When it comes to landscaping around your home, it’s easy to focus all your attention (and money) on the pretty stuff. After all, the addition of lush greenery, colorful blooms, and sprawling trees is the quickest way to transform a bland yard into an outdoor oasis—not to mention, plants can be a great way to increase your curb appeal and home value.
The only issue? Some of your selections may actually be putting your home at risk. As much as we love the visual interest and aesthetic charm plants can bring to a landscape, what you choose to grow around your home can have a big impact on both its structure and its safety. That picture-perfect pear tree or tidy ground cover might seem innocent enough, but plants that have sneaky roots, aggressive growth habits, or compromised structures can all cause problems down the line.
Whether you're starting from scratch or rethinking your current landscape, being mindful about placement and plant type can save you a lot of stress and money in the long run, helping you to avoid big-ticket mishaps like blocked gutters, cracked foundations, or wrecked roofs. Below, we’re taking a closer look at the trees and plants you should think twice about planting close to your home.
What to Consider When Planting Your Landscape
According to the pros, deciding what to plant around your house isn’t always about choosing between a “bad” or “good” plant. Instead, you have to take a more holistic look at your selections to determine if your choice is the right pick for both your landscape and your house.
“Any plant can be a problem if planted in a location that does not meet its needs,” says Cynthia Domenghini, PhD, an expert in consumer horticulture at Kansas State University. “This includes a location that is too small to accommodate the mature size of a plant. It’s important not to choose a plant without first doing your research. Know the site conditions and choose a plant that fits into that environment.”
Here are a few factors to consider before planting anything in the ground:
Distance
One of the most important things to consider when planting around your home is the distance a specimen is from the exterior of your house. “As a general rule of thumb, we always plant outside the drip line of the house for any plant,” says landscape designer Susan Calhoun of Plantswoman Design. “This helps plants survive with any rainwater that is available as well as any watering that the owner provided. If there is no roof overhang, we would plant at the mature size distance from the house plus two feet.” When you plant closer than recommended to the side of your home, you run the risk of disrupting your home’s foundation or having to severely prune a shrub or tree in order to keep it small enough to “fit” in your chosen location.
Mature Size
One issue many home gardeners run into when landscaping? Planing for the size of the plant now versus how big it will grow. “Be sure to learn the mature size of any plant, but particularly trees and shrubs, then match the size of the plant to the available growing space,” suggests Darya Barar, a managing consulting urban forester and arborist with Bartlett Tree Experts. “Large trees planted in small sites, close to a house, or in constrained planting areas, will eventually outgrow the space and likely disrupt adjacent areas. As a general suggestion, don’t plant a medium or large tree closer than 20 feet of a home; shrubs should be at least 3 or 4 feet from a structure."
Growth Habit
You shouldn't only consider how big a plant grows, but also how it grows in general. Plants that tend to have disruptive roots, or those that will vine and climb anything within a 10-foot radius are best skipped. “If tree branches grow and overhang a home, litter from falling leaves, fruit and other plant parts will accumulate on roofs and in gutters,” says Barar. “Likewise, vines such as English and Boston ivies may attach themselves to the sides of a structure which will damage the surface.”
Flammability
If you don’t live in an area prone to wild fires, you may think the flammability of a plant is not something you have to worry about—but you’d be wrong. More and more, pros are cautioning homeowners to consider the ramifications of the plants they choose and what they might mean for protecting your home from fires. “We’re seeing an increase in wildfire frequency and severity in recent years as the wildland urban interface (WUI) grows, temperatures warm and droughts are longer and more common,” explains JP McDonnell, a registered consulting arborist with SavATree Consulting Group. “With that has come increasing attention to defensible space management. There are several management zones around a home with recommended tactics to reduce risk of wildfire damage to your property. You can always refer to Firewise USA or local regulations for specific guidance."
8 Plants to Avoid Growing Near Your Home
While you should always be mindful of what you plant in your landscape—and where you plant it—below are the plants experts caution against the most.
English Ivy
Creeping vines, like English ivy, can be notoriously difficult to control, often climbing up nearby structures and compromising the structural integrity. “If [English ivy] is grown near trees, it will likely climb up them," says Domenghini. "The extra weight of the ivy plants can cause tree branches to break, which creates a risk. It's important to know a plant such as this tends to grow quickly, so choosing a suitable location for it to be able to grow and spread without causing problems is essential."
Tree-of-Heaven
A good rule of thumb? Stay away from any plants known to be invasive—they’re often blacklisted for good reason. “If I were to caution homeowners against planting one type of tree or plant, it would be any species known to be invasive,” says Barar. “These species can outcompete native plants, disrupt ecosystems, and degrade landscapes. Examples include tree-of-heaven and purpleleaf plum, which have caused ecological issues across the country. I always recommend checking with local experts or extension services to identify which species are considered invasive in your area.”
Callery (Bradford) Pear
Once the landscape tree du jour in planned communities and suburban centers, bradford pear trees have fallen vastly out of favor due to their structural unpredictability (not to mention their smelly flowers). “This tree is non-native and highly invasive,” says McDonnell. “It can outcompete native vegetation in your yard, and it typically grows with poor branch structure, making it susceptible to failure during storms. Several states have even banned the tree and are working to eradicate it.”
Cherry Blossom Tree
While there’s no denying their beauty, cherry trees are not built for every landscape, especially if you don’t have a lot of lawn to let them sprawl freely. “The roots of a pink cherry tree will seek out water, causing them to clog drainage systems, septic systems, and even irrigation systems,” says Calhoun.
Japanese Forest Grass
Just because a plant or tree isn’t wreaking havoc above ground doesn’t mean everything is dandy below the surface. “Grasses with running root systems can be a bit problem,” says Calhoun. “Japanese forest grass, ribbon grass, and Japanese blood grass all have running root systems, which can become invasive and overrun pathways, driveways and patio areas. They’ll also seek out water sources and clog systems, including the downspout curtain drains, around your foundation.”
Silver Maple Trees
Maple trees are a coveted landscape specimen, thanks in large part to their sprawling size and colorful fall foliage. That said, they’re not the best option for nearby a house, especially if you live in a storm-prone area. “Silver maple trees are notorious for weak wood that’s susceptible to decay and storm failure,” says McDonnell. “The root systems from these trees can also damage sewer lines and cause cracks to develop in sidewalks and driveways,” adds Dr. Domenghini.
Trumpet Creeper
If a plant you’re shopping for has “creeper” or “crawler” in the name, proceed with caution. While many of these plant types can be used successfully as ground cover, you’ll want to keep a close eye on them as they develop. “Trumpet creeper is a vine that’s commonly planted for its showy flowers, but it’s classified as an invasive weed by USDA in certain regions,” explains McDonnell. “It can easily spread through aerial rootlets and climb structures on residential properties, infiltrating siding, gutters, and downspouts and potentially damaging or weakening mortar joints.”
Conifer Trees
Sure, cutting down a Christmas tree from your own yard sounds dreamy—until you consider how much chaos conifer trees can create. “Most full-sized evergreen conifers should not be planted close to the home,” says Calhoun. “These are better suited to forest situations and viewing from a distance. They can be fire hazard because they burn quickly, the roots can reach to the foundation and cause problems there. Needles from the trees will clog gutters and could cause rot in the siding and facias if not removed regularly.”
Read more at Real Simple
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