Why You Shouldnt Plant Trees Too Close To Your House

Maybe you purchased your home because of the beauty of its mature landscaping, or perhaps you’re finally enjoying the shade provided by the saplings you planted years ago around your newly constructed house. A lush yard filled with stately trees makes your property more attractive and inviting.

While the beauty of leafy canopies is something to be enjoyed, if your trees have been planted too close to your house, they may become the source of any number of concerns. From structural issues to water woes, here’s what can go wrong if your plantings are in the wrong place, and how a tree service like Martin’s helps you address these problems.

Structural Damage

The sturdiest of trees can topple unexpectedly. Whether it’s due to high winds or unseen disease or infestation, when a trunk or heavy branch lands on your home the impact may be devastating.

Beyond busting up structural elements like your roof, siding, chimneys, and windows, fallen trees can also harm your plumbing, HVAC, gas, and electrical systems. If a tree or even just a large branch is threatening your dwelling, you need to be proactive. Hazards such as broken glass, loosened insulation, and falling debris may make it unsafe for you to remain in your home once it’s been hit, so in addition to calling 911 and your insurance agent, search for a tree service near me, like Martin’s, as soon as possible.

Weakening of Your Foundation

A tree doesn’t need to fall to wreak havoc. When placed too close to your home, any plant’s aggressive root system can create problems for your foundation and destabilize the structure of your house.

Although barriers are usually in place to prevent foundations from being directly infiltrated by roots, having trees close to your home can cause the soil beneath it to resettle substantially. Depending on the type of tree, roots may suck an excessive amount of moisture out of the earth, and their expansion displaces soil. Either way, any changes to the soil beneath your foundation may cause it to weaken or buckle, resulting in problems like stuck doors or windows and cracked walls, floors, and ceilings. In extreme cases, your entire house could sink due to foundational damage.

Roof and Gutter Rot

Even the leaves and smaller branches of trees situated too close to your home are troublesome. When fallen foliage accumulates on your roof, it traps moisture that eats away at your shingles. The smallest of fissures may allow precipitation to leak into your home, resulting in potential water damage from your attic to your basement.

Piled-up leaves in gutters bring their own set of problems. When rain isn’t properly channelled away from structures, your siding may erode, and your foundation can weaken. Backed-up water in your gutters also invites infestations of mosquitos and wasps.

Tree debris that’s built up on the ground around your house can cause similar issues. It also encourages mould and algae growth on your siding and near your windows, making it easy for these irritants to creep into your home and cause a raft of health concerns.

How Martin’s Can Help

The closer a tree is to your home, the greater the risk of it causing one or more of these situations. Fortunately, you can get ahead of potential problems by contacting the experts at Martin’s Tree Service. We’ll schedule a free consultation and advise you as to whether pruning or removal is the best option for your trees, and we’ll get the job done quickly and correctly. You can count on our expert team to handle all your tree servicing needs, so call us or reach out online to request a quote today.