Top tips on planting new trees near your home
Planting trees and shrubs creates a more attractive garden, and is a great way to fill a gap and provide privacy.
However, before you get carried away, remember roots often extend to distances in excess of the height of the tree and they can take moisture from the soil.
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Hide AdWith this in mind NHBC, the UK’s leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes, reveals its top tips for planting trees and shrubs near your home to help reduce the risk of potential damage:
1) If the soil is clay, new planting may cause it to shrink, while removing existing trees and shrubs may make it swell. Therefore, plant news trees away from your home. Find out how tall the mature tree will be and make sure it is positioned at least three quarters of this distance from the house.
2) High water demand trees should be planted no closer to the home than one-and-a-quarter times the mature height. High water demand trees include elm, eucalyptus, oak, poplar, willow and some common cypress species.
3) Avoid planting climbers such as ivy and Virginia creeper against house walls, as they hold on using suckers, twining tendrils or aerial roots which could damage mortar and may cause damp. Plant these at least three meters away from your home.
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Hide Ad4) Before cutting down or pruning a mature tree, check with your local authority to make sure that it is not protected by planning conditions, conservation area restrictions or a Tree Preservation Order.
5) Allow enough room for trunks and large roots to grow safely. Be particularly careful if planting near drains or lightweight structures.
6) Although you do not need to, when planting new trees in your garden that will also be near you neighbour’s house, be considerate and ask your neighbour if this is ok. You could be liable for the cost of repair if the trees you plant cause damage to their home.
7) Regular pruning of fast growing, thirsty trees such as Cypress Leyland, will help to reduce the amount of water taken from the soil.
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Hide Ad8) The level of soil around your home should be kept below the damp proof course (generally 150mm or two brick courses). Paths should also generall