Planting Trees Next To Foundations

Before planting trees next to foundations there are several details you should consider.

Trees placed at the corner of a house can help soften the hard lines of the corner. But not all types of trees should be placed near the foundation of your house.

Before Anyone Starts Digging

Know where your utility lines are. Are gas lines buried? What about phone lines, cable lines and electric lines? Where are the sewer line and the water line?
Call the utility companies to come and mark the lines for you. Most people are concerned about the plants and the cost and haven't even considered the underground lines.

Planting Trees Next To Foundations

The picture above is a newly landscaped area. At first glance it looks good. It could be the angle the picture is taken from but after studying the picture a little more, the tree looks to be planted too close to the house.

A tree too close to the house will rub against the siding causing wear and tear on it. You can of course go out and trim the branches that are getting too close to the house. This just creates extra work for you every year.

The trees' roots will not have room to grow wide enough to support the tree when it is mature. The roots aren't just for feeding the tree, they also anchor it into the ground. They roots may or may not cause cracks in the foundation but why take that chance.

Steps To Planting Trees Next To Foundations:

1. Know the width of the mature tree.
If research shows the tree having a mature width of 15-18 feet wide use the larger number for step two.
2. Divide the trees mature width in half.
Half of 18 foot would be 9 foot so that is the measurement you will be using in step 3.
3. Add one foot to that measurement.
Mother nature doesn't grow trees that are perfectly round or that stop growing when they hit the suggested 18 foot width. Better to err on the side of extra space than not enough space.
4. Measured On the Diagonal For Corner Plantings.
Measure out from the point of the corner not from one of the sides of the house.

If everything looks good from that point you can proceed with planting your trees next to foundations.
If by chance the measurements take you too far out into the yard, you'll need to find a tree that doesn't get as wide.