Hi - Recently a cable company buried a cable in our backyard crossing the root structure of this oak tree. All of our other utilities were buried as far away as possible over 12 years ago. I am concerned because the feeder roots of the oak are (according to what I've read) at a depth of 6-8 inches and I have been told that the cable was buried 12 inches deep. The cable has passed through over 50% of the root area. What measure can I take to ensure that my oak tree will survive this damage? We had consulted an arborist years ago when we buried the utilities during a home remodel, being very careful around this tree and that is where we learned the importance of protecting the roots. Is there anything we can do? Thank you!

Greetings Kathy:

Rule of Thumb: minimize direct and indirect impact on the root system of established trees. However, we live in a world where we want services, and sometimes these services require minor sacrifices to aesthetics, vegetation, or structures. I truly believe most utility/cable companies and their employees are conscientious stewards who do not wish to inflict undue harm to native vegetation. However, there are times when some disturbance is necessary to facilitate service maintenance, upgrades, etc. Who knows, maybe the employee should have run an aerial line rather than trenching the cable through the middle of your yard—was this an option? I don’t know and to be honest, I really don’t want to discuss that issue via this forum.

Instead, let's focus our attention on this oak tree. Please monitor the tree for signs/symptoms of reduced vigor: crown dieback, abnormal foliage, wilting, etc. Make sure you are following a proactive watering and fertilization regiment. Make sure to water your lawn/trees during periods of drought. Please contact your local UI Extension office or a local certified arborist if you observe any significant symptoms indicating reduced vigor.

Best of luck!