, though be careful not to pile heavy material directly on roots as it can damage them

Solution 5: Adding Topsoil (With Caution)

A thin layer of topsoil (no more than 2 inches at a time) can be added over exposed surface roots to cover them and provide a surface for grass to grow. However, this must be done carefully. Piling more than 2-3 inches of soil over a tree's root zone can suffocate the roots by reducing oxygen availability. It's a temporary fix at best, as growing roots will eventually push through the new soil layer.