Trees are beautiful and having them around is one of the joys of life. That’s why many of us like to have trees in our garden and near our homes. They offer a special attraction, changing through the seasons and providing a wonderful refuge for wildlife so that we may enjoy their presence too. But then the question arises: how close to our house should a tree be? And when is it too close?

Problems can arise when tree and property are too close. There is the obvious problem of competition for space when branches grow to be so close to windows, walls and roofs that in windy conditions, the branches can cause damage to the structure of the property by hitting against them. Also, the roots of a tree may spread and undermine the foundations of a building and this may seriously affect the structural integrity of the building. In storm conditions, if a tree is in close proximity to a building, weakened branches or even the whole tree itself may fall on the building and cause considerable damage and even be a danger to life.

To avoid these problems for the future, tree planting should bear in mind the size of the tree at maturity. As a general rule, a new tree should be planted at a distance from the property equal to the expected height of the tree at maturity.

But even if a mature tree is near a building, proper maintenance by a professional tree surgeon may be all that is required. Pruning techniques can change the shape of the tree so that it may live in harmony with its surroundings. Pollarding is a type of pruning which can greatly reduce the size of a tree but this should only be done by a specialist arborist otherwise the health of the tree may be at risk.

As a last resort, felling a tree because it is too near your house may be the only solution but remember that felling a mature tree is a job for a professional. Time to call your local tree surgeon. The removal of a tree is not merely the disposal of the trunk and branches, but also the stump and root system which may be the bigger part of the job! The removal of a tree can affect the local water table level, so advice from your professional tree surgeon will be required to determine whether this may be an issue for you.

Maintaining trees that are close to your home is good advice for many reasons. And your insurance company will think so too! For in your home cover policy, there will almost certainly be a clause that requires you to maintain your trees in good condition, otherwise damage caused by them will not be covered.