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Osage orange growth habit as rootstock

 
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Location: NWA
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Purchased a che (AKA zombie fruit) tree and planted it. ....After thought is that it is not far from a water hydrant and wondering if Osage Orange rootstock it is grafted to wants to damage water lines.

UTL on the web and asking a few smart tree people I suspected would know.

Any permies have the answer?
 
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Tree roots, especially those trees with a prominent tap root (oak, hickory, osage orange, maple, ash, mulberry, etc. all will have roots that seek out water and those roots will infiltrate microscopic cracks and then open those cracks as the roots grow.
Away from humans, this is not a problem, the trees are seeking ground water and that is usually the only water available.
In a populated area where the trees are planted close to underground water pipes and sewer pipes, the natural root action can be quite a bother since a pipe filled with roots doesn't allow water to flow very well, not to mention what happens when the pipe cracks enough for rocks and soil to fall in.

When you say water hydrant are you talking about a fire hydrant? or a normal water main connection for houses?

Fire hydrants are usually connected with cast iron or steel pipes which are more resistant to infiltration than the old style clay pipes because the connecting joints of steel and iron pipes are bolted together with flanges rather than just some tar like substance acting as the sealant.
Still, it is never a good idea to plant a tree closer than 20 feet to any water carrying pipe, even a shrub can send roots into those pipes seeking a water source.

Redhawk
 
Tirzah Schmaltz
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In these parts, they refer to a spigot with a handle that lifts to turn on and that puts water back below ground level to it does not freeze and crack as a hydrant. (Really dumber down at my level.)

Of course. Said young tree is probably 16 to 20ish feet away. Thinking it should be moved in the fall. Would you think elderberry should be safer?  The pipes is that newer flex stuff the plumbing world is enamored with.
 
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