Planting

​​Vines penetrate structure


There is nothing more beautiful than a front porch dripping with long lavender wisteria blossoms in spring. But one home engulfed with this vine could literally have its roof raised by the pressure. This is one of the vines that produces slender runners that are adept at penetrating the tiniest slots and gaps in a structure. Runners gradually grow thicker over time, and harden into woody branches. A thin runner that penetrates a gap in your eaves will increase in diameter with each new season. When it exceeds the allowances of the space this plant is strong enough to pull nails out of lumber raising up a roof joist a few millimeters every year.

This example doesn't mean you can't enjoy wisteria, it just means that you must be attentive to its adventurous growth and cut it back enough each year to reveal any penetration. The same applies to English ivy which also reaches large diameter with time. If you are not willing or able to give your vines this kind of attention, then it's best not to plant them.

Pro Tip: Vines allowed to grow up tree trunks into the canopy can kill their host. Those that climb telephone poles can be very expensive to remove. A good rule of thumb is "Never allow your vines to grow beyond the reach of your ladder.

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 Underground utility invasion



This problem can arise from trees and shrubs planted on or next to water lines, sewer, septic tanks and leach fields. Anywhere you have paving, foundations, curbs and other forms of masonry, consider how close the trees are to these elements. Masonry tends to trap moisture in the soils beneath a concrete slab, for instance. Trees located near that slab will try to root there to access the cool damp conditions in the heat of summer. Year after year they continue tapping into this resource, and like vines, grow larger in diameter. The result is inevitably pressure upon the masonry, no matter what kind it is, and soon it will crack or buckle under the pressure. Not only do you want to set the tree or large shrub back from the masonry, be sure to select a tree that bears a well-behaved root system. City street tree lists are often the best source of species screened for local adaptability and a lack of aggressive rooting. If there's no way to avoid placing a tree near masonry, install a root barrier product to separate roots from masonry underground. This device works with newly planted container root ball, preventing it from branching out horizontally so growth is forced downward, to reach deeper soil moisture.

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 Property line disputes

The potential size of a large tree at maturity is enough to negatively influence conditions in your neighbors' yards. It may shed litter, produce hazardous branches, send roots under the fence to invade the lawn, and present a dozen other common problems that crop up on property lines. And if your neighbor has a swimming pool, consider this doubly important.

To preserve your next door relationship and avoid litigation, keep shade trees well inside your lot. Avoid invasive vines on perimeter fences and walls because inevitably they'll find conditions more to their liking next door. If your neighbor is not a lover of plants, this results in serious conflicts. Where there is a situation of liability present, such as a dangerous overhanging limb that could fall on a person or vehicle in the next storm, the cost to remove it can become a bone of contention since this can require a cherry picker or other special equipment if access is limited. If you fail to correct this and someone is hurt, you may find yourself in court accused of negligence.

​Getting plant selection and placement right from the beginning will help you avoid major headaches and costly repairs. Vines and trees with aggressive roots are examples of plants that can mature into problems. You can avoid planting mistakes by knowing the growth habits of the plants you select, as well as their mature size.