Kill it or Leave It?
The home we’ve recently moved into has this tree growing in the backyard. Short of decapitating dandelions I’m not much of a gardener but I’m a bit concerned about how close the tree is to the house. It is starting to lean a bit… pushing itself away from the house (not really obvious in the photo).
I would appreciate any suggestions in regards to what we should be doing here. Is the tree okay this close to the house? Should it be cut down? Or maybe just thinned out a bit.
Brent Knowles
Former lead designer at BioWare (Dragon Age: Origins, Neverwinter Nights). Creator of Raiders of the Serpent Sea.
65 Comments
Brent Knowles
Yeah the small one is my kid’s. Every school year they get 2-3 trees sent home to plant. We’re running out of room for them…
Amber Taylor
Yeah – like Geoffrey said. Check out the roots and make sure they aren’t beginning to grow into the foundation (which could damage the house) and go from there. If you like the tree, leave it (but trim the branches so they don’t mess up the house fascia), but not if the roots are a problem.
NewsMeBack
You have to move it, but try without killing it, just move it on a better place. If you thin it it’ll just grow again, roots stay anyway. If you don’t have right place, give it to someone as a present :)
Leia D
I believe it should be taken down because it`s so close to the house that it can damage it by its growing roots. :(
Sharon Moms Madhouse
It’s really close to the house…if you can move it without killing it and replant it, great…if not, then just take it down, the roots can grow under the house :(
Randall Newnham
That tree is too close to the foundation, I think. I would worry about cracking the foundation as it grows. i think you should definitely get rid of it.
Zosaria
It looks to close to the house, might there be a way to movie it?
EmmaGeraln
It looks pretty close to the house…. sadly I think it needs to go.
Drew Riggio
One issue is that plant life this close to the house provides possible entry pathways for bugs. You can spray around the outside of the house all you want, but if they can climb over the poison and get onto a windowsill or crack in the siding, you still get bugs in the house.
Brent Knowles
There’s really no place to move it to (not really a large yard) but I’m going to look into it.
Mark Duddridge
Kill it.
Or maybe relocate it?
John
That will ruin your house if you leave it there.
I have worked in landscape for a few years and that is actually an over grown and poorly maintained Arborvitae Bush or White Cedar (same thing) they are normally planted to give shade or for privacy. Planted that close to your house though it will ruin your siding and possibly your foundation! If you want to save it you can try but it will probably be more work then it is worth, unless you have deer and want to have them on your land. The white cedar is a favorite of white tail deer.
Brent Knowles
Thanks for the detailed reply! We don’t need to worry about deer around here but we are definitely concerned about damaging the house.
Catherine Donnelly
It is gorgeous. I hope you can move it. I also agree too close to the house/foundation.
Emanuel
If you love it, try to move it to another location. Otherwise cut it down… it will ruin the foundation over time.