Holly Tree

Starting to worry about trees near the house at the moment as I've just seen what a conifer has done to my dwarf wall. I have a holly tree (about 18 ft tall) and it sits about 6 feet away from the house. Is this a problem? I really don't want to take it down as it's beautiful.

 

Hi Rocky,

Tree roots very rarely do damage to buildings such as houses which have substantial foundations. Structures such as sheds, walls, fences and such can easily be pushed over by roots when they're not properly supported. If a tree's roots come up against the foundations of a house it will try to push through, but then will move around the obstruction after a short while causing no damage.

The only exception is where the building is on heavy clay soil. Trees can absorb moisture from clay soil causing it to shrink and collapse. This can lead to subsidence is the shrinkage is noticable.

 

Thanks for the response. Have no clue as to what the house is built on so will just leave the tree where it is.

 

On the 'foundations' note, I once heard or read (can't remember which) that sometimes removing a tree because of concerns about its roots undermining foundations can in some circumstances make matters worse. The logic was that the roots displace some of the foundations, but increase the pressure under there, then when you chop the tree down and the remains of the roots eventually rot, cavities are left in their place which weakens the foundation. It was so long ago since I read/heard that that I can't remember whether it was accepted theory or proven or anything, but I think its an interesting notion.