Indigenous landscaping & garden design
in Johannesburg & Pretoria, South Africa

Help! This tree is breaking my wall

  • Help! This tree is breaking my wall

    Trees are wonderful additions to our homes, but good selection and placement is important to prevent damage to our properties

    One of the benefits of being a landscaper is that you get to see firsthand how seemingly benign planting practices from the past can cause major problems to an owner’s property.

    One of the most common problems we encounter with regards to this is the planting of trees too close to a home, perimeter wall, or other hard structure such as a pool.

    When planting a tree, it's important to choose the correct position in which to plant it as it can be a difficult and costly process to transplant or remove incorrectly placed trees. In most cases, incorrectly planted trees will eventually cause damage to property, so the first step to countering this problem is to research your chosen tree and take into account its full-grown size, growth habits and aggressiveness of its root system.

    As an example, the picture below shows a tree aloe (Aloe barberae) planted next to a house to enhance the entrance. This is a magnificent sculptural plant that enhances modern architecture. It grows up to 18m tall and branches out to give a spread of between 4-8m.

    In this instance however, it was planted too close to the house and its branches are already squashed in the limited area. The trunk of this tree also swells with age and can grow to a diameter of 3m, which would then interfere with the house. In this case the homeowners should remove the tree - as it is still fairly young - and transplant it to a safer area.

    Sometimes though, gardeners aren’t responsible for choosing the position in which trees grow. In the picture below, an exotic Celtis (Celtis sinensis) has self-seeded itself in a sheltered position next to a house.

    The seed may have fallen from a neighbouring property, or, more likely, the seed was deposited in the droppings of a bird. The problem is not so much that the tree reseeded itself, but rather that the young sapling was not removed in time - weeds often find their way into gardens via bird droppings. In this case the tree was left to grow, and has now grown to a height of 4m and could very possibly be affecting the building’s foundation. For situations like this, contact a professional tree-feller and have the tree removed. Also ensure that the stump and large roots are removed as it is likely to send out new shoots if left.

    Several trees also have large surface roots that could damage structures or paving. In the picture below, the roots of a Silk Floss (Kapok) tree (Ceiba speciosa) on a verge have not only lifted the curb, but have also cracked the boundary wall.

    Again, this tree should be removed by a professional tree-feller, the curb re-laid, the wall repaired, and a new tree (with a non-aggressive root-system) planted.

    A final mention on removing and replacing trees: it is often a sad experience to remove a large tree from a property, but it is far better to save yourself the resultant costs of damage to property and to plant trees that will prove non-aggressive and just as effective in years to come.

    These are some of the trees we commonly see growing around Gauteng that self-seed next to walls and wan cause problems if not removed:

    • Celtis sinensis (Chinese stinkwood)
    • Jacaranda mimosifolia (Jacaranda, jakaranda)
    • Ligustrum lucidum (Chinese wax-leaved privet)
    • Melia azedarach (Syringa, sering boom)
    • Morus nigra (Black mulberry, swartmoerbei)
    • Solanum mauritianum (Bugweed, luisboom)
    • Tecoma stans (Yellowbells, geelklokkies)

    So, to sum up:

    • Always research the full-grown size of the tree you wish to plant and allow room for it to grow and form a natural shape to avoid having to trim or completely fell it at a later stage
    • Take into account the habits of the roots of your chosen tree
    • Consider whether you have allowed enough space for a swelling trunk

    For more information, read our Choosing a tree for your garden article, our Trees for small gardens article, or visit our plantbook.co.za website to browse and learn more about trees indigenous to Southern Africa.

    71 comments on “Help! This tree is breaking my wall”

    1. Please help can syringa trees roots course damage to my house and swimming pool
      My neighbors got lot in their yard close to my house very close to swimming pool thats already been damaged

      1. Hi Susan

        Thanks for visiting our site.

        Depending on the growing conditions, Melia azedarach (Syringa) can have aggressive root system. It would be best to have your property assessed by an arborist as well as a construction expert to determine whether this is the cause of your structural damage.

        Flourish!
        Glenice

    2. Interesting and insightful article.

      How far can the following trees be safely planted away from a house and/or wall fence?

      1. Red Mahogany aka Khaya Anthotheca

      2. Jacaranda tree

      3. Flamboyant tree

      Thank you in advance.

      1. Hi Chibesa

        Thanks for visiting our site and your feedback.

        The trees you're asking about are considered large trees so best planted in larger gardens or parks.

        The recommended planting distances from any structures are as follows:
        - Khaya anthotheca (Red mahogany) - 6m
        - Jacaranda mimosifolia (Jacaranda) - 6m
        - Delonix regia (Flamboyant) - 5m

        Note that these are guidelines as growth will depend on the conditions at your location.

        Flourish!
        Glenice

    3. Hi. Do I have the right to ask my neighbour to remove their Yuccas? Their one tree has broken through the bottom 2 slats in the corner of my vibracrete wall and they're threatening to break through other parts of the wall...they have yuccas planted all along our back border. Also they block out the sun, particularly in winter when the sun is lower. ?

      1. Hi Tracy

        Thanks for visiting our site.

        Depending on your relationship with your neighbour, you could ask them to remove their yuccas and show them the damage being caused. It's not always easy to reach an agreement as they may not have planted them and may not be aware of the damage.

        Flourish!
        Glenice

      1. Hi Dottie

        Thanks for visiting our site.

        If the conditions are favourable, the tree may sprout new growth from the remaining roots. As the removal of the roots is a huge project, it's adviseable to monitor the area over the coming months and dig and chop out the roots if any growth appears.

        Flourish!
        Glenice

      1. Hi Annelie

        Thanks for visiting our site.

        Celtis africana should not be planted less than 6m from any structure to help prevent possible damage as the tree matures.

        Flourish!
        Glenice

    4. I found a root in my backyard. Its really big and I cant seem to tell where it starts or ends. its like its growing against my house and trying to find ways into the house. There are three trees in my diagnol neighbors backyard, but thats like 10 meters away, what should I do ??

      1. Hi Faiyaz

        Thanks for visiting our site.

        The roots are likely to be coming from your neighbour's property, but that will depend on the species of tree. A distance of 10m is not unusual for roots of large trees. You'd need to consult with a specialist to determine whether the roots could be affecting the structure of your house in order to determine what actions need to be taken.

        Flourish!
        Glenice

          1. Hi Faiyaz

            You would probably require the services of at least two specialists:
            - a master builder and/or structural engineer to examine the structures; and
            - an arborist to inspect the tree and advise on the recommended actions.

            Flourish!
            Glenice

    5. I have a mulberry tree that self-seeded next to my boundary wall. I am having it moved today. What distance should it be from my boundary wall and pool? Though it is only 2 years old, it is already 5m tall,

      1. Hi Beccy

        Thanks for visiting our site.

        Your mulberry seed was probably dropped by a bird.

        The tree should be planted no less than 6m from any structure and I'd recommend a position far from the pool as the fruit dropping into the pool will be quite bothersome.

        Flourish!
        Glenice

        1. Hi Glenice ,

          I had roots problems with Ficus trees in my yard , I decided to remove them al in my yard. I replaced them with some Viburnum , and Red robin Shrubs . I find these very much easy to manage .

          Regards,

          Joseph

    6. Dear Glenice,

      There is a palm tree growing next to the boundary wall of my home in a sectional title. I have researched that it attracts lightning and it has already grown taller than my double storey home.

      There are creepers around the tree that make a mess and create a huge bushy area.

      Should the tree be removed?

      Kind Regards

      1. Hi Vicki

        Thanks for visiting our site.

        Without actually seeing the situation, it's impossible for us to make any recommendations.

        Perhaps contact a local arborist or landscaper for a consultation.

        Flourish!
        Glenice

        1. Good day,
          I have a few witstinkhout trees growing about 3 meters from my home and pool - is that far enough given the problems with roots . It’s only about 1.5 m now

          1. Hi Graham

            Thanks for visiting our site.

            Celtis africana are considered large trees and it's recommended to plant them no less than 6m from any structure.

            As it sounds like your trees are still young, you may wish to reposition them to avoid possible issues later.

            Flourish!
            Glenice

      2. Dear Glenice, It's all well if you have control about what will grow on your own property, but unfortunately having no control over my neighbour's planting trees like the lily pillies ( sort of a myrtle) on the borders all around my property. They drop "fruit" which the monkeys and birds will not touch. The seeds drop on my side of the fence en masse, and if I leave them on the ground they will form a dense carpet of alien baby trees, even on my lawn. I can't pick them all up. Once the little seedling is about 5 cm high, going by unnoticed, it had already formed a large taproot of 10 cm long.The leaves of these trees are like plastic, evergreen and composted not much, and let no winter sun through to my property Also on the other side of my half a yard, the neighbour planted a forest ficus benjamina, which formed an enormous side root from under the stonewall, cracking it, so my hand disappears into the crack, boring under my driveway fast en route to my other neighbour's garage. I have very little pleasure of my small property, trying to mitigate something which is out of my control. Asking them neighbourly and with my best, honest negotiating face on, helped nothing.

        1. Hi Eugenia

          Thanks for visiting our site.

          You've raised some very valid issues that are occur in many urban areas where vegetation and structures on neighbouring properties can affect the enjoyment of our spaces.

          Sadly, not all neighbours are willing to do something about the situation for various reasons. In such a case, relocation may be the best solution.

          Flourish!
          Glenice

    7. i am considering planting fir trees next to my shared boundry wall, would this cause any damage to the wall at a later stage?

      1. Hi Leslie

        Thanks for visiting our site.

        Do perhaps you mean conifers? There are many species, so research the full-grown size of the species that you're considering as many may be too large for your space.

        Flourish!
        Glenice

    8. Greetings from Cyprus, I would like to plant a jacaranda tree in our garden but am worrying about the space. How far from any buildings, walls, pavements, other trees and plants should it be placed?

      1. Hi Agnieszka

        Thanks for paying us a visit all the way from Cyprus!

        In South African conditions, it's not recommended to plant a jacaranda tree less than 6m from any structure.

        Flourish!
        Glenice

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    Grounded Landscaping is an award-winning landscaping company specialising in indigenous, wildlife-friendly gardens. We are based in the Cradle of Humankind, a world heritage site and part of the grassland biome of Southern Africa. We service most areas of Gauteng, including Johannesburg, Centurion and Pretoria.
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