Tree roots can hurt your home’s foundation. As trees grow, their roots spread out underground looking for water and food. Sometimes, these roots grow towards your house.
When roots get close to your home, they can cause problems. They might push against the foundation, making it crack. Or they could suck up too much water from the soil, making the ground shrink. When the soil shrinks, it can make your house settle unevenly.
Big trees with strong roots are often the biggest problem. Some trees, like oak, maple, and elm, have very large root systems. If these trees are too close to your house, they’re more likely to cause damage.
Many homeowners have found themselves facing costly repairs after discovering that tree roots have silently crept beneath their houses, causing cracks, shifts, and even structural instability.
How tree roots can damage a house’s foundation?
Tree roots can damage your foundation in two main ways. Let’s look at each one in more detail:
Direct contact with the foundation
When trees grow, their roots spread out underground, sometimes stretching as far as the tree is tall. If these roots reach your house, they can push against the foundation. This pressure can cause cracks to form or make existing cracks bigger.
Tree roots are strong and can grow quite thick. Their increasing size creates more pressure over time. This constant force can lead to serious damage. In some cases, roots might find tiny cracks or weak spots in your foundation and grow into them. The thickening roots can widen these cracks, letting water seep in and causing more problems.
Absorbing too much moisture from the soil:
The second way tree roots can harm your foundation is by changing the soil around your house. Trees need a lot of water to grow, and their roots excel at sucking up moisture from the ground.
When roots take too much water from the soil under and around your house, the soil can dry out and shrink. It can cause the ground to settle unevenly. The uneven ground under your house can make parts of your foundation sink or shift. This movement often leads to cracks and other damage.
The problem worsens during dry spells or droughts. The tree roots will work extra hard to find water, which can dry out the soil even more. Then, heavy rains cause the dry soil to swell up quickly. This back-and-forth between very dry and very wet soil can put a lot of stress on your foundation.
These problems usually happen slowly. You might not notice anything wrong at first. That’s why it’s a good idea to check your foundation regularly, especially if you have large trees near your house. Spotting any cracks or signs of damage early allows you to take steps to fix the problem before it gets too big.
How to prevent tree roots from damaging a house?
Here are some ways to stop tree roots from hurting your house:
1. Plant trees far from your house: Big trees should be at least 20 feet away. Smaller trees can be closer but still keep them about 10 feet away.
2. Put up root barriers: These are special walls that go into the ground between the tree and your house. They stop roots from growing towards your home.
3. Pick the right trees: Some trees have roots that don’t spread out as much. These are better to plant near houses. Ask at a garden store which trees are safe.
4. Water your yard the right way: When you water, do it evenly across your yard. This helps roots grow away from your house instead of towards it.
5. Cut problem roots: If you see roots getting close to your house, you can cut them. But be careful – cutting too many can hurt the tree.
6. Check your house often: Look for cracks or signs that your house is moving. If you see problems early, you can fix them before they get big.
7. Take care of your trees: Healthy trees with enough water and food are less likely to send roots searching near your house.
8. Use special pipes: If you’re worried about roots getting into your water pipes, use pipes that roots can’t break into.
What Trees Should You Plant Away from Your House?
When planning your yard, think about which trees to plant and where. Some trees will make you pay dearly because their roots can cause big problems for your house. These roots can spread out far and wide, searching for water and nutrients.
Let’s talk about which trees you should keep far from your home and why
Trees with roots that spread out wide instead of growing straight down can be trouble.
Here are some trees you should plant far away from your home:
1. Fast-growing trees: Some trees grow really quickly. While this might seem nice for shade, it often means their roots grow fast too. These speedy roots can quickly reach your house.
2. Water-loving trees: Trees that need a lot of water often have roots that search far and wide for it. They might find water pipes or wet soil near your house.
3. Trees with shallow roots: Some trees have roots that grow close to the ground’s surface. These can lift up sidewalks or patios and even mess with your house’s foundation.
Now, let’s look at some specific trees to be careful with:
Poplar trees grow fast and have roots that spread out a lot. They’re often used for making paper or wood, not for yards.
Willow trees love water. Their roots will look for any wet spots, which might be near your water pipes. They can also make your lawn bumpy with their surface roots.
Elm trees also like water. Their roots might dry out the soil under your house as they drink up water, which can cause problems.
Maple trees, especially Silver Maples, have roots that often pop up above the ground. This can make it hard to grow grass or other plants nearby.
Other trees to be careful with include some types of ash, pine, oak, and aspen. These all have roots that can spread wide.
So, what should you do? It’s best to plant these kinds of trees at least 25 to 50 feet away from your house. For smaller trees or ones with less aggressive roots, 10 feet might be okay.
If you already have these trees in your yard, you can ask a tree expert to check them out. They can recommend methods to manage the roots or install a special barrier to prevent the roots from reaching your house.
If you are in Lansing, Michigan, then we would be happy to help with any tree-related problems. We can recommend effective methods to control root growth and protect your home from potential damage. Reach out to us today for professional advice and tree services tailored to your needs.