Why You Shouldn’t Plant Trees Too Close to Your House?

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Many of us believe that planting trees in our backyards is an essential element of a pleasant environment that can create a calm and more welcoming atmosphere to spend time in, compared to plain lawns. Therefore, we choose to plant trees, sometimes, without strategic planning, which may cause serious hazards. 

There is a variety of possible tree hazards, and we are going to discuss a few which will hopefully help you pre-empt them and create a safe and functional outdoor space without giving up on the calm and enriched environment you seek.

The trees become an issue when planted too close to our residential areas. It is something that owners usually oversee, and forget to think about the hazardous impact it has on their homes. 

Some of the most common hazards you can create if you plant trees close to your home include mechanical damage from roots, fallen tree or detached branches, soil moisture, and concrete settling.

It is essential to think it through before starting the process of planting trees and consult with the experts in this field to ensure you are on the right track. This way, you are one step closer to creating a safe and pleasant environment.

Mechanical Damage Caused by Loose Roots

Depending on the tree you desire to plant close to your home, the hazard of mechanical damage varies. Consideration regarding the choice of trees is usually related to the size and shape of the visible part of the tree – branches, and trunk – but they rarely seek to touch upon the size roots obtain over time.

Trees have extensive and deep root systems that expand over time; therefore, they can push the foundation of your house or residential building and cause structural damage It can become a hazard and easily create more complicated issues, eventually reaching the level upon which the building is no longer safe for residing.

Possible protection steps to avoid these issues include informing yourself about the root system of the desired tree, building a protective barrier around the root, or simply positioning the tree at a safe distance from the residing facility.

If the tree already started damaging the building foundations or other underground systems, such as water or gas pipes, contact experienced professionals immediately, let them assess the situation, and give you advice on the course of action. The safest option is to remove the tree, but make sure you choose a reliable tree service that will do the job without causing any more damage to your property. 

Fallen Tree or Detached Branches Hazard

Naturally, tree maintenance is the most important factor that influences the tree’s life cycle. Without proper care, tree trunks and branches dry out and become prone to damage, causing a possible hazard for owners and the facilities around the area where they are planted. In this way, tree branches start being problematic after a certain amount of time due to their weight and size, which can cause them to collapse under certain circumstances.

The collapse can also be provoked by certain pests that weaken the tree or even cause it to rot. Trees can break with solid wind, tornado, or heavy rain. which can cause branches to fall on the house, residential building, or some other infrastructural facility, inflicting material damage or even long-term disruption of daily activities, such as blocked roads.

On the other hand, trees can be prone to all factors mentioned in the case of branches, with the addition of the issue of loose roots. The tree can be planted in soil not adequate to uphold the root of the chosen size, or the terrain can cause a problem for healthy root growth. It can lead to loose roots that cannot hold the tree in place and therefore the tree becomes a hazard.  Combined with other factors, such as wind, the situation can rapidly escalate. A fallen tree can cause much more extensive damage than fallen branches. In both scenarios, consequences go from damaged property to human casualties.

Soil Moisture Hazard

Similarly, tree maintenance can be necessary to prevent the appearance of one hazard, but it can also have a countereffect and accelerate another hazardous situation if not done correctly.

One of the essential elements of tree planting is choosing the tree’s position adequately. It is highly advised to research the type of soil you have in your backyard or any area you seek to plant trees because some soils are prone to shrinking or even cracking if they get over-moistened.  This happens when a tree is planted in the ground with already enough moisture. Hence, the water absorbed to keep a tree alive causes soil water-level to fluctuate, leading to a hazardous situation.

Cracks and shifting can cause the tree to become loose and potentially fall, creating material damage to your facilities or even representing a danger to your life.

Concrete Settling

When considering arrangements necessary to make your backyard an environment you will enjoy, many people choose to create a sidewalk and plant trees. As in all mentioned examples, minding the position of the tree in regard to a sidewalk can prevent a disaster. In addition to this, the tree’s features, such as root size, will also be essential.

Concrete tends to settle, making it more likely to crack and shift. It can be further impacted by the roots of trees that grow over the size of the area meant for their planting. Tree roots can cause massive damage to concrete, causing it to shift or slide toward the house foundation, creating an even bigger hazard. Both sidewalk and the nearby building can become unstable; support beams can shift, and sales can crack. Material damage can also become a life hazard for residents.

So, as you can see, tree hazards are a serious threat to your safety, especially if they are not planted and taken care of correctly and professionally. Therefore, hiring a tree service is a safe and necessary solution that will have you resting assured your trees and property are complementing and not destroying each other. 

We can be the perfect solution for what you are seeking, having in mind our expertise, level of knowledge, and devotion we put to the maintenance of both private and public areas.

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