what should be the minimum distance to plant cherry tree or maple tree from house?

Question

does these tree roots grow wider or deeper? any possibility of damage to under ground cable, electric wire or gas-water pipes ? how far it should be from these?

Answer 1

There are several different types of each, so it's kind of a tough answer.

I'm assuming you're talking about standard sized trees, not dwarfs, semi-dwarfs, or smaller maple species.

For maples, talking about silvers, reds, and sugars, I'd not plant any closer than about 30 feet. Some, especially silver maples have fairly aggressive root systems that can buckle foundations, sidewalks, and driveways. Maples also have a tendency to surface root, so you can expect to deal with that in 10 years or so.

Cherries aren't nearly as big, or as aggressive in rooting habits. You can probably get away with about 10 feet on a cherry. Look at the maximum spread of the tree for a better distance though. If the maximum spread is 20 feet and you plant it 10 feet from the house, then at maturity it will be just coming in contact with the house.

I have two dogwoods that the previous owners planted 6-8 feet away from the house. They're beautiful trees now, about 30 years old, but I do have to deal with trimming them away from the house every couple of years. Their spread is a little larger than a cherry, but not much. I have several large maples in my yard, mostly silvers, but also a couple of sugars, and had the pleasure of having one large piece of one silver taken off the top of my garage after a big windstorm last spring. I love them, they provide great shade on my back deck all summer, but they are a bit of a pain with the leaves in the fall and the seeds in the spring. Be prepared for that. Reds and sugars aren't as bad in the spring, but you still have to rake leaves in the fall.

Answer 2

Cherry Tree Roots

Answer 3

I always thought that once a girl had lost her cherry that was it. Seems that there is a new alternative. Seriously I couldn't care less what happens to this piece of clay when my spirit has left it but I carry an organ donor card right between my ambulance benefits card and drivers license just in case there can be some good come from my passing. I got a nectarine tree on top of my red heeler. Just a question for Kings on his taxidermy proposition. Would it be OK to have certain parts preserved larger than life?

Answer 4

A tree's roots grow 2 to 3 times as wide as its drip line (the edge of the crown of leaves). You don't want major branches growing over your roof and trees need a certain amount of room for roots to anchor themselves from the wind. Look at the mature growth characteristics of the tree that you desire. I don't like to design trees into the landscape closer than the radius of their mature width.You could go closer, but then you restrict the root zone and have branches growing into or over the house. Try to select and plant trees and shrubs so that they fit the site without requiring constant pruning. It's better for the tree and easier on you.

Trees should not be planted over septic systems. In fact they recommend that you plant back at least 20' from a septic system. Utilities are usually placed in a easement. You can plant a tree in a utility easement, but if the utilities need to be repaired, they have the right of remove your tree (sometimes at your expense). It should not cause harm to plant over modern utilities as long as you do not cut them when planting, but its not the best location if you can avoid it. Move the tree so you are not digging directly over the utilities.