Field drainage tile

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   I own a deep 40. 1/8 mi wide by 1/2 mi deep. The very back 10 acres (of woods) has a county drain ditch that runs thru. Getting ready for the field tile crew we cut a path thru the woods to the ditch to run the main. I remember the 'panic' of 'wrecking' such a big area of my trees, the saw was in my buddies hands and he went to town clearing a path.
25 years later, well probably started 5 years ago, the end of the field was too wet to do anything with. Every year the spot got larger until this year when the woods is flooded and the field is swamped. The tile is plugged and only dropping a 1" diameter stream off the end of the pipe.

The neighbor is an excavator. I got him back there last year and he exhumed a 8 foot long plug out of the tile. Tree roots. The obvious culprit was 20, maybe 25, feet away. This year was more of the same, different spot only 100 feet or so before the ditch with the offending tree probably almost 35' away. The tile went from dumping an inch of water to like 4 or 5 inches of water... But...

I've had it. I'm going out this spring and cut down every tree within 50 feet of the tile. Screw the deer and the squirrels we are going big. Probably have the excavator back to push up all the stumps so I can do something with the open area.

Years ago I wish I had advise from a FOG saying cut (more of) those trees down. Those roots will travel a long ways and infiltrate a solid, no perforations, drainage pipe. Feeling bad for the trees we cut was stupid, I still had tons of trees left after we cut the initial path and then the sun got thru and suddenly we had grass growing in the woods, yes with deer and squirrels. Even the tile guy never got 'excited' by my less than ideal situation. Years later it seems the correct answer has become to clear a 100 foot wide swath and get the roots waaay back. I wish I had understood that back then... 

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scott Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: michigan Points: 2573	Post Options Post Reply Quote scott Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Field drainage tile Posted: 29 Apr 2024 at 10:48am
	I own a deep 40. 1/8 mi wide by 1/2 mi deep. The very back 10 acres (of woods) has a county drain ditch that runs thru. Getting ready for the field tile crew we cut a path thru the woods to the ditch to run the main. I remember the 'panic' of 'wrecking' such a big area of my trees, the saw was in my buddies hands and he went to town clearing a path. 25 years later, well probably started 5 years ago, the end of the field was too wet to do anything with. Every year the spot got larger until this year when the woods is flooded and the field is swamped. The tile is plugged and only dropping a 1" diameter stream off the end of the pipe. The neighbor is an excavator. I got him back there last year and he exhumed a 8 foot long plug out of the tile. Tree roots. The obvious culprit was 20, maybe 25, feet away. This year was more of the same, different spot only 100 feet or so before the ditch with the offending tree probably almost 35' away. The tile went from dumping an inch of water to like 4 or 5 inches of water... But... I've had it. I'm going out this spring and cut down every tree within 50 feet of the tile. Screw the deer and the squirrels we are going big. Probably have the excavator back to push up all the stumps so I can do something with the open area. Years ago I wish I had advise from a FOG saying cut (more of) those trees down. Those roots will travel a long ways and infiltrate a solid, no perforations, drainage pipe. Feeling bad for the trees we cut was stupid, I still had tons of trees left after we cut the initial path and then the sun got thru and suddenly we had grass growing in the woods, yes with deer and squirrels. Even the tile guy never got 'excited' by my less than ideal situation. Years later it seems the correct answer has become to clear a 100 foot wide swath and get the roots waaay back. I wish I had understood that back then...

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JC-WI Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: wisconsin Points: 33824	Post Options Post Reply Quote JC-WI Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Apr 2024 at 2:31pm
	Or go along the tree line with a root cutter every so many years
	He who says there is no evil has already deceived himself The truth is the truth, sugar coated or not. Trawler II says, "Remember that."

dkattau Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Silver Level Joined: 20 Mar 2011 Location: Nebraska Points: 265	Post Options Post Reply Quote dkattau Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 Apr 2024 at 7:00pm
	Depending on what kind of trees, 100 feet might not be enough. If it’s cottonwoods, you might think about going further.

Pat the Plumber CIL Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Springfield,Il Points: 4772	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pat the Plumber CIL Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Apr 2024 at 7:41am
	Tree roots should not be able to grow through solid pvc that is properly glued and installed. Now when a crack or opening is available roots can grow through a hairline crack . Problem today is high quality schedule 40 pvc is expensive. About 50 dollars for a 10 foot length. They do come in 20 foot lengths with bell ends but have not priced any lately. There are cheaper pipes but you get what you pay for.
	You only need to know 3 things to be a plumber;Crap rolls down hill,Hot is on the left and Don't bite your fingernails 1964 D-17 SIV 3 Pt.WF,1964 D-15 Ser II 3pt.WF ,1960 D-17 SI NF,1956 WD 45 WF.

scott Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: michigan Points: 2573	Post Options Post Reply Quote scott Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Apr 2024 at 9:34am
	The 'solid' pipe thru the woods is a flexible black 6" corrugated pipe that was laid in place by the Tile Machine. If there were stones or whatnot I could see where it might have been damaged slightly knifing it into place.

ac fleet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 12 Jan 2014 Location: Arrowsmith, ILL Points: 2319	Post Options Post Reply Quote ac fleet Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Apr 2024 at 10:38am
	tree roots have no problem going thru that flimsy black plastic tile!! It comes either slotted OR solid and trees will go thru either one in a heartbeat. IF you use solid then you have to step up to sewer grade white thick wall stuff and sit down when you see the price of that stuff!
	http://machinebuildersnetwork.com/

Lars(wi) Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 14 Sep 2009 Location: Permian Basin Points: 7207	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lars(wi) Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Apr 2024 at 8:27pm
	Why not just have an ‘open ditch’ or a concrete lined open ditch in the woods? Or better yet a ‘waterway’ leading to the county ditch? Edited by Lars(wi) - 30 Apr 2024 at 8:30pm
	I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science.

bobkyllo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 14 Sep 2009 Location: minnesota Points: 1547	Post Options Post Reply Quote bobkyllo Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 May 2024 at 2:42am
	It might be cheaper to run a new main but this time run a few bare cooper wires along side the tile. The copper wire will keep the trees from plugging your pipe

scott Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: michigan Points: 2573	Post Options Post Reply Quote scott Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 May 2024 at 11:22am
	Lars, that would work. It would be a deep ditch and cut the woods in half. Bob, the idea of a new main thru the woods has crossed my mind. The tube is knifed in with a tracked tile installation machine, there would be no way to get the copper wire in.