I need a suggestion on what type of tree or hedge I should use near my pool. When a palm tree sprouts a new root that root stays a fixed diameter for the duration of the roots life. If you dont want to take them all out, you could take out every other one, or just leave a few, and prune them down in height, which they probably need anyway another problem is when Lelands are not pruned, ever they get too spindly and topple over. However can their rootsystem damage the deck amd pool? Aside from the issue with fallen pine needles, do you think thats too close with respect to the roots? Its about 2 feet from my pool and 1 ft from my wall. Its unlikely for a palm tree to damage concrete. The thin roots bind to the soil, holding the soil particles together and making the tree sturdier. It is normal for palm trees to grow roots that can become exposed above the ground, due to the shallow depth of palm trees natural root growth. Browsing around that results page, its easy to tell that there are a plethora of different looking palm trees with an assortment of visually unique looking root systems yet all of them seem to be relatively small, especially when you compare them to the height of the palm tree. You can also affect the tree's stability, increasing the likelihood of failure. Filed Under: Palms, Plant Care, Plant Facts. Hi, I recently bought a house in California. Palm trees have a "fibrous root system." Meaning that palm tree roots don't grow deeply in the soil. Palm trees do bloom, but not all of them. Insects and rodents will also be attracted to these choices. Hi Davey, We planted a Moringa tree about 5 feet from the pool less than a year ago and now it is about 12 feet tall. Cyprus trees make a good pool tree, fast growing, no shedding of leaf litter, Evergreen, and wont grow out of control. It's best when the two are as far away from each other as possible. Don't Construct a Paver Walkway or Patio Near a Mature Tree The easiest and most straightforward solution to not have tree roots encroach on your pavers is to not lay any pavers near trees. Weeping willow: This large shade tree's graceful and drooping branches are relaxing to look at or sit under, but its roots commonly invade sewer lines and foundations. "wordCount": "1235", These trees have a high potential to do damage underground. So what are the best trees to plant around a pool? Because of how long they are and how many of them there are, the roots keep the tree firmly anchored into the ground even though theyre shallow. Davey Resource Group used gray and green infrastructures to solve stormwater issues at the Graduate Conference Center in Ohio. Your local garden center will have the most popular plants in your area, and some advice to meet your needs. Love the tree a little messy But may be too close. Want to request a FREE consultation or speak to your Davey local office about your residential tree or lawn needs? Hi Doug, Bamboo roots are generally shallow, they dont usually extend more than 3 or 4 feet. These are the two recommended by our landscaper. Palms are monocotyledons and have no secondary thickening of the root system. Any solutions? Hi Dave-I need height added to my landscape. . Taproots look like this in case youd like to see a visual representation. Diana. The below-ground roots that we dont see can sneak under the structure to crack or upheave it if its too close. Frangipani trees, Pink Trumpet trees, Golden Rain trees, Flame trees, Liquid Amber trees and other deciduous trees are wonderful features in the garden and can provide a spectacle in the turning . I would have to advise against planting Sissoo so close to the pool. Thank you. Although not thick-rooted, like ficus trees, palm roots may grow into established pipe cracks and breaks if moisture is plentiful. I also was curious about the difference in root systems between a palm planted in the ground versus a palm kept in a pot. "height": "219", Many pool guys will say "the best trees for a pool are no trees at all." We also will have an automatic cover on the pool. Tree root damage to sewer lines can lead to bad odors both inside and outside your home. There are no trees or anything else covering our yard as we are literally at the top of a hill and the back of our yard has a huge slope going down. }, Regular maintenance and trimming will help keep any potential issues in check. In California, trees belong exclusively to the owner of land where the trunk of the tree is located, even if the tree's roots or branches extend into another person's property. Home / Lifestyle / Landscaping / Best & Worst Trees to Plant Around a Pool. The pool service has been treating it with chemicals and then drained the pool several days before Hurricane Harvey storms struck Houston 2 weeks ago. Instead try aborvites, spruce, holly, red twig dogwood or fountain grasses. Theyre about 2 1/2 ft from the pool, theyre pushing up a section of the concrete around the pool, will they also damage the pool walls? Join me as I attempt to take my green thumb from a pale pastel to a rich British racing green. Learn more about pool care and repair. The roots for palm trees stay the same diameter for the life of the root. Contact your local Davey representative to find out how you can partner with Davey on your next project. Are they still a good choice near a pool? Palm Trees Roots System As we said, the roots of palm trees is very distinct when you compare it to the trees. Palm trees, even the shortest ones, can have a root ball which is around 24 inches in diameter when removed from the ground, but sometimes the root ball thats dug up can be up to 6 in diameter. Does that mean youre free to plant palm trees next to concrete? We have 4 foot decking around the pool, then I plan to plant them about 2 feet back from that. Have a peek at my personal blog here, or browse through all the other blogs I pen & photograph! In reality, a lot of palm tree roots wont get any wider than your thumb. 3. If youre set on adding a tree for a bigger burst of green, choose a small tree, like one of the ones below. For the most part, however, palm tree roots dont spread that far out. . Yes, tree roots can damage a concrete wall. As the roots grow and spread out from the tree, they naturally form a root ball under the trunk. As roots grow and expand they can displace soil, causing it to shift. Articles and resources for swimming pool owners and DIYers. Do you recommend? Eventually, the root ball of the palm tree will grow to be the size of the pot, and the root ball will become rootbound. Determining Tree Ownership. I live in Fort Worth, Texas. Harbour Dwarf Nandina and Dwarf Yaupon Holly: Both are great small shrubs to line the border of a walking path or the perimeter of the pool decking. Northern pools can still use many tropicals if planted in large pots, or cut back during fall and mulched over. Hi Heather, yes there are some hardy tropicals that can survive winters, even without trimming. "url": "https://x1.adis.ws/v1/media/graphics/i/lesl/its-logo-wide" The two can live in harmony. These roots will become dry and will stop growing. Palm Trees, Fruit Trees, Grape Vines, Berry Plants, Nut Trees, and Flowering Trees: Any tree or plant that falls within this category will lead to excessive cleaning and possible staining. "image": { 1. Roots of palm trees grow in thin strands from the base of the trees root ball. It is beautiful and does provide shade but I am concerned about this. Climate: Again the regional climate is the number one consideration when choosing your trees. "@type": "BlogPosting", Is Agave a Cactus? "publisher": { That's not to say it can't happen, just that the damage is often caused indirectly. Palm tree roots can't really damage your pool. If you do harm the tree, you could be found liable for up to three times the value of the tree. That said, plants and trees need to be chosen carefully. Hi there,we are planning to install a salt water pool,and I have 14 feet cypress near the pool,any concern that the salt water will kill the plant .do you think the plant can survive the minimum splash of salt water,thanks. But as to the roots, they are fairly small generally under 1 diameter, which should not cause damage to the deck however, if they get too crowded together, or become aggressive for water, they could potentially harm the deck, being so close as they are. Make sure to invest in a good leaf rake, and consider purchasing a leaf canister for your vacuum or suction side pool cleaner to keep heavy leaf debris from clogging up the skimmer and pump baskets. You'll be notified each time there's a new post published. After it takes hold, just give it some annual thinning, to maintain health and space for plants and roots. Annually prune to reduce overweight branches, and shape the tree, a bit smaller each year until you get it down to half the current size. Root disturbance or injury results in numerous suckers that must be pruned to keep the plant healthy. mboyett (Michael Boyett, TREC #7290 (Ret) Boerne, TX) September 11, 2009, 9:34pm #2. These roots are inactive and do not help the tree, the tree will only feed from the active roots underground. About a four ft slab of cement between tree and pool.Will it damage the cement? I have a huge Walnut tree that is on a slight downward slope about 8 ft away from the foundation of my in ground pool.It blocks all the sun and drops a ton of debris in the pool. Removing individual surface-level roots is one of the most common solutions to paver problems. For the fur that grows on the trunk, if your climate is not too cold, you can trim of that hair from around the trunk. Because some palm trees grow to be quite large, youll likely want to grow smaller varieties of palm trees in containers to prevent stunting the growth of the palm: [] some palm species grow very rapidly and their roots quickly outgrow their containers. Furthermore, trees with extensive root systems can damage pool walls or pool plumbing. We are planning to install a pool, and unfortunately theres a medium size pine tree about 6 to 8 feet away. I wouldnt plant sometime right over top of pipes, but if a few feet away, it should be no problem. Or a eastern redbud (planting two myself this week). By law, you have the right to trim branches and limbs that extend past the property line. These fibrous roots pose fewer problems when planting palms near buildings or sidewalks than trees with more traditional root systems like Oak trees. The type of, Georgias subtropical climate and warm temperatures are not exactly perfect for growing palm trees. Or, if you dont water the tree anymore, you could also shape the land a bit, and/or add plastic barriers, or drains, swales or gutters, to capture rain water on the pool side of the tree, and channel the water away from the pool. Another factor though is how much room there is to go in other directions for the root system. "contentUrl": "https://x1.adis.ws/v1/media/graphics/i/lesl/its-logo-wide", You could consider a root barrier, using geotextile fabrics, or barrier walls, between the pool and the tree, along with plenty of room to spread in the other directions, and youd be ok. I dont care about shade just the looks of the tree plus Ive been wanting one of these trees. Without careful planning, planting a tree near a retaining wall, or adding one near a mature tree, can spell trouble for both. Can Tree Roots Damage a Concrete Wall? Thanks! Or Planting Near a Wall. References Jungle Music Palms and Cycads: Palm Tree Care, Placement of . Tree roots can damage building foundations, as well as sidewalks and pavements. No, but They Are Similar; Heres How, Cute & Funny Names for Plants: When Your Pet Is as Green as Your Thumb! The roots absorb moisture to hydrate the tree, which is especially important during the dry season and droughts in tropical climates. Yet you should be careful about planting a palm tree too close to a house in case it is uprooted in strong weeds. Such a plant can become stunted if not repotted into a larger container. Deciduous trees are not necessarily bad, but will give the backyard a bare appearance during winter. And plant those near, not on top of, the wall. But in some cases, subsidence and structural damage can be linked to tree roots. If youre looking for some palm trees. As the roots grow out further, they can more evenly collect the moisture and nutrients from the soil into the tree. Generally speaking, the root spread is equal in width to the canopy width. Most pool users will want to avoid brushing up against any of those mentioned without a shirt protecting your back. Windmill Palms or Chinese Palms can grow in most zones, and in Texas you have a wider variety to choose from. Canyou suggest anything? Are they stunted in terms of growth while potted and are there certain palms that do better in containers than others? We only want some for each side of the pool. It also is unhealthy, even fatal if ingested, for animals and humans. Remove small tree roots by hand and rent a stump grinder. The roots also absorb nutrients and minerals such as iron, magnesium, and manganese to feed the tree. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies. Hi Julie, The arborvitae has a fairly docile root system. Backed by The Davey Institute, the industrys premier research and development laboratory, our team of experts share their knowledge on the most common topics and questions in arboriculture. They need 4 feet or so of room, but most growth is straight down, and not known to be overly aggressive against barriers like pool walls or pool decks. I have a bottle tree planted about 4ft from my pool. I live in dallas tx. Its common for these roots to be visible above the ground. DON'T pile mulch against the tree trunk. Read on for more information! Palm tree roots are very thin and fragile. The roots grow along with the tree by spreading themselves horizontally across the soil. Do you think the roots of Moringa will damage the pool. It may seem like they are no match for durable stone or concrete, but woody roots can do real damage. All this may be helpful, but without actual numbers, its going to be hard to determine whether the palm tree roots are going to interfere with other things theyre planted near. We pride ourselves at Davey Tree on providing prompt, professional and personalized service from certified arborists that live, work and engage in your community. This became a big problem because they drop leaves constantly and are just small enough to fit through the basket openings and clog the filters. They can be used around an inground pool or near the base of an above ground pool. Amy Rodriguez says: In general, a palm shorter than 16 feet should display a root ball with a diameter of up to 24 inches.. Cactus Juice? You can also use something like a leaf gulper for quick debris cleanup. Hi Davy, Were considering macadamia nut, fragrant tea olive tree and bottlebrush around our pool here in San Diego. What do you think? Hi, you can slow growth with less watering and fertilizer. And cute little trees that grow into huge monsters can block the sun's warmth, or may even block the sight and sounds of the pool, which can be unsafe. The fungus most often invades a palm tree by means of a wound at the base of the tree in the lower 4-5 feet of the trunk. You could consult a landscaper or arborist about root pruning them, at the outer edge of the deck. Which why I am considering it. In these states, a case might be successful if the tree: does . Queen and Coconut palms did the worst of any of the varieties looked at in the survey, with only 40% standing after the hurricane. The same is true for pipes - while it may be unlikely that palm tree roots will damage pipes because of their soft roots, it's still possible. While it doesn't seem likely that your tree roots could hurt a retaining wall, they actually can cause some issues. , Im putting in a flowerbed about 2 1/2wide 10 long in texas right by the pool with clay soil how many plants for that area and she wants colorful flowers and green foliage what do you recommend that wont dirty her pool and pool pump in that bed also loves tropical. That means a roughly 5 meter high tree will have a root system thats roughly 60 cm or two feet wide and deep. and I doubt the deck would be affected, but if there are large roots under the deck, when they die it could cause the deck to slump or slant, but its probably doing that already? I was wondering your thoughts on Areca palms all around a pool in south Florida for privacy? Daylilies and Sedums: Visually pleasing, but still low maintenance. Palm tree roots grow out from the tree and are spread around the trunk and through the surrounding soil. View our Privacy Policy for more information. If you have leaking pipes within the ground, your palms roots will gravitate toward that area. If there is lots of underground space for the roots to grow away from the pool, and not much competition from other large trees and bushes, then less likely that it would need to push into the pool. With a little wind, this can quickly fill your pool with debris. Can Retaining Walls Damage Tree Roots, or Vice Versa? Would cutting that down jeopardize the integrity of the foundation ? At this point, its advisable to move your palm to a pot thats 2-4 inches larger than the current pot. Also like other trees, as the tree grows wider, it also grows taller, and when the trunk gets too close to a slab of concrete, close roots can begin to lift the slab, just like you might see on any city sidewalk. By doing this, the tree does most of its drinking on the opposite side of the pool, which discourages growth of (more) roots on the pool side of the tree, which may even shrink and recede, when the water source dries up. With jobs available throughout North America, Davey has an opportunity for you in the location you desire. The wall itself will protect a young palm, but the towering adult tree will be a target for upper high winds in the future. Any thoughts about vines? Trunk is about 3-3/12 feet around 16-18 ft tall we had it pruned to a pineapple shape last year. Just fill in the form below and hit "Subscribe"! Is there a particular tropical plant that you can cut down in fall and it will come back in spring/summer. Can Palm Tree Roots Cause Damage? . I planted some shrubs that grow 4 ft max. I know there is some plumbing under the decking. Both building and planting take lots of time and energy. Is this going to be a problem? A warm welcome to my corner of the plant-lovers world. " Is this something I should sacrifice as well. I recently cut down a large live oak and cypress tree because the visible roots were crawling rapidly toward my pool and even cracked my patio. You can also affect the trees stability, increasing the likelihood of failure. Its probably about 20 years old. So heres the size approximation section of palms that are grown in the ground. Daveys grounds maintenance crew is on-site weekly at the Hard Rock Casino, ensuring the frequently populated green space maintains its curb appeal. If they were there before the pool, that doesnt necessarily mean that you have to remove them once the pool is installed. If you are concerned still however, you could install a heavy plastic or steel barrier along side the pool wall, or install a 2 or 3 sided box, to encourage root growth away from the pool. Crepe Myrtle will not thrive in your zone, its a southern tree. Of course, thats not always an option, especially since they can grow 10, 15 or even 20-plus feet beyond the trunk. Very messy trees. Yes. We live in MD. While you cant lay concrete or set stones on established roots, you can surround your plant with a carefully planned enclosure. "contentUrl": "https://x1.adis.ws/v1/media/graphics/i/lesl/its-logo-wide", The longer the roots, the more they help stabilize the tree. In most cases, PVC pipe (Schedule 40) is not damaged by plant roots. I would have to plant almost up against some pipes because of a tight fit behind my pool. PK. Thanks! Before attempting to prune roots, read this to learn what you should and shouldnt cut. The total will vary depending on the area and the size of the tree. Would Avocado, Pistachio and Macadamia nut fit that bill? Pine needles are not too much of a nuisance, in my opinion, but you can decide that. Root Systems: Most trees grow root systems of about the same size as the tree branch systems. Climate: Pools located in more temperate hardiness zones (southern states) have a wider variety of trees that can flourish around the pool. On the other hand, a few inspectors have told me that roots can and do penetrate foundations, and this is mainly how they cause damage (not by sapping water). Or, as an alternative to trees, consider a cabana or pergola with wisteria or vines. Why Do Some Types of Cactus Bloom at Night? So, if you are going to plant bamboo, go for it but make a plan for planting and maintenance and keep it out of your neighbors yard, which it can do by growing under the fence. If you dont see or feel algae clinging to walls or steps, and the water chemistry is good, the service co. could be right. When growing wax myrtle, avoid planting annuals and perennials around the roots of this plant. The same rule that goes for soil goes for mulch: Don't cover the base of the tree trunk with a "mulch volcano.". I have seen retaining walls pushed out, brick walls pushed out and cracked, pipes crushed. No on the Maple tree too. I have two feet between my pool deck and the block wall. When you start trimming, you can deprive the plant of vital water and nutrients. "headline": "Best & Worst Trees to Plant Around a Pool", Talk to our team of industry leaders to learn how we've provided solutions to other utilities with similar challenges and goals. I would space them about 4 ft apart however, so that they arent too cramped for space. Roots are kind of lazy like that, choosing the path of least resistance, to a point that is. My question is will the roots damage my pool. We have removed and stump ground heaps of them and the common denominator was. When it loses a direct path downhill however, it pools or puddles, also, Landscape lighting is one of those details that can really make a backyard shine! If you have the typical row of Lelands, common for screening and privacy hedges, then they are competing for root space, soil and water, which certainly makes the root system spread out more. Around $750-1,200 for trees around 50 feet tall. But before property owners can take action to resolve disputes, they must first determine who actually owns the offending tree. Though popular as an ornamental landscaping bush, homeowners with pets or young children should avoid planting oleander. Do Palm Trees Bloom? Will that cause any difficulties? A row of leland cypress could be a better choice, or Arbor Vitae, Crypotomeria or Oleander make nice screening plants for pools, that will grow to over 15 ft. Davy, I am considering using cypress around our pool, but placing them in pots will the pots impede their growth? If you can, build the wall past the farthest spread roots. Can you tell me how a Sissoo tree would do near a pool? When you remove the container from the root ball of your newly purchased palm, make sure you handle with care the root ball. Palm trees have very shallow roots compared to other trees or plants because they dont need a lot of depth to get the nutrients they need. ), researching what palm tree roots look like, how they grow, and whether they get wide or deep enough to create any damage if I planted them in the spot I had in mind. Hi for tropical plantings, consider Banana and Palm. Arbor Vitae is another evergreen similar to Leland. DRG helps utilities such as PHI and BGE enroll and stay compliant in programs like the Monarch CCAA that put environmental conservation at the forefront of ROW vegetation management. Hi Marna, Japanese Maple, and most maple trees should be safe around a pool, as the root systems are not known to be aggressive or overly expansive. One thing that can be done for any tree that has any pool owner concerned (or tired from cleaning), is to prune regularly. Ivy would make a nice backdrop, if you are allowed to erect a quite tall rack of some strength, above the existing fence, or behind it, you could grow a very nice batch of honeysuckle, wisteria or clematis, or just green ivy after a few years could look really nice Im picturing a 3-4 high horizontal row of greenery, above the existing fence, and covering the top of the fence, thus creating a very high fence but with a soft top edge?