Cherry trees are often planted close to homes or walkways for aesthetic purposes, but they can also cause damage to structures. Damage might be caused by them falling over in the wind, or contact with water if they’re knocked down during a storm.
Another concern is root damage beneath the tree’s surface. Roots can crack sidewalks, break water pipes, and create safety hazards by destabilizing sidewalk slabs. This article will explore what you can do if your cherry tree is damaging something below ground level.
Signs You Can Look For
You can tell if your cherry tree is damaging something below ground level by looking for these signs:
Uneven Soil Moisture : An uneven moisture level in the soil around your tree can mean that roots are currently growing into a neighboring structure, or that an existing root system has been disturbed. If you notice a dry area in the soil around a tree, dig a bit to check for penetration from below ground roots.
Are cherry tree roots invasive?
Cherry trees are invasive roots because of the damage they cause on structures. When cherry trees are planted close to homes or walkways, they can cause damage. Damage might be caused by them falling over in the wind, or contact with water if they’re knocked down during a storm. Roots can crack sidewalks, break water pipes, and create safety hazards by destabilizing sidewalk slabs.
Cherry trees grow quite fast, and can root into anything that is close by. Cherry roots are quite hardy, which makes them difficult to remove when they penetrate your home’s foundation.
How long do cherry tree roots grow?
I’m not sure how long the roots of a cherry tree grow, but I’ve heard that they can be quite hardy.
It is important that you plant a dwarf variety of cherry to avoid the root problems that have been created by the plant. It might also be advisable to fertilize your trees once yearly, which can help strengthen the soil around the trunk.
How far should a cherry tree be planted from a house?
The tree should be planted at least twenty-five feet from the foundation of a house.
What Can You Do?
If your tree has already caused damage below ground, the best course of action is to remove it. You can also prevent such problems in the future by making sure that you’re planting trees in areas where they won’t come into contact with structures.
