Tree and foundations - do they mix?
*
I'm having a front walkway put in which gives me a great excuse to expand and redo the foundation beds that I have in the front of my house. Currently, I have builder-provided arborvitaes that are the original attempt to adding height to the foundation plantings and I can't stand them -- so out they go.
I had been looking for other taller shrubs to put in specifically
i ilex
but I've also come across a lot of articles talking about using trees as foundation plants such as
i Betula nigra
‘Heritage’ (river birch)
Does this makes sense? I know its the 21st century, but isn't there something inherently wrong with plant a tree that close to your house?
Print this page
Email this MessageNavigation
Recent Discussions
Orchids 6 replies
Welcome to my garden 4 replies
What is this plant? 3 replies
Unsure of this plant 1 reply
Cinderella plants 1 reply
Cumulative Index 1 reply
Daylilies Anyone ? 10 replies
would like any seeds 2 replies
Morning Glory seeds 2 replies
Who Wants Foxglove Seed? 22 replies
Backyard from Scratch 2 replies
Repairing botched lacquer spot 1 reply
String algae 78 replies
groundcover between stones 33 replies
(post #14379, reply #1 of 15)
*
I definitely wouldn't use river birch! I have some dogwoods and deciduous magnolia in my foundation planting. Thinking about adding some Jap maples too.
(post #14379, reply #2 of 15)
*
You can certainly use river birch, but they have wicked root systems making it extremely difficult to grow anything under them. They're not usually a very big tree, though and their roots won't disturb a foundation. There are so many prettier trees to be had though like Japanese maple 'Sangu Kaku' the coral bark maple with slightly yellowish leaves if grwon in full sun and bright coral-orange stems in the winter. Well worth the price.
Anyone else want to throw in their ideas for a good tree to plant close to a house?
(post #14379, reply #3 of 15)
*
How about Amelanchiers? So pretty in all seasons and not too dense to look out the window through, but I am afraid I don't know anything about their root system habits.
How close to you want the trees to be? Acid, any tree too close will cause problems with maintaining the house. What is your siding/ Will it need to be painted, power-washed. Your house does need access and air-circulation, and any tree too close to the foundation might compromise the foundation to some extent, and might not allow the tree to develop its prettiest form. Are you thinking four feet or ten feet from the house? It makes a difference.
Is your house colonial in style, or contemporary? A-Frame, Log? That might help suggest some trees that compliment its architecture.
(post #14379, reply #4 of 15)
*
Thanks for the tip on the birch and your other suggestions. I actually have a
i magnolia kobus stellata
'Centenial' in the side bed that wraps around the house and I use several different dogwoods in my other beds in the yard. All are great trees. Jeana, my only concern with the maple is the height/width ratio. I'm looking for enough height without equal spread. Maybe I can live with a little more spread if I plant under it eventually.
(post #14379, reply #5 of 15)
*
That's a good thing about 'SK'. It's more of an upright tree, not a big umbrella tree.
(post #14379, reply #6 of 15)
*
How about sweet bay magnolia? Or the new magnolia that Wayside Gardens lists (at least new to them)that's supposed to be very upright. The name escapes me.
(post #14379, reply #7 of 15)
*
Is it called Sunspire? Sun something- beautiful blooms.
(post #14379, reply #8 of 15)
*
I think that's it Rosebud. Thanks!
(post #14379, reply #9 of 15)
*
Jeana, can you have a firm word with my river birch. They don't know that they are not supposed to grow to 20 meters or more. LOL
BJ
(post #14379, reply #10 of 15)
*
What about one of those Japanese (I think) willows that grows tall and narrow with the pink leaves... I'll be damned if I can come up with a better description/name than that. Max height on them is about 10 ft with a circumference of maybe 7
(post #14379, reply #11 of 15)
*
The problem w/willows, river birch and silver maple is the fact that they like water. AND WILL SEARCH IT OUT. I would worry that the roots would enter the drain tiles around the foundation of your house.
'Course it could just be paranoia on my part. It happened to my 1926 clay drain tiles...had to pay someone to rout out the tiles. I was not happy (was a corkscrew willow).
(post #14379, reply #12 of 15)
*
I've got a holly tree right at the northwest corner of my house. If I had my druthers it would be out a few feet more, but it was established by a previous owner. It's an old foundation (1929) so I figure there's not too much of a problem with soil pH. Anyway, it does well, looks good, has a height of about 20 feet and a spread of around 12 or so.
(post #14379, reply #13 of 15)
*
Beej, you're right, in time, river birches can get on up there with the big boys. But I was under the impression that 'Heritage' was supposed to stay a moderate size. I've seen one I know is 20 years old and it's not more than 20' tall.
(post #14379, reply #14 of 15)
*
Jeana
There is a river birch called 'Fox Valley' that is around 10ft max. 'Course you pay for it.
(post #14379, reply #15 of 15)
*
Thanks again for all the suggestions. I think I'll leave my birches in the back yard along the wood's edge. They seem happy there and I definitely don't want to have problems with my drainage. After all of the discussion about maples, I remembered that I had purchased an
i acer triflorum
a few years ago and I may try to place that on one of the corners about 12ft from the house and work something evergreen behind it. I'll balance that with an
i acer griseum
that I'm placing near the other end of the house.