The vast majority of us treat our homes and gardens as separate entities, but did you know that they can intersect in unexpected ways? Not only do they work together to create all-important curb appeal, but what happens in your garden can have a major impact on your home’s foundations, and vice versa.
There’s ample advice out there about how to tackle potential issues when foundations fall foul of garden roots, but much of it is conflicting and confusing. One thing experts do seem to agree on is the fact that effective house-side landscaping could prove key. But, with landscape design mistakes such as planting too close to your property also being part of the problem, even that advice isn’t a surefire way to keep everything in order.
However, there are certain landscaping tips that could keep your garden and your home’s foundations happy. Keep on reading to find out what they are.
# 1 - Plant Trees Away From Your Property
The most basic and widely spread information about saving your home’s foundations is this: plant trees well away from your property. In fact, experts generally state the importance of planting trees anywhere between 10 and 30 meters away from your home’s foundations. This advice certainly makes sense when you consider that large trees have incredibly extensive root systems. If those roots sneak into your foundations, they can do untold damage due to severe soil shrinkage, so always use a tape measure when landscaping with trees. It’s even worth moving any existing trees with these boundaries in mind.
# 2 - Leave Some of Your Foundations on Display
If you fully cover your home’s foundations with flower beds and climbing plants, then they’ll become a mystery to you. And, when foundations are out of sight like this, you’ll have no way of knowing if something’s going wrong. At least, you won’t know until there are notable cracks in your walls, or your doors have stopped shutting altogether. That’s a major problem, and it’s one you can avoid by leaving at least three inches of your foundation exposed. That way, you’ll see warning signs like cracks and moisture, and can call a foundation repair company like Matthews Wall Anchor long before you’ve got major issues on your hands.
# 3 - Build a Drainage System
There’s conflicting advice about whether or not any plant growth near your foundations is a good idea, and this makes some level of sense. After all, plants need water, and constant moisture exposure right at your foundations is sure to spell issues. Luckily, though, wall-side flowerbeds are absolutely an option if you ensure ample drainage at those sites. That’s because drainage solutions like swale drains will collect any water runoff, ensuring that no moisture sits right at the base of your property's foundations for too long.
Your garden might be its own entity, but it can have an undeniable impact on property foundations if you aren’t careful. Ensure that isn’t the case with these top landscaping tips.