Some of the fun of a home landscaping project is picking out the trees, bushes, and flowers that you’re going to plant through your yard and near your home. While you’ll be researching balance, unity, and color, though, you’ll also want to take the safety of your foundation into account.
There are some types of trees and bushes that you’ll want to keep further away from your home than others. In that same vein, there are certain types of trees and bushes that you can more readily plant next to your front windows. You’ll need to know the difference if you want to avoid foundation damage or similar problems long after you’ve finished your landscaping.
Planting Guide Where NOT to Plant Trees and Bushes in Your Yard Created By: JES
What’s The Danger of Trees and Bushes?
Trees and bushes don’t move against your foundation with malicious intent. Instead, these plants’ roots grow in search of water and nutrients. If there’s a significant build up of water around or beneath your home, those roots will move the soil supporting your foundation in search of what they need to grow.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t have trees or bushes near your home, however. Instead, it means that you’ll want to take particular steps to protect your home from unwanted damage.
For starters, you can look into trees that have slow-growing or non-invasive root systems. Some of the best trees to plant around or somewhat near your home include:
- Crabapples – growing up to thirty-five feet tall, you can plant crabapple trees within six feet of your home, but no closer.
- American Dogwoods – topping out at twenty feet in height, you can plant American dogwoods within six feet of your home.
- Hawthorns – if you think you’ll have a larger Hawthorn tree on your hands, you’ll want to make sure that you plant your sapling at least twenty feet away from the perimeter of your home.
- American Hollies – you should keep American Hollies at least eighteen feet away from your home to avoid their significant root growth.
- Pawpaws – another twenty-foot tree, pawpaws are best kept at least five feet away from the perimeter of your home.
Trees naturally find their homes further away from your foundation. If you’re looking for landscaping better suited for life closer to your home, then you may favor bushes over trees. Some of the best bushes to keep in relative proximity to your home without putting your foundation at risk include:
- Dwarf Fothergilla – must be planted at least three feet away from your home.
- Smooth Hydrangea – must be planted at least three feet away from your home.
- Sweet Pepperbush – must be planted at least four feet away from your home.
- William Penn Barberry – must be planted at least three feet away from your home.
- Buttonbush – must be planted at least two feet away from your home.
- Border Forsythia – must be planted at least four feet away from your home.
- Tatarian Dogwood – must be planted at least eight feet away from your home.
- Chinese holly – must be planted at least five feet away from your home.
How Can You Protect Your Home From Root Damage?
Landscaping a patch of your land can be an invigorating project. If you’re not careful with the placement of your plants, however, you risk significant foundation damage in the years to come.
The good news is that contractors working in your area can help you protect your home against the kind of damage, even if you already have bushes and trees a little closer to the perimeter of your home than you might like. Home waterproofing measures can help you redirect hydrostatic pressure and compensate for any damage that may have already struck your home.
You can work with a professional to inspect your foundation, basement, or crawl space for signs of root damage. Alternatively, if you’re looking for somewhere to start your next landscaping project, you can reach out to the professionals at your local nursery for guidance.