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Reviewed by Tom Reilly — Senior Editorial Reviewer — Roofing, Carpentry & General Contracting

Who to call · Landscaper

Tree Roots Lifting Driveway Pavers: call a landscaper — or fix it yourself

Large shade trees planted near driveways often send lateral roots just below the surface, gradually heaving pavers upward and creating uneven, trip-hazard surfaces. The damage tends to worsen each growing season as roots thicken and extend further under the paved area. Simply releveling the pavers without addressing the root cause provides only a temporary fix — the roots will push them up again within a year or two. A landscaper experienced with both tree care and hardscaping can evaluate whether selective root pruning, a root barrier installation, or a paver redesign with a wider setback is the safest long-term solution that protects both the tree's health and the driveway's integrity.

Is this your problem?

Symptoms to look for

  1. 01

    Individual pavers or a whole row are visibly raised, creating a ridge along the root path

  2. 02

    Gaps have opened between lifted pavers where sand base has washed out

  3. 03

    A visible surface root snakes across or along the edge of the paved area

  4. 04

    The heaving worsens noticeably from one spring to the next

Who to call

Landscaper

An arborist prunes roots without endangering the tree and installs a deep root barrier, and a hardscaper re-bases the run or redesigns the edge with a wider setback so it stays flat.

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Fix it yourself

How to fix tree roots lifting driveway pavers

Tree Roots Lifting Driveway Pavers

moderate 2–5 h

Tools: flat pry bar, rubber mallet, hand tamper, spade, level, broom · Materials: paver base or coarse sand, polymeric jointing sand, root barrier panel (for a new edge)

Steps

  1. Lift the raised pavers with a pry bar and set them aside in order; photograph the pattern first.
  2. Expose the root: a root thinner than your wrist and further from the trunk than three times the trunk's diameter can be cut cleanly with a saw and the cut end left in place.
  3. Never cut a root thicker than 5 cm (2 inches) or within the drip line's inner third — that is where the tree's stability and water uptake live.
  4. Dig out the disturbed base, add a root barrier panel on the tree side of the paved edge, backfill, and compact new base in 5 cm layers.
  5. Re-lay the pavers on screeded sand, tap them level with a mallet, and sweep polymeric sand into the joints.
  6. Water the tree well for the next month; root pruning is a wound, and drought stress afterwards is what kills trees.

Stop and call a pro if

  • the offending root is thick, close to the trunk, or the tree is large and leans — pruning it could destabilise the tree
  • the lifted area is more than a few square metres or the base has washed out underneath
  • the tree is protected or on a boundary line

Rules in the Netherlands: Veel gemeenten beschermen bomen boven een bepaalde stamomtrek; wortels snoeien kan onder de kapvergunning vallen.

Rules in the US: Street trees in the parkway strip usually belong to the city — root pruning there needs the city forester's sign-off.

What a pro does that you can't

An arborist prunes roots without endangering the tree and installs a deep root barrier, and a hardscaper re-bases the run or redesigns the edge with a wider setback so it stays flat.

DIY cost: $40–120 in base, sand and a root barrier

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Who should I call for: Tree Roots Lifting Driveway Pavers?

Call a licensed landscaper. Landscapers have the specialized training, tools, and insurance to diagnose tree roots lifting driveway pavers safely and stand behind the fix. Most offer free quotes and can visit the same day or the next.

Can I fix this myself?

Often, yes: the guide above has 6 steps (moderate, 2–5 h, $40–120 in base, sand and a root barrier). Stop and call a landscaper if the offending root is thick, close to the trunk, or the tree is large and leans — pruning it could destabilise the tree.

How fast can a pro come out?

Most landscapers offer same-day or next-day visits for non-emergency issues. True emergencies (burst pipes, gas smell, no heat in winter) are typically handled within 1–4 hours.

How much does it cost to fix?

Costs vary by severity and your location. Submit a free quote request to get real pricing from local pros in your area.

What are the signs of: Tree Roots Lifting Driveway Pavers?

Individual pavers or a whole row are visibly raised, creating a ridge along the root path. Gaps have opened between lifted pavers where sand base has washed out. A visible surface root snakes across or along the edge of the paved area. The heaving worsens noticeably from one spring to the next.

Who to call

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