It’s important to think about your underground pipes before it’s too late
It’s easy to get carried away when selecting plants for the garden. There are so many choices to make about species, variations, colours and leaf types, not to mention finding plants that suit your needs and your environment. It’s easy to get a bit gung-ho at the local nursery and come home with a car full of all sorts of plants that have caught your eye.
Gardening is one of life’s great pleasures, so while it’s ok to be enthusiastic it’s worth thinking about what might be going on under the ground to avoid a costly repair bill down the track.
Root Structures
As a rule of thumb, most shrubs and trees have a similar root profile to what is going on above the surface.If a tree has a large canopy, you can be pretty confident that there is a similar sized root network below the ground. It makes sense when you think about the structure of a forest.
To ensure that trees and shrubs of all different heights and sizes are not competing for root space, nature has designed a pretty neat solution so that they can all get the nutrients they need. Makes sense, doesn’t it? As with all rules, there are exceptions, so it’s worth finding out just how deep and how wide the roots of your new tree are likely to spread. Your local nursery should be able to advise you in more detail.
Don’t be fooled by smaller plants though, as they can also cause problems. If you’re thinking of planting bamboo, grape vines or wisteria you should allow at least a 6 metre distance from water pipes.
Why it Matters
It’s not just water and sewer pipes that can be affected by tree and plant roots, as those of us who have tripped on a raised section of footpath know all too well.The cumulative power of tree roots as they grow and expand is awe-inspiring, and can easily lift concrete and paving, and even undermine foundations. A little bit of extra planning now can save you a lot of heartache and hefty repair bills down the track.
If that’s not enough to motivate you already, consider that in most jurisdictions you are responsible for any damage to private, council or government-owned land caused by the roots of a tree or plant from your property.
Planning
If you’re not sure where pipes are located on your property, a good place to start is to contact your water provider.The services provided to consumers vary from state to state, but they should be able to advise you on where to go to find the information.
Most councils will also be able to provide you with advice relevant to your local environmentand in keeping with your planning and environmental controls, which is particularly important if you live in an ecologically significant location.
It’s important to think about your underground pipes before it’s too late
It’s easy to get carried away when selecting plants for the garden. There are so many choices to make about species, variations, colours and leaf types, not to mention finding plants that suit your needs and your environment. It’s easy to get a bit gung-ho at the local nursery and come home with a car full of all sorts of plants that have caught your eye.
Gardening is one of life’s great pleasures, so while it’s ok to be enthusiastic it’s worth thinking about what might be going on under the ground to avoid a costly repair bill down the track.
Root Structures
As a rule of thumb, most shrubs and trees have a similar root profile to what is going on above the surface.If a tree has a large canopy, you can be pretty confident that there is a similar sized root network below the ground. It makes sense when you think about the structure of a forest.
To ensure that trees and shrubs of all different heights and sizes are not competing for root space, nature has designed a pretty neat solution so that they can all get the nutrients they need. Makes sense, doesn’t it? As with all rules, there are exceptions, so it’s worth finding out just how deep and how wide the roots of your new tree are likely to spread. Your local nursery should be able to advise you in more detail.
Don’t be fooled by smaller plants though, as they can also cause problems. If you’re thinking of planting bamboo, grape vines or wisteria you should allow at least a 6 metre distance from water pipes.
Why it Matters
It’s not just water and sewer pipes that can be affected by tree and plant roots, as those of us who have tripped on a raised section of footpath know all too well.The cumulative power of tree roots as they grow and expand is awe-inspiring, and can easily lift concrete and paving, and even undermine foundations. A little bit of extra planning now can save you a lot of heartache and hefty repair bills down the track.
If that’s not enough to motivate you already, consider that in most jurisdictions you are responsible for any damage to private, council or government-owned land caused by the roots of a tree or plant from your property.
Planning
If you’re not sure where pipes are located on your property, a good place to start is to contact your water provider.The services provided to consumers vary from state to state, but they should be able to advise you on where to go to find the information.
Most councils will also be able to provide you with advice relevant to your local environment and in keeping with your planning and environmental controls, which is particularly important if you live in an ecologically significant location.