Conifer roots length

Hello,
I'm concerned about the roots of my conifer damaging my drains because I discovered some very fine roots ( about 1/8" diameter and 2 feet long ) in the sewer under our manhole cover. They were coming through the bottom of the brick lined walls of the sewer and from the direction of the conifer , the conifer being about 22 feet away from the sewer and the height of the conifer is about 15 plus feet.
I have , I hope, attached a couple of photos which perhaps will help to explain the problem.
Do you suggest that I get the conifer removed ? I know it seems a shame as we planted it about 30 plus years ago.
Thanks in advance , Neale.

 

I have experience of drain damage. A neighbours mature conifer hedge was just 10ft from mine and running parallel for 60ft. On inspection with a camera for this purpose the roots were breaking through all along the old clay pipework and into my house foundation. Conifers have surprisingly strong roots and in search of water will create damage. Modern pipes are synthetic so it's not a problem. As it was not my hedge I was able to claim on insurance. The insurance company said if repairs or replacement were needed again they would be seeking out my neighbours for any future claim. I spoke to my neighbours and they removed the hedge.

It may be worth your while having a drains inspection before making a decision. But as a mature conifer I would definitely consider removing it, any roots left behind will eventually die and rot down. I wouldn't plant any conifer within 40ft of drains or buildings because of the root spread.

 

Sheal you are spot on. Casting our minds bact to the great storm of the late 1980's Many so magnificent trees fell victim. Me. I love trees. The Oak in all its spendour stands firm, but flexible. Fallen individuals so often displayed surprisingly shallow and compat root systems. Likewise other trees tended to be similar.

This IMO tended to agree, substatiate the idea that, what is above ground is also below. As a comparison. The spread of say, an oak tree tended to produce a relatively balanced root spread.

Returning to our friends, the conifers. Here we find ourselve in a bit of a quandary. Many of our, today's garden conifers are what can be termed, 'man made' So this mix/match breeding can and does to a degree, tend to change the plants, natural course.

I think we have to at some point return to what is a conifer? Consider all those nature programs. The wild North. Conifers originate from trees that are able to survive in the coldest and hardest temperat zones. Scientifically, whatever the above ground temperatures might be. These conifers always need water. Evn though, for instance in the frozen norths of the americas. The plant has to have. WATER. So that great tap root goes down anbd down. I often liken it to a parsnip.

So. Like an episode of Star Trek. These roots go on and and on. Throughout their journy and often their life time. They penetrate and absorb, like blotting paper all moisture.

So returning back to my location. A well built up area. Vacant land space. Perhaps better described soil space. Planting, growing conifers needs thinking about.

 

Thanks to everyone who has replied to my query, I will ,as suggested, have a look at the root travel in the direction of both the house and the sewer plus get a camera inspection of the pipework to be on the safe side.
The gravel is on top of a weed membrane and soil therefore will be easy enough to remove and dig down and see what's what.
At the moment I'm having to rest my back due to having strained it lifting paving slabs plus bags of cement and sand , my wife reckons it serves me right as I should know better at my age !!!
I will post the results in due course , regards from Neale.