Tree Root Problems: Sewer Lines, Driveways, and When to Remove

Tree roots cause problems when they grow into cracked sewer lines, lift driveways and sidewalks, or push against foundations. Small root issues can often be managed, but when tree roots keep breaking pipes or the tree is too close to the house, removing the tree and grinding the stump is usually the only permanent fix.

Many Denver homes, especially in older neighborhoods like Park Hill, Washington Park, and the Highlands, have clay sewer pipes and mature trees planted decades ago. That combination makes tree roots one of the most common and expensive yard problems in the city. This guide explains how to spot tree root problems, what your options are, and when tree removal makes sense.

Signs Tree Roots Are Causing Problems

• Slow drains or gurgling toilets in more than one spot in the house.
• Sewer backups in the basement floor drain.
• Raised or cracked driveway and sidewalk slabs near a large tree.
• Soggy patches or extra-green grass along the sewer line path.
• Cracks in a foundation wall or basement floor on the side facing a tree.
• Large surface roots that trip people or break mower blades.

Why Tree Roots Find Sewer Lines

Tree roots don’t break solid pipes on their own. They look for water, and a tiny crack or loose joint in an old clay or cast-iron line leaks moisture and nutrients. Roots grow toward it, slip inside, and keep growing until they form a thick mat that blocks the pipe. Over time the pressure cracks the pipe even more.

Denver’s dry climate makes this worse. During long dry spells, a leaky sewer line is the best water source in the yard, so tree roots grow toward it aggressively.

Trees With the Most Aggressive Roots in Denver

Tree	Root risk	Why
Cottonwood	Very high	Huge, water-seeking roots that travel far
Siberian elm	Very high	Fast-growing roots common in sewer lines
Silver maple	High	Shallow roots that lift concrete
Willow	Very high	Among the worst for pipes
Green ash	Moderate	Spreading roots, plus emerald ash borer risk

Your Options for Tree Root Problems

1. Clear the Sewer Line

A plumber can cut tree roots out of the pipe with a mechanical auger or hydro-jetter. This works fast, but roots usually grow back within 1 to 2 years.

2. Repair or Line the Pipe

Replacing the damaged section or installing a pipe liner seals the cracks roots use to get in. This can cost several thousand dollars, and if the tree stays, roots may attack other weak spots.

3. Install a Root Barrier

A root barrier is a buried panel that guides tree roots down and away from a driveway, pipe, or foundation. It helps most with younger trees.

4. Remove the Tree and Grind the Stump

If tree roots keep breaking the sewer line, are lifting the foundation, or the tree is dying anyway, removal is usually the permanent fix. After removal, stump grinding takes out the stump and the main root flare so new growth stops.

Should You Remove a Tree Because of Its Roots?

Removal makes sense when:

• You’ve had the sewer line cleared more than once in a few years.
• Tree roots are pushing on or cracking the foundation.
• The tree is within about 10 to 15 feet of the house and is a large, aggressive species.
• Cutting the roots to fix a pipe or driveway would make the tree unstable.
• The tree is also showing signs it is dying.

Never cut major tree roots close to the trunk without advice. Cutting large roots on one side can make a big tree lean or fall in the next windstorm. If you’ve already cut roots and the tree now leans, read the signs a tree is about to fall.

What Does Tree Root Removal Cost?

• Sewer line root clearing: $150–$600
• Pipe repair or lining: $3,000–$12,000+
• Root barrier installation: $1,000–$3,000
• Large tree removal: $1,500–$4,000+
• Stump grinding with root flare: $150–$500 per stump

Removing a problem tree once often costs less than clearing and repairing the same sewer line again and again. For big trees close to the house, see our large tree removal in Denver page.

Before Any Digging Near Tree Roots

Always call 811 a few business days before digging to have buried gas, power, and water lines marked. Tree roots often wrap around these lines, so a professional crew should handle removal near utilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tree Roots Causing Damage?

Call Tree Removal Denver at (983) 277-2893, 350 Santa Fe Dr, Denver, CO 80223. We connect Denver-area homeowners with licensed, insured local crews for safe tree removal and stump grinding, with written estimates, 24/7.

Need a different job done? See everything we cover for Denver tree removal, from single trees to storm cleanup across the metro area.