large crepe myrtle too close to house?

[RMincey]

Hi! I am in need of some expert advice. I recently purchased a home with a crepe myrtle that is 20-25 feet tall with its main trunk (which is @ 16 inches in diameter) only 3 and 1/2 feet from our home (measuring from the outside edge of the trunk). It is planted at a corner of the home. Our home is brick on a concrete slab. The tree looks like it was originally planted on a raised bed as dirt is mounded a foot above ground level and fibrous roots are sticking out all over the surface. Worried, I dug near the foundation and indeed found deep roots. The tree is lovely and provides nice shade; but not at the cost of a cracking slab. Is this a risk? Should I cut it down, and if so, any specific suggestions there about how?

[pruninggal]

While I agree that the Crepe Myrtle was planted too close to the house, they don't tend to have invasive roots that would lift a foundation. They aren't that strong. It doesn't sound like it was planted deep enough so to keep it health, mulch a ring around those roots (keeping it away from the base of the tree) - this will keep the exposed roots from drying out too much more during the summer.

Good luck!
Pruninggal