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Where Not To Plant Trees and Bushes in Your Yard

When you think of foundation damage in your home, you likely think of leaks, cracks, and sinkage. If you’re not careful, though, the trees and bushes you plant in your yard can cause your foundation to start sinking years before it should.

Planting Guide Where NOT to Plant Trees and Bushes in Your Yard
Planting Guide Where NOT to Plant Trees and Bushes in Your Yard Created By: JES

Why Do You Need To Be Careful With Trees and Bushes?

Protecting your home from damage doesn’t just mean investing in home waterproofing measures. It also means picking and choosing the trees and bushes you want to have in your yard.

Some types of foliage – like American Elms, for example – have more aggressive root systems than others. These types of trees and bushes can pose a serious threat to the structural integrity of your foundation.

If you’re shopping for trees to place in your yard, then, you’re going to want to speak with representatives at your local nursery to determine which have the least aggressive root systems. Some of the trees that’ll grow at slower or more reasonable rates when placed in your yard include:

  • Crabapples – plant at least six feet away from your home to keep the roots from interfering with your foundation’s structural integrity.
  • American Dogwoods – plant at least six feet away from your home to keep the roots from interfering with your foundation’s structural integrity.
  • Hawthorns – plant at least twenty feet away from your home to prevent the roots from interfering with your foundation’s structural integrity.
  • American Hollies – plant at least eighteen feet away from your home to keep the roots from interfering with your home’s structural integrity.
  • Pawpaws – plant at least five feet away from your home to keep the roots from interfering with your home’s structural integrity.

If you’d rather invest in bushes over trees, then your options are just as plentiful. Bushes can provide you with the privacy you need, though you will still want to take precautions to make sure that their roots don’t get too close to your foundation.

Some of the best bushes to plant near your perimeter include:

  • Dwarf Fothergilla – try to plant this bush at least three feet away from your home.
  • Smooth Hydrangea – try to plant this bush at least three feet away from your home.
  • Sweet Pepperbush – try to plant this bush at least four feet away from your home.
  • William Penn Barberry – try to plant this bush at least three feet away from your home.
  • Buttonbush – try to plant this bush at least two feet away from your home.
  • Border Forsythia – try to plant this bush at least four feet away from your home.
  • Tatarian Dogwood – try to plant this bush at least eight feet away from your home.
  • Chinese holly – try to plant this bush at least five feet away from your home.

Why Should You Protect Your Foundation From Root Damage?

It’s not just hydrostatic pressure that can cause problems for your foundation. Tree and bush roots chase after nutrients without worrying about what kind of structures they’re going to run into. While they won’t chip away at the structural supports you have beneath your home, they can shift the soil supporting your foundation. In doing so, they can cause your foundation to sink or settle long before its time.

In the long-term, that kind of disruption can make your home more difficult to live in, not to mention more difficult to sell.

Not only, though, do you have the option to plant your landscaping carefully, but you can also invest in home waterproofing solutions and root barriers. Physical and chemical root barriers can help you drive unwanted roots away from your home, while interior and exterior waterproofing measures can help you avoid any seepage that might come along with the presence of unwanted roots.

To start discussing your home protection options, you can reach out to a contractor in your area.

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