Live Oak Sewer Line Trench: Tunnel or Accept Dieback

Root Loss Calculation

Trench within dripline circle. If cut >25–30 % of circle area → major crown dieback. At ¼–⅓ root loss, expect one‑sided dieback.

Better: Trenchless

Directional boring/tunneling under root zone avoids all damage. See TLC for Trees.

Construction Protection

• Fence critical root zone (radius = 1.5× trunk diameter in feet).
• No machinery, soil storage, or materials inside fence.
• Compaction kills roots as fast as cutting.