When design a garden is especially important choose trees that are the right size for the site where we want to plant it; that is, we have to know what adult size it will be, and whether or not its roots are aggressive. Unfortunately, it is very common to hear people say that they have had to be forced to cut down a tree because its roots were lifting the ground, or bursting pipes.
To avoid these problems and unnecessary expenses, here is a short list of trees whose roots are aggressive, and as a consequence they are not suitable species for small gardens or for having near swimming pools or next to a wall.
But first, let's see this photo. This tree is a Rubber plant. Ficus are trees that can reach very large dimensions, both in height and width, and their roots are especially aggressive. They are very beautiful and very ornamental plants, ideal for providing shade. But when planted in planters, or in confined places, their roots in their incessant search for water can break the pot and even lift the soil in a few years.
The positive part of Ficus is that they are ideal trees for making bonsai. So if you don't have a big garden, but you like bonsai, you know, take advantage and make one.
What to say about the Eucaliptos? They are very fast growing trees that are characterized by not letting any plant grow under their shade. They also grow to a very large height: up to 20 meters, with a trunk diameter of 3 to 4 meters. They are distributed mainly by the tropical climates of the planet, but there are several species that support light to moderate frosts.
In large gardens in a very short time they will look spectacular. They are not suitable plants to have in pots or to plant in small places. They are very resistant to pests and diseases; in fact, in some areas they have adapted so well to the environment in which they live that they have become naturalized in the place, replacing the native species.
Riverside trees or trees that live near waterways, such as the Fresno (top photo) or the Gravy (like the one in the header photo) they have very invasive and very strong roots, as they have to be able to hold the tree well so that it does not move excessively due to water currents. That is why these plants will grow very well in gardens where the humidity in the soil is high or very high.
Other trees that need a lot of space for their roots:
- jacaranda mimosifolia
- Populus sp.
- Quercus sp.
- Pawlonia tomentosa
Before deciding to put a tree in our garden because we like its foliage or because it is evergreen or deciduous, it is vitally important (for the tree, and to avoid later problems) that we inform ourselves well of its adult dimensions. A tree is a living being that must be part of the landscape.
Hello, I am interested in knowing if the roots of the equisetum, (horsetail or rat's tail) placed around a pool can destroy the pipes or the walls?
Hello Maria Cristina.
Not in principle, but you should know that the roots can go deep enough (minimum 60cm). I would recommend putting an anti-rhizome mesh in the planting hole, so that in this way you can make sure that the roots are not going to grow more than they should.
A greeting.
Hello Monica !! excellent your blog, very interesting !!
I would like to plant a tree in the garden of my house, it has an area of 100 square meters, I would like a fir tree to decorate it at Christmas, could it cause damage to my house?
Hello Alejandro.
I'm glad you like the blog 🙂
I don't think it will cause you any problems. Of course, put it at a minimum distance of 10m from any pipe, ground, or construction, just in case.
A greeting.
Hello Monica,
We have had a Fir Tree in the community garden since the farm was built, so it is 50 years old. They want to prune it (clear it up). It's 3 meters from the garage, shouldn't we cut it?
Hi John.
If you are 50 years old and haven't caused any problems to date, it will be difficult (dare I even say impossible) for you to cause them now. Now, if what you want is to clarify your glass a bit, then it has to be done at the end of winter.
Regards!
Hello, I am interested in knowing if the jasmine, planted the house coast, pot aixecar the sun?
Hello Maria Eugenia.
No, do not worry. Its roots cannot lift the soil, unless it is light soil, but it would still be weird.
Greetings.
and a few months ago I just planted a Jacaranda tree in my interior patio, I have to take it out, what a shame, with the desire I had to see this tree bloom, maybe I should make it bonsai
Hello rosatulaRosa.
If you only planted it a few months ago, you can extract it with the whole root ball without problems, for sure 🙂.
Once removed, you can have it in a pot for a season, and in autumn or late winter prune it if you want to make it bonsai.
A greeting.
Hello, I want to know which fruit tree is recommended to plant on one side of an outdoor sidewalk, another of my purposes is to have shade for my car, I currently have a guava tree but a neighbor tells us that bursts pipes and raises sidewalks, I have been thinking of changing for an orange tree, what do you recommend?
Hello Mario.
The guava or guava is a tree that measures between 2 and 10 meters in height, with a trunk thickness of at most 60cm at the base. If it is next to the sidewalk, yes, it can cause problems, but if you have it at about two or three meters, it is difficult for that to happen.
The tree you say, the kumquat? it is a relatively small plant. But to provide shade is fine, because it measures about 5 meters and its crown is wide 🙂
Greetings.
Hello, I have a 20-year-old jacaranda. On the sidewalk, I moved to this house 2 years ago and the sidewalk is slightly raised, I am afraid that over time it will damage the gas and water installations or worse, its roots will grow until it damages the salary of the dining room, this is 5 meters from the tree ... will I have to cut it down?
Hi, Pablo.
Yes, they planted it very close to the house 🙁
A greeting.
Hello, I have an ash tree about 7 years old planted 14 m from the alaljibe, will I have to cut it down? I also have a small pinion about 7 m from it, should I remove it?
Hello, Enrique.
No, you will not have to cut down the ash tree. If it were a Ficus, I would tell you otherwise, but an ash tree is not going to cause you problems being planted at that distance from the cistern.
What do you mean by pinion? If it is a pine tree, yes, I would recommend putting it in a more remote place.
A greeting.
Hello, what a relief for the ash tree, thank you very much.
By pinion I mean a "Pinus Cembroides" that is how I found it in a book haha, so what comes next? , Thanks again
The roots of the pines (all, in general) can spread a lot. I can tell you that a few years ago I saw a very young specimen, which was not even 2m tall, and its roots had already grown more than 3m.
If you can, I recommend you put it somewhere else, (very) away from any construction, pipes, etc.
Greetings, and thanks to you 🙂
Hello, good night, please, I would like you to advise me that I planted an avocado seed and it has already flowered. I would like to know if the roots of the avocado tree are invasive or not… Let me explain I live in Edo. Lara in Venezuela where I planted the avocado is a small garden that measures 50cm wide by 1 meter long on one side is the porch of the house and on the other side the parking lot is all made of cement covered with Caicos and gravel the only piece of land is the one I described. It is possible that the roots of the tree can lift the floor of the porch, the parking lot, or even reach the house. Thanks in advance and waiting for a reply.
Hey.
Avocado is going to look very tight in your garden 🙁. It does not have invasive roots, but in this situation, it could cause you a lot of problems. At a minimum, you need a space of 15 x 15m.
A greeting.
Hello Monica, good night, I would like to know if the pomorroso tree has invasive roots, I have three trees in front and side of the house and I observe the raised platform and the very humid walls.
Hi Javier.
The pomorroso (Syzygium jambos) unfortunately yes, it has invasive roots.
A greeting.
Hello, excellent article. What is your opinion on mulberry trees? I understand that their roots go wild looking for pipes, etc. I am considering putting four in my garden (in the lawn area about 4 meters from the house. Thank you very much.
Hello Angel.
Thanks for your words.
I do not recommend putting mulberry trees 🙂. The roots are very invasive, and could cause some other problem.
You can put Cercis siliquastrum, Albizia, or even maples if the winter weather is cool with frosts and the ground has good drainage, such as Acer ginnala,
A greeting.
HELLO, I'M ELOISA, I NEED TO KNOW IF THE MACAPULE IS A TREE THAT HAS INVASIVE ROOTS, IT IS ATTACHED TO THE HOUSE.
Hi Eloisa.
Do you mean Phytolacca dioica (ombú) or Ficus microchalamys? In either case, they are invasive.
A greeting.
Hello Monica !! … Excellent your blog… very very interesting, congratulations!
I wanted to ask you a question I have a Laurel already large and very tall at the bottom of my patio 1.50 ms away from the wall, We have had it for many years, but lately a neighbor said to take it out because it can bring problems to your home ... So? Thanks in advance for your answer, I will value your opinion very much. Greetings. Eli.
Hello Eli.
I have deleted the second comment for being repeated.
The laurel (Laurus nobilis) does not have strong roots, so it cannot lift soil or cause damage.
What can happen is that it takes out shoots, but they can be cut with pruning shears.
A greeting.
I would like to know if the hibiscus (obelisk) has invasive roots and is already about 2 meters high ... thank you
Hello Lola.
No, do not worry. Hibiscus roots are harmless 🙂.
A greeting.
Good morning Monica
Thank you for your blog, I am confident that your answer will solve my doubts.
We live on the Valencian coast about 3 km from the sea.
Despite the effort and expense invested in a century-old palm tree, the weevil has been able to with it.
My question is, would it be possible to plant a tree in the place where the palm tree was?
I would like a tree with a lot of shade, the palm tree was on a 2 × 2 m base plot, and another 2m from the pool. What kind of tree do you advise me?
Do I have to wait a long time to plant again?
And finally, is it possible to accelerate the ruin of what remains of the palm tree?
Thank you very much in advance.
Hi Aleix.
I am very sorry for the loss of the palm tree 🙁. The weevil is killing each and every one of them ...
Focusing on your questions, I will tell you that fungi only attack matter that is already dead or that is weak, so if the plant you acquire is healthy, it will not have any problem. In any case, if you don't want to take risks, you can wait until spring arrives, since by then the roots that may have been left from the palm tree will be about to become compost for the earth.
But there is a problem: with this space, a tree that provides shade will not grow well, so I would recommend a large shrub, like these two: Ligustrum lucidum and Syringa vulgaris.
If you still want a tree, then I would recommend Albizia julibrissin, Prunus cerasifera, or Hibiscus syriacus.
A greeting.
and eucalyptus. Can they crack the pool?
Hello, Martha.
Yes, the eucalyptus has to be as far as possible (minimum 10 meters) from any construction.
A greeting.
Hello. I have a 6/7 year old jacaranda planted 50 cm from the neighbor's party wall and about 3-4 meters from the house and its pool. I wonder is it dangerous for it to be there? why? should I take it out? I don't want to get in trouble with this neighbor. Thank you
Hello Fernando.
Although the roots of the jacaranda are not as invasive as those of other trees, such as eucalyptus for example, they can cause damage if they are planted at a distance of less than 5-6 meters from any construction.
If you can, the ideal would be to remove it - at the end of winter, when the temperatures begin to rise - and put it a little further away to avoid problems, since they could break pipes or even the ground.
A greeting.
Thanks Monica for your answer. I ask you a new question, the falling jacaranda flowers can damage the paint of a car since they give off some substance that they do? Thank you
Hello Fernando.
No, jacaranda flowers are harmless 🙂.
A greeting.
Thanks again. Could you indicate some links where I can read about the jacaranda ?. regards
Yeah sure. In this same blog we have some:
Jacaranda care
Jacaranda
A greeting.
Hello, I have a question, in front of the address we planted two Araucaria trees about 15 years ago, they are already very high like 12 meters, the roots have raised the sidewalk and some of the covering of the street, it is possible that their roots damage the foundation of my house or that of the neighbors? It is only a meter and a half from the building, thanks for the answer!
Hello Mario.
If possible. Those trees were planted too close to the houses.
At a minimum, you have to leave a minimum of 7 meters of separation, and better if they are 10 meters or more.
Greetings.
Hello Monica. I want to plant a Prunus Serrulata Kazan in the patio of my house in Barcelona. I have a gap of 2 m. in diameter where the specimen will go.
To direct the roots downwards and minimize the risk of aggressive roots:
- what can I put on the sides? Concrete, metal plates ... or is there a fabric that does not let the roots pass?
- How deep should I put that cloth? Would 70 cm be enough?
My neighbor has a pool 5 meters from where I want to plant the tree, and my home is 3 meters away.
regards
Hello Manuel.
Prunus roots are not aggressive 🙂.
Anyway, and to ensure, you can put anti-rhizome fabric. It is used above all so that bamboos do not spread their roots, but it works the same for other types of plants.
70cm is enough, yes, since they will extend more horizontally.
A greeting.
Hello . I want to plant an apple tree in my yard but I don't know if the roots are invasive. It could damage floors and walls.
The roots of these trees are harmful
Hi miguel.
No, the roots of the apple tree are not dangerous 🙂.
A greeting.
Hello good day
I have a small garden surrounded by hedges which I cut once a year… I have the whole garden (1 square meters) surrounded on 3 sides with hedges… I also have banana trees in one corner but I only have 3 or 6.
When I designed the garden, they told me that the hedge, if I tried it, would not grow much.
The thing is that I have a sanitary basement. My neighbors don't have any water ... and I do ... the general of the 3 houses passes through the garden ... and of course I have grass ... but my question is if the pipe may have broken In general, the hedges or the banana trees ... why don't I know where the water comes from? Could it be from a drain pipe ...? of the lawn ??? I would appreciate an answer and advice in case it is for any of them
Thank you
Tere langa
Hi Tere.
By banana trees, what do you mean: the plants that give bananas, that is, the Muses, or the plane tree (Platanus hispanica)? If you mean the first, being herbaceous plants they do not have the strength to break the ground or pipes, but if it is the second, it can cause problems.
My advice is that if it is these trees, remove them, as their root system is very invasive. That is the fastest option. There is another, but it takes much more time and effort, which would be to make very deep trenches around it and put anti-rhizome mesh so that the roots go only down and not to the sides.
A greeting.
Hi Monica, I have 20 plants on my lot between fruit trees and ornamentals. My question is: I have 2 polyaltos and 2 araucarias near the wall of my serco, I have no problems with neighbors since it faces the street, my question is: will I have problems with their roots in the future? and they can break the wall of the serco? right now they are little ones. great notebook by the way and it shows that you are an expert with a lot of experience. Regards, and thank you very much
Hello William.
Thanks for your words 🙂.
By polyalto, do you mean the Artocarpus? If so, tell you that the roots of both grow downward looking for moisture, so if you don't have any pipes around them, you are not going to have any problems.
A greeting.
Hello, I want to put fake jasmine around the pool but I'm worried about the roots, I don't know if they are invasive.
Hello cecilia.
Do not worry. They are not invasive 🙂.
A greeting.
I have a 10-year-old ficus and I am going to place a fiberglass pool at 1,50 meters, it will be necessary to remove it, could it damage it? Thank you..
Hello Eduardo.
Ficus roots are very invasive. For safety, it is recommended to put the tree at a minimum distance of five meters.
A greeting.
Hello,
My name is Virginia and I have in my yard 2 large palm trees, about 2 meters each and two girls.
I want to know if the roots could lift the floor of my house. The big ones are glued to the house.
Thank you
Virginia
Hi Virginia.
No, do not worry. Palm tree roots are not invasive.
A greeting.
Hello, I would like you to tell me, if the roots of the olive trees are invasive ???, I would like to put 7 or 8 near the pool at about 2.5mts-
Hello Maria.
Do not worry. The roots of olive trees are the least invasive. They will not cause any harm 🙂.
A greeting.
Hi there! I want to put ficus repones in a brick bed that makes wall to wall with my neighbor.
Could I have root problems?
Hello Natalia.
Ficus roots are very invasive, so I don't recommend it.
I would advise you more jasmine, or clematis. Or even ivy.
A greeting.
Hi Monica, I just planted two ash trees on the side of my house, one of them is 3 meters away. from the sewer drain pipe, and 5 mts. of the construction. I would like to know if I will have future problems with the roots, at that distance.
Also, between the two ash trees, 3,5 meters from each one, I planted a pink lapacho, and I wonder if it will grow well between the two ash trees.
Thank you very much.
Hi, christian.
Ash roots are particularly aggressive; not as much as Ficus ones, but they can cause problems. I don't think they cause problems to the construction, but they do to the drainage.
The pink lapacho is going to look very narrow as it grows 🙁. If you can, I would recommend moving it around. Or choose to prune the ash trees in such a way as to make room for the lapacho.
A greeting.
Hi Monica, could you tell me if the roots of the lollipop can affect a construction? Thanks and regards.
Hello Xochitl.
You mean the Schinus molle?
If so, its roots can be dangerous, yeah 🙁.
A greeting.
consultation I am repairing the sidewalk of my house and I took a paradise of it because it was rotten and I found many roots that go down the house.
What tree can I plant on the sidewalk now, it will be about 3m from the house.
Hello Gustavo.
You can put:
-Syringa vulgaris
-Albizia julibrissin
-Bauhinia purpurea
-Callistemon viminalis
-Hibiscus syriacus
A greeting.
Good night:
I have read Monica's responses and I am interested in them. I wonder if it would be possible to ask him a few questions but to answer me privately.
Thank you very much.
Santiago
Hello Santiago.
I send you an e-mail.
A greeting.
Hi Monica, could you tell me if by pruning my ficus and keeping its fronds small, I prevent the roots from growing too much?
Hi Alicia.
Yes, but anyway the roots of the Ficus extend a lot, still and pruning it 🙁.
A greeting.
Hello Monica, I am Germán and I have a problem with a palm tree that is so close to the floor of the porch that it is lifting it, could you lift the piece of porch and cut that part of the root that invades it? Thank you
Hello German.
I do not recommend it, since the palm tree could end up drying out.
The roots of these plants are not invasive, so I don't think it will get you up much higher.
A greeting.
Hello Monica
We are designing a house in Valencia, about 20km from the beach. In the center of the house there is a patio of approx 7 × 7 meters and there we want to place a tree that grows with us and gives the house personality. It must be deciduous to have shade in summer but not in winter. We do not want a bush because we need the yard to be free for the children to play.
Among the options that I had considered is the cherry tree, but I do not know if due to the mild climate it will be a wise choice, or if its roots can give me a problem. Reading your answers I have also found the Cercis siliquastrum that you have recommended to a blog visitor interesting.
What do you think of either of these two options? Can you give me other options?
Hi Emenda.
Cercis siliquastrum is a good option: it is beautiful practically all year round, even in winter without leaves, and it supports the Mediterranean climate well.
Other options: Syringa vulgaris, Albizia julibrissin - green leaf - (the Summer Chocolate variety is a bit difficult to keep), Bauhinia variegata, or Prunus pissardi.
A greeting.
I have a house in the country and I put 4 ficus 30 meters from the neighbor's pool. Will I have a problem with the roots? Thanks
Hello Daniel.
At that distance you will not have any problems 🙂.
A greeting.
Good morning, how good your advice, I would like to ask you if when planting a yellow guayacan (yellow ocobo) I would have problems with houses at 2 meters to 3 meters? What trees would you recommend in Colombia in cold weather 10 to 20 degrees altitude 2500 meters above sea level that have good growth but their roots are not invasive? Thank you so much..
Hi Alejandra.
The guayacán is a tree that does not have aggressive roots, so you can have it without problems.
Other trees that you can put are:
-Bauhinia
-Enterolobium contortisiliquum
-Arbutus unedo (strawberry tree)
A greeting.
Hello, good morning, well find this blogspot, my problem is the following, I plant an erythrina indica tree has barely 2 meters in front of my house but it turns out that now a water pipe runs very close and I would like to know if I should remove it or let it grow in the place since when it is big it will give shade and its yellow and green leaves look very pretty… .. can you help me please?
Hello Mayra.
The roots of the Erythrina could cause problems for you, so it is highly recommended that, if you can, you move it, planting it at a minimum distance of 4m from pipes.
A greeting.
Oh what a shame to read, I was hoping that my little tree would not cause problems? but better to prevent now and not regret later, thank you very much for your help? now I know what to do….
Thanks to you Mayra. Cheer up.
Hello I have two dwarf chaguaramos on the sidewalk of my house, a ucaro and a palm tree about two meters high each plant, in my garden that measures 2m x 2m. I wanted to know if it could cause me some damage with the water pipes
Hello Mariela.
Palm tree roots are not invasive and cannot cause damage, but I'm not so sure about the ucaro. Being a small space, problems can arise, it may not destroy the pipes but it could still lift the floor if there was one.
A greeting.
Monica, thank you for your reply. In the end I will plant the Cercis Siliquastrum.
Thank you. And congratulations on your choice!
Please advise me what to do with two ash trees that I have in front of the house. They are 3 meters from each other. And a few meters from the house, near the sidewalk and sewer and water pipes
Hi Emilce.
The ash trees between them will not be harmed, but if they are 5m or less from pipes or floors they can cause damage.
A greeting.
I have them removed and what can I plant, other than evergreen?
Hi Emilce.
You can put these:
-Albizia julibrissin
-Prunus cerasifera (ornamental cherry)
-Malus domestica (apple tree)
-Diospyros khaki
A greeting.
Hello! I would like to know if the roots of the guayafresos are invasive, I plant 2 to 5 meters from a pool, and if you can recommend me which trees to plant near the walls of a house, I live in Colima, Mexico?
Hi Cynthia.
No, they are not invasive 🙂.
You can put:
-Tabebuia
-Cassia fistula
-Annona muricata
-Hibiscus syriacus
A greeting.
Hello Monica, thank you and I congratulate you on your blog. Please can you help me with the following. My neighbor has an avocado tree that must be about 15 years old. From time to time I prune its branches, the ones that fall into my yard, which in itself is quite complicated because special tools are required because it is a large and tall tree. Being a large tree that is several years old and I am concerned about two things, a) is it possible that the wind could knock it down? sometimes with strong wind its leaves make a lot of noise, b) is it possible that its roots invade my property and can lift my patio or affect the water installations or pipes of my house? I appreciate your answer, as a reference, the tree is planted about 4 or 5 meters from the trunk to the edge that overlooks the patio of my house.
Hi Denise.
Thanks for your words 🙂.
I answer you in parts:
-Being such a big tree, it is difficult for the wind to knock it down. Its roots are likely to have grown long enough to anchor the plant well in the ground.
-Do not worry. It does not have an invasive root system, so it will not cause problems for you.
A greeting.
Hello Monica, I would like to know if the Fotinia red shrub has invasive roots, I am going to plant it 1 meter from a wall. Thanks a lot.
Hello Cristina.
No, do not worry. You can plant it without problems.
A greeting.
Hi Monica, I have a variegated ficus one meter from the house that has grown enormously. I am worried about the roots. Should I take it out?
Hello rene.
Ficus roots are very invasive. A meter from home could cause you problems. Anyway, if you want to upload an image to tinypic or imageshack, copy the link here and I'll tell you better.
A greeting.
Thanks Monica, I'll upload a photo shortly. regards
Hello. Can you please tell me if the roots of the medlar can cause problems such as cracking a fence or raising the floor? Thanks
Hi Martha.
No, do not worry. The roots of the medlar are not aggressive.
A greeting.
Hello, I have an apricot tree that is almost at the entrance of my house, I would like to know if it has invasive roots, thank you very much I await your answer. Maria Teresa
Hello Maria Teresa.
No, do not worry. The apricot is a tree that does not give problems.
A greeting.
Hello, good afternoon, could you inform me if the Roble roots can bring me problems with a fiber pool, I am looking to install one and it would stay at 2 meters approx. of an oak. Thanks a lot.
Hi Juan Pablo.
Oak roots are deep, and generally do not cause damage.
Two meters is a considerable distance considering the tree that it is.
A greeting.
Good morning, I live in Panama and 3 meters from my house a beautiful fig was born, with tiny red seeds that feed hundreds of birds, he is 15 years old and he has not bothered me with his roots. Will you be able to do it in the future?
Hi Ara.
Trees that produce figs have very invasive roots. Over time, even if they are 3m from home, they can cause problems. But if it rains on a regular basis, and if in 15 years it has not given you problems, I highly doubt that this will happen to you.
A greeting.
Hello, good morning, sorry I have a blackberry tree 2 meters from my house and it is 10 years old, can I have any problems? Thanks.
Hello Monica. I am going to start the construction of a house, at 1 meter there is a guaya tree. Does my construction have any risk? Another: 2 meters from a royal palm about 20 meters high, I intend to build a small pool. What do you think? Thanks.
Hello david.
You will not have any problem. Palm tree roots are shallow, and guava tree roots are non-invasive.
A greeting.
Thank you. The first tree that I mention to you is from Guayaba, not Guayaba. I hope the roots are not invasive either. Greetings!
Hello david.
Forgives. I got confused.
From what I have seen, it has a very long taproot and other shallow ones, so you should have problems.
A greeting.
Hi Monica! I would be interested to know if a paltero that I have right at the entrance of my house will cause me problems due to its roots, and if there needs to be another one right next to it for it to bear fruit or can it be a few meters away? ? Thanks a lot!!!
Hi Claudia.
Avocado roots are not invasive. For it to bear fruit it is necessary to have another specimen nearby, at a distance of 4-5 meters.
A greeting.
Hello Monica. M enchant your site. It's great and great orientation !!!! Wooooowwww
we just planted an orange tree in a pot. The idea is that of fruits (it already has orange blossoms and initial fruits) but that it is always a small tree. It measures 1.5m. Two.questions: if it will be achieved if I leave it in the.pot (it.is.large) and. Does the orange tree have invasive roots?
regards
Hello Julieta.
We are glad that you like the blog. 🙂
Yes, you can have it in a pot without problems and it will bear fruit. It has no invasive roots.
A greeting.
Hello. I have a fir and an ash tree of about 10 m. and 6m of height respectively that are 1.5 m from the chalet, which has a 1m foundation. wide, but on the other side they are 2.5 m. of the lawn. Can it cause problems in the house or will the roots tend to go to the wettest area of the lawn? I also wanted to ask how far you have to put one yours occidentalis and one lauro from the house. Thanks a lot.
Hello Rafael.
If they are watered regularly, you will not have problems, since the roots will not spread much if they find water nearby.
Regarding your last question, you can put them at a minimum distance of 1-2m.
A greeting.
Hi good day.
I had to cut down my 2 ficus (they were already 4 years old) because they were 2 meters away from my cistern. Recently, when cleaning the cistern, I noticed that a part of the cistern wall was bent, precisely in the same direction as the saplings. I deduced that they were roots of the ficus. When I see your blog, I realize that they are really aggressive roots.
I live in a subdivision that has hidden services (electricity, gas, telephone, etc.)
Now, what kind of tree do you recommend planting at that distance?
I thank you in advance for your response.
Greetings.
Hi Javier.
Where it is? If you have an acid soil (pH 4 to 6) and the climate is temperate you can put a Lagerstroemia indica (Jupiter tree) or even japanese maples if the sun does not come directly in that area.
Otherwise beautiful trees that do not give root problems I can think of Prunus pisardii, Cercis siliquastrum, Cassia fistula (sensitive to strong frosts).
A greeting.
Hi Monica, fantastic blog. I don't know if someone has asked you about the roots of the araucaria (I think mine is the columnaris) and it is only two or three meters from the house. Can you tell me if I will have problems when I grow up? Thank you.
Hello Benedict.
We are glad that you like the blog (it is not mine, I only collaborate 🙂).
Regarding your question, the Araucaria are conifers that have a great development. If they are less than 10 meters away from a house, pipes, floors, etc., they usually cause quite a lot of problems.
If you can, I would recommend taking it out and planting it further away.
A greeting.
Hello Monica, excellent information, I have a question, if I want to plant a lollipop tree next to another lollipop tree, how far at least should I plant it so that the branches of both trees do not get tangled?
Hello Arturo
You can plant them at a distance of 2 or 3m.
A greeting.
Hello Monica,
Thank you very much for the information you provide. One query: I have a banana tree very close to one of the back walls of my house (less than half a meter away). Two suckers are almost glued to the wall. Its roots are invasive? Is there a risk of its roots getting underneath and lifting the floor or damaging the base of the walls?
Whenever you can. Thanks a lot!!!!!
Hi Blas.
Thanks for your words.
By banana trees do you mean the Platanus or the plant that gives bananas (Musa)? If it is the first, the roots are invasive, yes. They can cause problems for homes.
A greeting.
Hello Monica, I am José Luis and I have found your blog looking for solutions to my doubts.
I have very close to home a 10-year-old strawberry tree and 2m tall, bush type, and a plum (they told me it was a pruno), which produces small black plums and this one is 6m high. Are their roots invasive? Can they lift the ground?
Hello José Luis
No, do not worry. Neither of them have invasive roots nor can they lift the soil, unless they were less than half a meter away.
A greeting.
Hello how are you, I have a Araucaria excelsa about 25-30m high, but it is a few meters from the entrance of my house in the garden, it receives a lot of water so the trunk is super thick, the pipes of the house pass x under the garden and the fear has arisen that they are perforated x the that, its root is invasive? Should I cut it down? I am very sorry why it is a beautiful tree
Hi Mariana.
The roots of the Araucaria can cause damage, but if they are about 4-5m away it is very difficult to cause problems.
A greeting.
THANK YOU !!
I deduce then that the ground is moving. Some neighbors have had some tiles removed from the patio and they have nothing planted.
Thanks again!.
Greetings to you 🙂.
Good morning, I have a large 8-year-old apricot attached to a fence, can its roots affect the wall? Thank you very much
Hello Jesus.
No, do not worry. The roots are not invasive.
A greeting.
Greetings Monica, your blog is very educational and interesting, especially for those of us who are teaching you about gardening.
My case is that I have planted in my house exactly on my cemented or paved porch a great fuccia or bungavillia trinitaria for a little more than 10 years, (I did not know that that tree had such powerful invasive roots) the fact is that it is lifting everything the floor and breaking the caico, I would not want to cut it because it is what gives my porch attractiveness, we love it very much, but ... will there be any way to make it stop, without having to cut it?
Hello Marité.
Thank you for your words. 🙂
With regard to your bougainvillea, the only thing I can think of is that you don't take care of it; that is, do not fertilize it, only water it when strictly necessary. You can also prune it: fewer branches need fewer roots to feed them.
A greeting.
Hi good afternoon,
Can you help me what type of root does the apple tree, pear, lemon, peach and red oak have, I have them in my garden and I would like to put a pool.
If you can send me the answer by email, I will appreciate it!
regards
Hi Aurora.
The fruit trees you mention are not invasive.
a greeting
Hello Monica, I want to make a living fence with zunglia and I want to know the behavior of its roots because it is likely that near where I want to plant there are sanitary pipes. You could advise me on this. Thanks
Hi Claudia.
You mean the Glutinous swinglea? The truth is that I don't know him. From what I have seen, it is a plant that is used a lot for hedges, so its roots should not be invasive.
A greeting.
Very interesting .. I had a doubt with the oleanders, I have some less than half a meter from a cistern.
And also some conifers near the cesspool.
Will I have problems with the roots?
Hello Tania.
With oleanders you will not have problems.
With conifers, what types are they? Most do have invasive roots, but they are dwarfs they do not cause problems either.
A greeting.
Hello, delighted to see all this information, thank you for taking the time to advise us?
I have the doubt if some bamboos can damage my neighbor with their roots in his drainage or fence and in my house? Please and thank you.
Hi Lorena.
Bamboo roots are invasive, as they also produce suckers.
They are not capable of breaking floors or pipes, but yes, you have to be a little careful with them 🙁
A greeting.
Hello Monica!
What interesting information you provide us, and thank you very much. I hope you can answer a question I have. What happens is that I acquired a jacaranda tree (about 2 meters high) to be able to plant it in my yard and with the information you provided I even made sure the place to plant it; the problem is that I am realizing that its taproot is cut (I guess the seller cut it). My concern is that if I sow it, in the future a strong wind current will blow it away. Where I live, the wind currents are strong in some seasons, I have not seen it throw trees but I still have that concern (since surely the trees in the area have their taproot intact). Or that there is also the possibility that the tree creates roots around it and they are more invasive than it really is to withstand the wind currents.
I know I'm off topic a bit, but I hope you can answer me.
Hello Alejandro.
Thanks for your words.
Regarding your doubt, a tree without a taproot will have more problems to stay well attached to the ground in case the wind blows a lot, but that can be solved by putting one or more tall iron stakes.
The roots that remain, yes, for the survival of the tree, they could grow more than normal.
To reduce this risk as much as possible it is important that, put the tutors on it and, also, keep it well watered and fertilized.
A greeting.
Hello, good afternoon. I have in my patio a mamon, a soursop, avocado and lucuma bush. I would like to know if some of them have roots that damage the floor or walls. Thank you .
Hi Yamileth.
No, do not worry. But the avocado needs space because of the size it reaches. Ideally, plant it at a distance of at least 4 meters from walls and tall plants.
A greeting.
Hello,
Does anyone know if the soursop trees raise walls or break pipes, I planted it next to a wall and it is near my well, it would be better to put it in a large pot?
Hi Monique.
How far is it? It is a tree that needs space, so it is recommended to place it at least 2-3 meters away from walls and others.
A greeting.
Good morning the guava tree can damage a wall of the house
Hello Francisco.
No, do not worry. But it has to be planted at least 4 meters to be able to develop normally.
A greeting.
Thanks for the article, very interesting.
I wanted to ask you about my situation: I have an oak that I planted about 5 years ago, it grows very fast, it is surrounded by fruit trees. They are about 5m apart, like in a circle and the oak in the middle. Will their growth affect the fruit trees? Should I start it (would I be very sorry) or would it simply be worth removing the watering?
Thank you very much
Hello, Martha.
No, do not worry. It will not affect them at that distance.
It is true that it is a tree that needs a lot of space, but if it is 5m from fruit trees, the only thing that could happen is that some branches will touch when all the plants are adults. But nothing serious.
A greeting.
Hola!
I want to ask you about how invasive the roots of these 3 trees are and how far from a building it is advisable to put them:
- Pinus devoniana (Michoacan pine)
- Melia azedarach (paradise)
- Laburnum anagyroides (golden shower)
Thanks for your help, very interesting forum!
Hello Paco.
Nice species, yes sir 🙂
Regarding your question, I tell you:
-Pinus devoniana: the roots of the pines are very strong and invasive. Minimum 6 meters, but if they are 10 better.
-Melia azedarach: they are strong but not as strong as those of the pines. About 5m.
-Laburnum anagyroides: they do not have very invasive roots, but to be successful it has to be planted at a minimum of 3m.
A greeting.
I want to ask the roots of cadmium are invasive?
Hello, Elizabeth.
Sorry, but I don't know what plant it is. Do you know the scientific name or do you have a photo? You can upload it to tinypic, imageshack, or to our telegram group.
A greeting.
I want to know how deep the avocado roots grow, please can you answer my question, thank you and congratulations for your good work.
Hello Rosibel.
Deep about 70-80cm more or less.
All the best
Hello
I have a guayacàn tree two meters from the house. I planted it 4 months ago. .
As its roots grow, can they affect the wall of the house?
Thank you for your help.
Diana
Hi, Diana.
No, do not worry. It will not affect you.
A greeting.
Hello Diana, the man who helps me in my field planted eucalyptus trees and very close (1m away) Ulcumanos, the former is growing much faster than the latter. What I can do? Could I leave them together or do I have to get one of them out
Hi Katherina.
I answer you. Eucalyptus trees, if they are planted together, no problem. Anyway, if you want to be sure, you could take some out and put them somewhere else.
A greeting.
Hi! I would like to ask if it is possible to plant fruit trees and the minimum distance from a fence of large eucalyptus trees that are already in place.
Thank you!
Hi Gisela.
Eucalyptus trees have very invasive roots. Nothing should be planted at a distance of less than 5 meters.
A greeting.
Hello Monica, interesting blog !. I have an 8-year-old ceiba tree 5 meters away from my house, I am afraid it is a risk of damage to the construction. I do not know the subject in terms of its roots.
I appreciate your comments.
Hello William.
Yes, the roots of the ceiba can be invasive, but at 5 meters I highly doubt that it causes problems. Keep it well watered and fertilized; this way you will not need to further develop your root system.
A greeting.
Greetings Monica,
The in-depth knowledge, and the clear and simple explanations that you provide, are enjoyable. Congratulations on your blog!
I have a 10-year-old Ligustrum lucidum, about 6m high and 3m wide, glued directly to a brick wall, placed between ivy sticks, and in front of a patch of grass. At the time it was a small branch with few leaves, but now it has grown into a considerable shrub-tree, it will be 20 cm thick. The roots already protrude a little on the surface, and are about 2-3 cm thick, although I understand that they are not invasive and that they grow rather in depth I wanted to ask you if with time they could crack me or break the wall to which it is attached , or pick up the tiles that are on the other side of the wall and overlook a community area.
I am going to put into practice what I have read on your blog, pruning the privet as much as possible in height and width so that its roots do not grow any more, and also not pampering it excessively (compost), although watering I cannot avoid it since it shared with the lawn.
Thank you very much for your help !! All the best,
Hello Francisco.
First of all, thank you very much for your words. We are glad that you like the blog 🙂
As for your doubt, the wall will not hurt, but if the tiles are very close (about 30cm or less) it could be the case that they were raised a little. But go, not pampering him excessively, it is most likely that with his age he will not cause problems.
A greeting.
Hello, I would like to know if the octopus or Schefflera actinophylla tree has invasive roots. I have one attached to the wall of my house as soon as I acquired the house and the tree was already there, I don't know whether to remove it or not?
thanks and regards!!!
Hello Charity.
Well, I already answered you on Facebook, but I will also answer you here in case someone has the same questions as you.
Schefflera roots are not invasive, so don't worry 🙂
A greeting.
Hello!! We are about to install a pool and I have planted 3 pyramidal poplars ... can you advise me on the roots? Thanks
Hi Yanina.
Poplar roots are strong and can break a sink.
A greeting.
Hello Monica
I have an American ash tree in my patio but its roots are already lifting the patio floor for me.It is already more than 25 years old and it is beautiful, but my question is
I must cut the roots to prevent them from reaching my house, what is the correct way to cut them? To avoid damaging my house. According to a gardener, he is going to cut them about 20 cm away from the trunk, since from there they are already very thick and already out of the ground.
It's right ?
Saludos y gracias
I am from Monterrey
Juanita
Hello Juana María.
Cutting the roots so close to the trunk is a risk to the life of the tree, as it will remove the roots that absorb nutrients that are shorter and thinner.
At a minimum, I advise cutting it to about 40cm, and it still seems little to me.
A greeting.
HELLO I WANTED TO KNOW IF YOUR PINES HAVE INVASIVE ROOTS AND COULD BE ABLE TO RAISE A FOUNDATION
Hi Bruno.
Yes, they could.
A greeting.
Hello ... Two years ago we planted a ficus on the sidewalk, 1 meter from it, in a 3 x 2 meter lawn area. It will affect construction later. Thanks
Hello Eva.
It is possible that yes. Ficus roots are very invasive.
A greeting.
Hello Monica. I have a green space on my sidewalk measuring 2 x 2 meters, on one side is the wall of the entrance to the house and on the other side is the gutter or gutter of material that faces the street. I wanted to know if I could plant a yellow lapacho without problems or would it bring complications with the roots in the future. Can it be planted in a way that makes sure the roots don't spread that far?
Hi leo.
The lapacho has deep roots. I do not recommend putting it in that space as it could cause problems in the future.
What you can put for example is a Callistemon viminalis or a Cassia fistula.
A greeting.
Goodnight,
I am creating a fruit garden and last year in the area closest to home I planted an almond tree (marcona), a peach tree and a palm tree in the middle of the 2.
They are planted 2,5 / 3 meters from the building and at the same distance between them.
Can the roots of these trees damage the building?
On the other side of the house this year I wanted to plant an apricot and a plum also 3 or 4 meters from the house.
Will they give problems?
Greetings.
Hello Agustin.
No, do not worry. The trees you mention don't have invasive roots, and neither does the palm tree.
Greetings, and enjoy them 🙂
Hello Monica, my question is regarding the roots of cypress trees, I would like to know if they are invasive roots or if they reach a point of breaking and lifting a cement pavement.
Thank you!
Hello Jose Flores.
The roots of the cypress can break the pavement.
A greeting.
Hello Monica, thank you for helping us in this beautiful area that we do not know much about.
Tell you that I planted a tree that according to the investigation is called Azadirachta indica, my question is if the roots of this tree can break the walls of an underground cistern since I plant it (thinking that it was another much smaller species) one meter from this tank. The tree has only been planted for 5 months and I thought that if I cut the tip and controlled the height, I could also control the size of its root.
The cistern is made of concrete. My wife is afraid that will happen.
Kind regards from El Salvador.
Hello Mauricio.
The tree does not have as invasive roots as Ficus or Acacia do, but yes, it can cause problems as well.
To avoid this, you can have it something like a »bonsai». Cut off the tip and thus it will take out lower branches, which the following year you will have to trim, giving the tree a ball shape (or something similar 🙂).
If you have doubts, do not hesitate to write us.
A greeting.
Hi Monica, I would like to know if the olive tree has invasive roots? I want to plant it in my house but I have a wall close by. Thank you!
Hello Gabriela.
The olive tree is a tree that is not recommended to be placed near walls or pipes, as it can cause problems.
A greeting.
Hello, excellent blog. Congratulations. I am from Barranquilla Colombia, dry tropical climate. I want to know how much space do ceibas or bongas need? and the yellow and purple oaks? I also want to plant fruit trees but I don't know the distance between one tree and another. A hug and thanks.
Hi Karolina.
The trees they mention need to be in wide grounds, at a distance of 7-8 meters from any construction, pipes, tall plants.
With regard to fruit trees, it will depend on the species, but 1-2 meters minimum.
A greeting.
What kind of plant should I use to make a hedge fence in a 13 × 10 area?
Thanks greetings!!
Hi Mark.
Where are you from? You can use Virbunum, Laurel (Laurus nobilis), Prunus.
A greeting.
Hello Monica: your blog is very interesting !!!
I would like to inquire about the roots of Callistemon citrinus (popularly known as Tube Cleaner, Brush Tree, Red Brush, Bottle Cleaner). I have two quite tall ones planted in a flowerbed at the entrance of my house and glued to the neighbor's dividing wall. My question is if it has invasive roots that can break the neighbor's plumbing or lift the tiles in my garage.
Greetings from Argentina and thanks in advance for your answer.
Hello Andrea.
No, do not worry. They do not have invasive roots.
We are glad that you like the blog. 🙂
A greeting.
Hi Monica, how are you?
I love your blog and I learn a lot.
I have two problems in my garden.
I have a casuarina about 10 years ago planted very close to the wall and a grill. A few months ago he started lifting the floor and cracking the walls. I'm sorry to get it out, but I don't think I have a choice. How do I remove the trunk and roots when I prune it?
The other problem is the bamboo canes. I also planted them about 10 years ago and now they have branched out throughout the garden and in the neighbors' gardens. And I also think they are lifting the floors. I do not know the extent of its roots. The fact is, I don't know how to eliminate them and that they don't keep branching out.
In the place where the casuarina and the bamboo canes are, I want to put two trees that do not raise floors or crack walls. What would you recommend me?
From already thank you very much.
I'm from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Hello Mariano
Regarding the tree, here is a article in which my partner Lurdes explains how you can dry it 🙂
With regard to bamboo, there I do recommend going either with a chainsaw or, with great patience, cutting the stems with a saw or handsaw. Then add boiling water to the plants. You will have to do it several times, but in the end you will see that they will die. Another option is to add salt, or else herbicides, but the latter are quite harmful to the environment. Although it may be the fastest option.
In the place of these plants you can put Prunus trees (all species are harmless and very beautiful), Cercis siliquastrum, or perhaps some citrus (orange, mandarin, lemon).
A greeting.
Hi Monica, thank you very much for answering.
Take note of everything you have told me and I will listen to you.
What shrubs would you recommend to put in that space that had the casuarina and the reeds? You have given me a couple of names of small trees, but I am thinking about the option of some bush. The surface to be covered in height is at least 4 meters.
From already thank you very much!!! 🙂
Hello Mariano
Very beautiful shrubs you have the Rosa de Syria hibiscus (holds up to -5ºC), the polygala (up to -3ºC), the Cassia corymbosa (up to -3ºC), the Callistemon viminalis (up to -7ºC. It grows like a tree).
Another option would be citrus (lemon, orange, mandarin, etc.). They are evergreen, bear fragrant, decorative flowers and fruits.
A greeting.
Hi Monica, thanks again for responding.
A query: in those spaces that I had mentioned before. Can I plant a Santa Rita, a Lady of the night or a Tuja or are they recommended to us? I am looking for beautiful evergreen trees or shrubs that can climb at least 4 meters high and provide privacy.
Once again, thank you so much!!!
Mariano
Hello Mariano
The lady of the night yes, no problem.
La Santa Rita too, but think that you will have to cut the stems to control their growth.
The Tuja is already more complicated, because its roots could cause damage.
A greeting.
Hello Monica:
Thank you very much for your advice and your excellent blog. I am in Villa de Leyva, Colombia. I have two questions: 1) we have a ficus 10 meters from the house, and a willow 7 meters. Can roots be a threat to construction ?; 2) We have a Japanese medlar 1,5 meters from the same construction. We have pruned the branches that lean towards the house because we have been told that this is how the roots are "oriented" so that they do not approach the house. That's right? Should we cut the medlar? Thank you!
Hi Juan M.
Regarding your first question, don't worry. That's a very good distance for those trees not to cause problems.
Regarding the second question. the branches have nothing to do with the roots 🙂; that is, without the roots the branches could not be alive, but that is where their relationship ends. What does happen is that a plant that has few branches has few roots, as it does not need to have a highly developed root system to feed them.
By the way, the medlar does not have invasive roots.
A greeting.
Hello Monica.
I have planted a yellow Japanese plum tree many years ago in a bottomless planter next to the wall of my house. Are there chances that at some point it will break walls or lift tiles? I don't want to cut it. Thanks
Hi Rowina.
No, do not worry.
A greeting.
My house is built on an area of 10 meters wide by 35 meters deep, in a spa therefore it is sand, towards the bottom at 28 meters approx. I planted an ash tree that does not reach 4 months of planting, I intend to change its place, which you recommend according to its roots, because I am surrounded by dividing walls, thank you.-
Hello Victor.
If it has only been planted in the ground for 4 months, you will have no problem removing it. Make four trenches around a depth of about 40cm.
Taking into account the surface you have, I would recommend more to have it in a pot. You can go pruning and trimming its branches, as if it were a bonsai.
A greeting.
Good morning, a question ... Are the roots of guava and medlar aggressive? That is, can they destroy a sidewalk or wall? I have two crops very close to a wall and I want to know if I will have to remove them.
Hi Flower.
With the medlar you will not have problems, but the guava can cause damage.
A greeting.
Good afternoon, I would appreciate your advice on my dilemma.
The house that I want to buy in front of it, there are two mango sticks planted, they already have 2 crops on top, they are not that old, the house is New and the corridor and they left a space for them but in front of them, if it is land, the sticks are located . My question is that those sticks over the years can damage the floors and the walls, I say it since they are there on the house.
Hello Adriana.
During the first years it does not cause many problems, but as it grows it can do damage.
A greeting.
Hello Monica, I'm about to change a crepe on the sidewalk that stains the sidewalk a lot, for a Focus, what opinion you deserve, and what risk I can have with the root of the ficus, Thank you very much in advance
Hi, Pablo.
Ficus roots are very invasive. I recommend one more Cassia fistula (does not resist frost) or citrus (lemon, orange, etc.).
A greeting.
Hello Veronica! Good afternoon!! I am Priscila and I am from Mexico, Excuse me a question I would like to ask you how invasive are the roots of the eucalyptus cirenea here in my country they call it a tree (dollar) I have planned to put one in my garden but I wanted to inform myself before
Hello Priscila.
Eucalyptus trees are very invasive trees that also do not allow anything to grow around them.
If you want to plant one, you must put it about ten meters from the house, pipes, plants, etc.
A greeting.
Hello. I am from the south of the Santa Fe province, Argentina. It's amazing that you can help people so much with these issues where it is very difficult to make decisions. I thank you in advance for the contribution you make. I want to put a tree that grows almost attached to a house. It would be planted in a 3m x 3.5m space surrounded by low mud walls and a wall of the house that is 5m high. The idea is for the tree to shade that wall and have a slightly vertical growth, without expanding so wide. I have as candidates the Oak of the swamps, Gleditsia Sunburn (This is the one I like the most but I do not know if it will grow in my area since I did not see any), Pseudoacacia Frisia or Acacia de Constantinople. I would like your opinion on these or to know any other candidate that you can recommend.
Hi leandro.
I recommend the Acacia of Constantinople more, since it has much less invasive roots (in fact, they are harmless).
Other options are Cassia fistula (does not resist frost), or Lagerstroemia indica (needs acid soil).
A greeting.
Hello Good morning, excuse me, send a tree with the scientific name bucida buceras in the green area in front of my house and it has already grown approximately 3 meters and I am worried that it will damage the concrete, the street or the pipes. respect Thank you Greetings from Venezuela
Hello Ivan.
From what I have read, it has a shallow root system, but it is a tree that takes up a lot of space with its crown.
In principle it should not cause problems, but I would recommend you to prune the crown since the less surface of leaves it has, the less its roots will grow.
If you wish, send us a photo of your tree by Facebook and we tell you how much to prune.
A greeting.
Hello Monica !!! very good yours !!! I want to plant a tree in front of my house, it would be about 5 meters from the wall, 1 meter from the sidewalk and 2,5 meters. of the asphalt, can I put a yellow lapacho? I love it, I took out some palm trees that I loved but the leaves were heavy and dangerous for people and vehicles when they fell, I also love palm trees but I don't know what I could put my house on two floors so a tall deciduous tree would be the thing ideal or palm tree. I am from the NE of the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, with a humid subtropical climate, the lapacho is considered a native plant, here.
Hi Mabel.
Have you thought of a Cassia fistula? I would recommend it more than the lapacho, because of its roots.
The only thing is that it does not resist frost.
It would also be worth a Lagerstroemia indica if you have acid soil.
A greeting.
Hi good morning,
We have bought a house and there is a tree that we have been told is called stormy Powlonio, it is very close to the house at about two meters, we wanted to make a pool also close, can we have problems in the pool? And in the house ?? the old owners of the house told me that they put it because of its large leaves that give shadows, they have told me that it is a Chinese tree that grows very fast, it is about 4 years old and is already very tall .. could you advise please ?? I am a little afraid that it grows so fast, until how much it can grow and its roots could build a foundation or crack a pool? What distance do you advise me or do you advise me to remove it if it is so close?
Thank you very much and sorry for so many questions, but it worries me.
Hi Monica, I have two 20-meter-high pine trees 10 meters from the pool. I would like to know if they are able to break the concrete wall of the pool. Thanks!
Hello Llorenç.
No, ten meters is a good distance 🙂
A greeting.
Hello, congratulations on your blog, it is a great help, my question is that I have a mimosa acacia dealbata, and about 4 meters is the neighbor's pool, when I bought it I said so and they told me that it did not have aggressive roots, but I am not calm can you inform me? You can also advise me that I can plant, having the neighbor's pool close by, an evergreen shrub type, that can withstand a lot of sun and frost in winter. Thanks a lot
Hi Inma.
Four meters is a good distance, don't worry 🙂. It will not cause you problems.
With regard to the shrub, you can put Viburnum lucidum, Polygala (resists up to -4ºC), eponymous, Teucrium fruticans.
A greeting.
I would like to know if I can plant oleanders around the pool. Its roots can cause a problem, are they invasive?
Hi juani.
No, take it easy. They won't cause trouble 🙂
A greeting.
Hello, I wanted to know if the roots of the Ceibo are invasive, thank you
Hello Maria.
You mean the Chorisia speciosa? If so, yes, they are invasive.
Otherwise, write to us again and we will tell you 🙂
A greeting.
Hello Monica, I would like to know how recommended it is to have a golden cypress (macrocarpa golden cone I think it is) very close (50cm) from my house, at the moment it is small (6 months) but I do not know if its roots are very invasive and can damage the same.
Thank you very much.
Hi Joseph.
Yes, 50cm is very close. It is better to plant it at least 1 meter, but the ideal is + 2m.
A greeting.
I need to plant several trees near the fence with the neighbor. The fence is 4 meters high and is 4.5m from the house. I need them to reach a minimum of 7 meters and have a perennial leaf. The temperature where I live ranges from 20 to 38 centigrade.
thanks and regards
Hello Julia.
Have you thought about putting citrus fruits (orange, mandarin, lemon ...)? They are evergreen trees that also produce edible fruits (except the light lemon tree).
If not, the Callistemon viminalis is a good option.
A greeting.
Thanks for your proposal, they also told me that it could be hibiscus elatus, they say that it has non-aggressive roots and provides shade. what is your opinion.
I like your blog greetings
Hello Julia.
Yes, it is a good option too 🙂
A greeting.
Good morning I would like to see if you can help me I would like a large tree for shade and put it in the center of the garden it would be 10 meters from any construction, I have thought of an ash tree but I would like to know if its roots will not damage any construction and what other trees do you recommend? ? I am from Mexico with an average temperature of 20 degrees in winter to 0 degrees and summer to 33
Good afternoon, I would like an ash tree, it would be 10 meters from any construction. I would like to know if it is safe? What other types of tree do you recommend, also congratulate the blog a thousand thanks
Hello Cristian.
Yes, 10 meters is a good distance.
There are several trees that do not have invasive roots: Cercis siliquastrum, Prunus pissardii, Albizia julibrissin, Callistemon ...
A greeting.
Hello Monica, I have read all your questions, I am amazed by your knowledge, greetings from Cozumel Mexico, ... my question is the following: I have a Chilean pine, Araucaria, and it is 3 meters from the wall of my house, it will be possible that it damages my home??? Here in Mexico we build on stone foundations (slab) with cement, then the walls are built, which are also made of very strong brick, I already raise my garden floor, but it is only a 5 cm cement slab, the house and everything The rest are apparently fine! Greetings you can visit my face page so that you know Mexico and if one day you want to come I have thousands of sites and tips for you, greetings again
https://www.facebook.com/quehacerenmexico/
Hi Xavier.
The araucaria is a plant that should be planted as far as possible from walls and other buildings, since it is large and its roots are powerful. Ideally, it should be about 5-6 meters, or more. Three meters is not enough.
Greetings and thanks for the link. 🙂
Hello Monica,
First of all, congratulations on your blog, your knowledge is incredible, with information that is difficult to obtain.
I wanted to know how far from the pool I have to plant cypress, photinia, shifflera and large olive trees. I have a palm tree but I need something to cover my neighbor
Hello Belen.
Thanks for your words 🙂
I tell you: the olive tree and the cypress are the only ones that I would recommend you plant at a distance of 4-5 meters from the pool. The rest you can put them closer without problems. Have you thought about oleanders? They grow to about 6 meters and are good to take care of 🙂.
A greeting.
Thank you very much, Monica,
One last question, looking for alternatives, I have seen Eugenia Uniflora, which I think is a small tree, can I have problems with the pool?
The garden is in Malaga, I think the climate is suitable, can you confirm it?
Greetings,
Hello Belen.
It is a good option for the pool.
It does not resist cold or frost. The minimum temperature must be 4ºC.
A greeting.
Hi Monica, if you can advise me with the following, they gave me a ceiba tree, I want to plant it on a 20x8m plot but this is where I will build a house, is there any way to prevent its roots from affecting the construction?
Hi Pati.
I recommend you first plant it in a large pot, and then wrap it with anti-rhizome mesh. And finally plant it with everything in the ground.
But even so, you should put it right in the center so that it does not affect the house.
A greeting.
Hello Monica, good morning: I want to ask you if the Eugenia plant that I want to use as a fence with the neighboring house, has very aggressive roots? Nearby there is a water filter with the neighbor's wall that we do not want to be affected by the roots of the plant. Thank you.
Hi Jackie.
No, do not worry. 🙂
A greeting.
Hello, I have a 5-year-old holly planted in a pot, but I want to plant it in the ground in a 2 × 2 meter light patio and I would like to know if its roots are invasive and can damage the structure of my house.
Thank you
Hi Angela.
In principle it does not have invasive roots, but this terrain will eventually become too small for it. But you can always prune 🙂
A greeting.
and the pepper is aggressive?
Hello Rodrigo.
No, it is not.
A greeting.
Hello Monica, I would like to know if I can plant a Huaya tree on the sidewalk of my house, my cistern is just 2 meters from the street. Wouldn't I be in any danger from root growth?
Hello Roberto.
By huaya do you mean Melicoccus bijugatus?
If so, I do not recommend putting it so close since its roots, although they are not invasive, do need a lot of space. At a minimum, it should be 5m.
A greeting.
Hi Monica, I live in the state of Veracruz Mexico, which in the summer is very sunny and hot. I just bought a piece of land next to my house that measures 20m in front x 60m in depth. and I have plans to build a party room and an L-shaped pool; that is, the living room will occupy half the front (opposite my house) and the pool at the back. My question is what types of leafy trees do you recommend that I do not damage floors in my house, living room or pool. Thanks
Hello Alvaro.
You can put Callistemon, Nerium oleander, Acacia retinoides.
A greeting.
Hello Monica ... I live in the state of Veracruz, Mexico ... in my town they are giving little trees to plant such as: silver poplar, white cedar, oak, guamuchil, guaje, palo verde, casuarina, cypress, ash, jacaranda, palo dulce and Chinese lollipop … Could you help me which one I could plant in a small 3 x 4 yard since I live in a subdivision and I don't want any of them to affect my house or that of a neighbor as I grow up… thanks and greetings
Hey.
Of those you mention, I recommend the palo dulce. The rest could get you in trouble.
A greeting.
Hello Monica
I would like to know which of the two trees, the olive or the avocado, have less invasive roots
Thank you
Hi July.
Both need a lot of space to grow, but the one that usually causes the least problems is the avocado.
A greeting.
Good morning Monica:
I have loved reading your space. It is very illustrative and entertaining.
I am writing to you from Seville and I would like to comment on a question about yours, specifically this species: Platycladus orientalis, the oriental yours or tree of life.
I have them planted just four meters from the pool and they occupy the entire extension of it. I want to give them a height of about eight feet. From there, control them by pruning. Now they will be reaching two meters in height (I planted them two years ago).
Do you think that over time they can cause damage to the side of the pool (three meters away from yours) or to the pool itself (four meters away from yours)?
Thank you very much for your invaluable and altruistic help.
A cordial greeting from Seville.
Hello Manuel.
We are glad that you liked the blog 🙂.
Conifers - all, in general - have a strong root system. Now, the species that you have is rather small (if we compare it with others), and if you are also going to prune it, its roots will not spread as much.
Even so, I will tell you that they will most likely approach the pool, since they are looking for humidity. But I doubt they will cause you trouble.
A greeting.
Hello, congratulations on your very interesting blog and thanks for the advice, I'm from Edo. from Mexico, I have a small garden behind my house I do not have any trees, I would like to plant a White Nectarine (Arbol) Var. Snow Queen, thinking of pruning it and not letting it exceed 2 meters,
my questions are:
1.-does it have aggressive roots that could damage the structure of my house? I would plant it 3 meters away from the foundation and 70cm from the retaining wall near the neighbor's house practically in a corner
2.- pruning it and not letting it grow more than two meters high and pruning it from the sides would it bear fruit?
Thank you for your attention, receive greetings from Edo. from Mexico.
Hi Yennif.
No, nectarines do not have invasive roots.
You can prune it to control its growth, without problems. It will bear fruit, but less than if it was not pruned 🙂
A greeting.
Hello Monica, I am writing to you from Houston in the United States. I just built a swimming pool and planted several olive trees along the perimeter, without considering the risk of roots. They are 150 cm away from the edge of the pool. Is there a future risk of damaging the walls?
Thank you
Hello Joussef.
No, do not worry. The roots of olive trees (Olea europaea) are not invasive.
A greeting.
Good morning Monica, first of all, receive a great greeting from Monterrey ...
I would like to plant a «citrus aurantifolia» (colima lemon) but my yard is 7 wide by 2 meters deep. Can I plant the lemon in the center of the yard? That is, between the wall of my patio and the wall of my house? There is no problem that the root raises the fence or damages the construction of my house? I have the entire patio floor covered with concrete, but I plan to break some 1m x 1m square to plant the tree. Do you think you can? Or do you recommend planting some other tree or shrub? Beforehand thank you very much!
Hello Antonio.
You will not have a problem with the tree 🙂
A greeting.
Hello Monica: I greet you from Uruguay and ask you a question. About 0.50 cm from the platform of my house there is a eucalyptus, if I cut it at ground level it will grow again as it happened to me in the front of the house. I am afraid that the roots will harm me. What can I do since the platform of the house was built without taking into account this not minor detail by the way.
I already appreciate your contribution. Very good blog.
Best regards
Hi Mirta.
Yes, the safest thing is that it will come out again, but ... you can continue these tips so that its roots dry out (that article talks about bamboo, but the advice is valid for all types of plants).
A greeting.
Euphorbia lathyris or tartago with the seeds you get castor oil.
Is its root dangerous near a retaining wall?
Hi Isis.
I have not understood you.
Castor oil is extracted from the seeds of the Ricinus communis plant.
Euphorbia lathyris is another plant that is not related to castor bean.
In any case, none of these plants have dangerous roots, but castor bean is an invasive plant in many countries (such as Spain).
A greeting.
Hello Monica, before making an extension to the house, I had 3 plants in my garden, they told me they were cat's claw, they were vines that covered the entire wall.
The houses are stuck together and my neighbors and I continually have problems with pipes plugged with roots. We are near a boulevard that has many ash trees and they are about 6 or 7m away and they are also many years old, could it be that the vines that I had were the cause of the clogged pipes or would it be the ash trees? What can we do with so much root that is always growing?
Hello Luz María.
Both ash trees and vines can clog pipes.
Solution? Remove plants, or prune trees so they don't need as many roots.
A greeting.
Hello, I need to know if the avocado, chalahuite, and yellow ceiba trees have invasive roots? I need to answer me please
Hello, Luz.
Yes, you can have problems if the garden is not large.
A greeting.
good morning I would like to know if the swinglea has invasive roots, is it that we want to use it for living fences, is it recommended? And if not, which one can you recommend? Thanks a lot
good morning I would like to know if the swingle lemon has invasive or dangerous roots for pipes or buildings? We want it for a living fence is it recommended? If not, which one do you recommend?
thank you very much
Hello, Gloria.
No, it does not have invasive roots.
A greeting.
I am going to make a green wall with ficus. On one side is a wall and field and on the other I have my garden. At what minimum distance do I have to plant them from each other?
Hi, Leticia.
Ten meters from pipes, buildings, etc., and 4-5 meters (at least) between one tree and another.
Ficus has very invasive roots.
A greeting.
Hi Monica, nice to meet you. Your blog is very good.
I consult you. I am about to buy a piece of land that has a small construction, a few years old, almost glued to a fairly old ash tree, with its trunk about 80 cm in diameter. The idea is to take advantage of the construction to build a weekend house, and preserve the ash tree. Can I do the work calmly that it is not going to break it, since the tree is adult and already has its roots extended? The construction has no cracks near the tree. Or do I have to take it out? I think the problem is when the tree grows and spreads its roots. In this case the roots are already extended and I would build on them. What do you think? what do you suggest? I would be very sorry to kill the tree… Thank you!
Hi Sebastian.
The problem with ash roots is that if they detect moisture they will go to it, no matter how old they are.
If the tree is already its years old, the risk of it causing problems for you is very low, but not non-existent.
I, just in case, would put an anti-rhizome cloth on the surface of the land before making the floor of the house. Here you can see photos of how it is: https://www.planfor.es/compra,barrera-anti-rizomas,B001,ES Normally it is placed as a barrier (that is, vertically, as seen in the photos), but in your case I think it would be better extended.
A greeting.
Hi Monica, you just answered me. Thank you very much for the response and the information about the barrier. From what I found out, the terrain in San Vicente is very humid and the water tables are quite high, so I suppose the roots should not have spread much horizontally, but rather downwards. The truth is that you don't see many superficial roots around, that's why it occurs to me that it must be like this ... Or maybe it's the desire to save the tree.
Thank you very much again!! Greetings
Hi Sebastian.
I am one of those who "adapt the house to the tree" and not "the tree to the house." You can try to see. Do the construction, and let a couple of years go by. If nothing has happened in that time, great.
And if yes, then there is always time to remove it.
A greeting.
Hello
I am about to build my house, in the part that the garden is projected there are two Pirul trees. The architect asks me if I leave them or asks permission to cut them. One of them is five feet from the fence that separates a street. I ask how much distance must there be between a construction and a Pirúl tree so that its roots do not affect the construction?
Hi Martha.
I have seen trees planted 2 meters from the houses, but I would recommend setting the house at least 4 or 5 meters away.
A greeting.
FRIEND, I HAVE AN AVOCADO, A MANGO AND A LEMON IN A SPACE OF 3 METERS BY 1 METER… ..THE ELSE IS CONSTRUCTION… .TELL ME WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES… ..IF I SHOULD NOT HAVE THEM ………. THEY ARE STILL SUBWAY GUYS AND HALF.
Hello Silvia.
It is too small a space for those three trees. Consider that the crown of the adult mango is already more than 3 meters wide.
They will not be able to grow well, and they could also cause you problems.
A greeting.
Hi Monica, I have a Ceiba about 25 meters high and it is about 30 meters from the pool. You think its roots can affect it.
Greetings.
Eduardo Martinez
Hello Eduardo.
No, do not worry.
A greeting.
Hello:
Do Tabebuia rosea and Calycophyllum candidissimum have invasive roots?
Hi Liliana.
No, they are not invasive.
A greeting.
Hello Monica, I congratulate you on your page and above all for informing and responding to comments and questions, which is not usually very frequent.
I just moved to a house in Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, which has a tall, beautiful ash tree on the sidewalk; the trunk at its base is 1.60 in diameter and 1.20 in its middle part. It has a crown of dense foliage and excellent shade, but the roots, (many), protrude from the ground, (as if it had been planted very high), and are lifting the paving of the sidewalk, (1 meter sidewalk), advancing towards the garden where the storm drain is.
I would like to ask you if it is possible to do some treatment to its roots such as to lower them or isolate them so that they do not advance ruining the drains and the foundations, such as cutting or pruning the roots and a concrete fence around it, since I am very sorry to extract such a beautiful tree.
From already thank you very much.
Hi Mabel.
Thanks for your words 🙂
Ash is a tree with very invasive roots; in fact, it is recommended to plant it at a distance of about 7-10 meters from pipes and others because of the damage it can cause.
But yes, of course. You can prune the roots. The concrete fence will not do, as the new roots will go down.
Sorry I can not be of more help.
A greeting.
Hello Monica, first of all congratulations for the great dedication in this section of the blog, you are very helpful for those of us who write here.
My query is twofold:
* On the one hand, I want to plant a few fruit trees in the backyard and know how their roots and each other will behave. I thought of lemon, cherry, and almond.
* In the neighborhood, still deserted, I would like to plant one or two fast-growing trees with non-invasive roots, with the limitation that I have attached to the party wall, 60 cm deep, a couple of slotted pipes that derive from a biodigester ( replaces the cloaca) which permanently releases nutrient-rich water. What species do you recommend?
Thank you very much for your time and congratulations!
Hello Martin.
Thank you for your words. We are glad to know that the blog is liking 🙂
Do I answer you:
-The almond tree is a tree that, although it does not grow much in height, its crown is wide unless it is pruned. The same goes for the lemon tree. A wide canopy needs food, which the roots get from the ground, and of course, the more roots the plant has, the more nutrients it can absorb. Based on this, how would they behave if the three trees are planted in a limited space such as a patio? Well, it all depends on how spacious it is and how far apart it is. To go well, I would recommend planting them leaving a separation of at least 3m between them.
-What weather do you have? In principle, I would recommend small trees, such as Cercis siliquastrum, Prunus cerasifera, or others that you can see here.
A greeting.
Hello Monica. I am from the state of Mexico. I want to plant an Acacia baileyana (Acacia mimosa) in a small ridge of maybe 1m x 1m, and the depth until it touches stone is only 60 cm. How likely is it to lift the sidewalk around it?
With these characteristics (1m x 1m x 0.60m deep), which tree is the most recommended? that it does not exceed 8 meters and that its root is not invasive?
Hello Ana.
Uff, the odds are high 🙁
For that available space, I would recommend a large bush or small tree, type Viburnum tinus, Photinia, nerium oleander (it can be pruned to make it a small tree), Cassia fistula (does not resist frost).
A greeting.
Hello Monica! If you would be so kind, I would like to know what is the recommended distance that an ash tree of all construction must have. Greetings
Hi Mariana.
So that there is no problem, his would be to plant it about ten meters from any construction.
A greeting.
Hello Monica, your blog is very interesting, I would like to know that I can plant under the shade of a ficus benjamina approximately 6 ms tall. Besides it is full of fallen leaves, the land, where it is, thank you very much
Hello Ana.
Right under the tree I do not recommend putting anything. The roots will not allow almost anything to grow, and most likely they will dry out over time. Maybe clivia could be good for you.
But if a distance of 4-5 meters has some corner of shade, I would advise you ferns if you live in a temperate-cold climate, of course clivia, hydrangeas and Japanese maples if the soil is acidic (pH 4 to 6).
A greeting.
Hi Monica, thanks for the information. I want to tell you one thing, I have a maple (70cm in diameter and 4 meters high, the trunk plus the branches, they are quite high) about 5 meters from the house, the garden floor has been raised for some time in several places and I am afraid that the floor of the house lifts me. Is there any solution? Dig and cut the roots that come close to the house? Dry it and keep few branches, how to do it? Could it be beaten towards the house? Thank you very much, regards
Hi Alfonso.
In general, maples do not have invasive roots, although it is true that depending on the species, they need a lot of space to grow.
If you feel like it and don't feel like losing it, I would recommend digging trenches - about two meters from the trunk - about 60cm deep by 30cm wide, putting concrete blocks (the kind that are hollow) inside them, and filling them with rods of iron and concrete. With this you would be able to force its roots to extend downwards, and not so much to the sides.
In the event that you don't want to or can't, another option would be to keep it low. But this should be done little by little; That is to say, you can't right out of the box leave it 2m high, because you would charge it 🙂 His thing is to cut back about 30cm of branch every year, so you would give him time to recover and take out ever lower branches. In time, you would end up with a nice bush. The pruning work must be done either after the fall of leaves, or at the end of winter.
If you have doubts, tell me.
A greeting.
Hello Monica:
My neighbor has a ficus 2 meters from my building, it happens that my water supply cistern is 1 meter from my wall, that is, the distance from the ficus to my cistern between 3 and 3.5 meters.
The tree is approximately 10 years old and 3 meters high, the soil is dry with low humidity and the climate is semi-arid.
What can the root system cause in the foundation of my property?
Do the roots of the ficus have the ability to break the walls of a cistern?
regards
Hello Fernando.
Of course, between 3 and 3,5 meters is a short distance between the tree and the cistern. The minimum recommended is 10 meters, but I will also tell you that if it has been there for 10 years and nothing has happened, it is very difficult for it to cause problems.
Anyway, with a ten year old that is only 3m tall, it is rare. This indicates that it does not find enough nutrients or water in the soil to be able to grow faster, so I doubt it will give you any unpleasant surprises.
A separate case would be that it rained regularly, or that it was watered often. In this case, I would recommend talking seriously with the owner as their roots could easily reach your cistern.
Greetings.
Hello Monica, congratulations on your blog, I love it, I live in Guanajuato, Mexico, here the temperature is 38 ° to 3 ° very rarely reaches -4, I have a 5 x 8 backyard and I would like to plant fruit trees but they would be glued to the walls, from what I've read it may be from the citrus family, from prunus, it may be Japanese medlar
Can it be a custard apple (Annona cherimola) or a pomegranate (Punica granatum)?
What distance should there be between one and another silver?
Thank you very much and greetings
Hello Helena.
We are glad that you like the blog.
All the trees you mention are good candidates, but be careful, you will have to choose a few ... or keep them pruned.
The distance will depend on how many you want to put. At a minimum, there should be 1 meter between one and the other, although it is recommended that there be 2m.
Regards!
Hello, I have a 12 year old liquidambar that is lifting the floor of my patio with his roots. Is there any type of treatment that I can do so that this problem does not continue and not have to remove it? Thank you
Hi John.
No, nothing can be done. You could water it less and not fertilize it, but nothing more.
If I were younger I would tell you prune it and keep it as a low shrub, but being twelve years old it will surely be very big and if you prune it it may not survive.
Greetings.
Hi Monica, I have a ficus in my garden, whose roots have already invaded my cistern, eliminating the root that invaded the cistern, is the problem solved? If I cut the root of the base of the trunk of the ficus do I solve the problem? As additional information, the ficus is about 4-5 meters. from the cistern. Lastly, does an Ahuehuete have invasive roots? Thank you and congratulations.
Hi Jamie.
Both Ficus and Taxodium (ahuehuetes) have very invasive roots. They are interesting garden trees, but they must be planted at a minimum distance of 10 meters from pipes, walls, etc.
You can nip that root for Ficus, but it won't quite solve the problem. Over time the tree will produce new roots, and some may return to the cistern.
If you are interested in trees without dangerous roots, we recommend those of this article.
Greetings.
Hi Monica, I have 2 Neem together 3 meters from a wall, will it be necessary to relocate them because of their roots? they are still young they are 2 years old
Hello Alejandro.
No, it is not necessary, unless there are pipes nearby, in which case they should be planted about 5 meters away from them.
Greetings.
Hello, I would like to know if the Framboyan and the Moringa tree give root problems with the tubing, thank you very much!
Hello Maria.
In principle, the moringa no, but both this and the flamboyant are recommended to be planted far from the walls and pipes. At least there must be a distance of 7 meters.
Regards!
Hello, how are you? I have a very large plum tree about 25 years old, close, 1 meter from what is going to be a housing project, and I am afraid of the roots that damage the floor of the house or walls. respect?
Hi Juan Pablo.
No, do not worry. Ideally, it should be at least two meters away, but at that age its roots will already be fully developed.
Greetings.
Hello I have a pine tree in my garden only half a meter away from the wall of the house, and I feel like sounds, the tiles have cracked and the draywool roof has fallen off a part. Will it be for the pine, will I have to cut it?
Hello Milagros.
Yes, it is most likely. The ideal is to plant the pine at a distance of ten meters from the house, since its roots extend a lot.
Greetings.
Hello I planted common cypress near a column of ne house were three will harm me?
Hello Roberto.
In order to help you we need to know how far they are from the spine. The common cypress trees will not destroy it anyway, but if you have pipes a few meters away, problems could arise.
Greetings.
Hi Monica, good afternoon,
I just planted an 80 cm eureka lemon and in the same place one meter below there is a drain pipe, do you think it could have problems with its roots in the future?
The other, where it was planted I have grass, so as not to have problems with watering, what size of tree do you recommend?
Greetings and thank you very much
Hello Jose.
No, you will not have problems with its roots. Do not worry.
With respect to the tree grate, we recommend doing it at a distance of at least 60cm from the trunk. It may seem like a lot to you now, but when the tree grows it will appreciate it.
Regards!
Hello again and thank you for your last answer.
I have another concern, where the lemon tree was planted behind it at 120 cm is a wall with a window and on its left side 150 cm a fence and the neighbor's house (attached photos)
https://ibb.co/37SMVm4
https://ibb.co/qMzRcrZ
https://ibb.co/nPZ15Pn
Is it possible by pruning to keep it within these distances and force it to grow in the other directions?
Saludos y gracias
Hi Jose Diaz.
Yeah sure. You can trim -a little at a time- the branches that get too long, keeping the trees compact.
These prunings are done in late winter, before they bloom.
Greetings.
Good morning. Thanks for all the information on the blog. It really is very useful. I wanted to know how far I should plant a tree (Japanese sakura) from a swimming pool. And if the roots can cause problems being near a pool. The Japanese sakura that I have is almost 4 meters. Thanks
Hello Mauricio.
The Japanese cherry, like all Prunus, are not invasive root trees. It can be without problems five meters from the pool 🙂
Regards!
Hello Monica, I found your blog and I loved it, it is very interesting! I tell you that a few months ago we installed a fiberglass pool in our interior patio. We already had planted, near the wall, 1 flower pomegranate, 1 variegated lemon and 1 orange tree. We leave a 1,20 meter strip on that side and another 1,50 meters on the other (in which there is also a lemon, but thorny). Our concern is that there is not enough space for their roots and that in search of water they break the pool.
In the patio there is also an adult Quillay between 8 and 10 meters. which is less than 2 meters from the corner of the pool. Could its roots also affect the pool shell?
A hug
Hi Ok.
He did not know the quillay. It is seen that it is a fairly large tree, which can be 10 meters high and have a crown several meters in diameter. I don't know if it has invasive roots, sorry. If when you made the hole for the pool you did not find any roots, I do not think it will cause you problems, really.
The other plants you mention will not cause them.
Greetings.
Good morning Monica, I would like to ask you about various trees:
1. Can I plant a custard apple near a swimming pool?
2. Can I keep a fig tree in a large pot?
3. Will I have problems with a fire tree 1,5m from my house? It has also been two years since the flowers have come out. I have had the tree for about 10 years.
4. Will a prunus serrulata kanzan give me problems near the house and the pool?
Thank you.
Hello Maria.
Well I tell you:
1.- No, but think you can have a wide crown. Ideally, it should be at least 3 meters from the pool so that it does not shade.
2.- Yes, but you will have to prune it every year so that it does not grow more than it counts. On this article It is explained how it is done, but if you have doubts, write to us.
3.- Do not worry, if in 10 years it has not caused problems, it will no longer give them. I myself have several right in front of a wall, and nothing.
Have you paid for it? It still needs compost to flourish 🙂
4.- No. In fact, with no Prunus you're going to have problems.
Greetings.
Good morning I would like to know how invasive the pistachio root is, I want to put one in my yard, it is about 100m and if necessary move it away from sidewalks, buildings, pipe fences, etc.
Thank you
Hi Ivonne.
You can plant it without problems. Of course, keep it about two meters from the pipes and so on.
Greetings.