Question
I live in TN. I have a basement to my home.  I don't know what types of shrubs to plant near my basement wall without them causing damage to the wall.  Do you have any ideas??

Answer
Hello,

Here is a list of plants that do well as foundation plantings. Check to see if they will grow in your area:

Dwarf Abelia "Little Richard" (Abelia)

Arborvitae "Berkmans Golden" (Arborvitae)

Arborvitae "Emerald Green" (Arborvitae)

Boxwood "Wintergreen" (Buxus macrophylla)

Boxwood "Harlandi Dwarf" (Buxus)

Camelia Japonicus-Spring Flowering (Camelia)

Camelia Sasanquas-Fall Blooming (Camelia)

Cleyera (Ternstroemia)

Cryptomeria "Dwarf Global" ( Cryptomeria japonica 'Globosa Nana')

Holly "Carissa" (Ilex)

Holly "Compacta" (Ilex crenata)

Holly "Dwarf Burfordi" (Ilex)

Holly "Dwarf Yaupon Bordeaux" (Ilex vomitoria)

Holly "Soft Touch" (Ilex crenata)

Holly "Fosteri" ( Ilex attenuata)

     

Holly "Nelli Stephens" (Ilex)   

Holly "Weeping Yaupon" (Ilex vomitoria)

Indian Hawthorne "Eleanor Tabor" (Raphiolepis)

Indian Hawthorne "Snow" (Raphiolepis)        

Juniper "Bar Harbor" (Juniperus wiltoni)

Juniper "Blue Point" (Juniperus chinensis)

Juniper "Blue Rug" (Juniperus horizontalis)

Juniper "Hetzi Columnar" (Juniper hetzi columnaris)

Juniper "Hollywood" aka "Torolusa"    (Juniperus chinensis 'Torolusa')

Juniper "Sea Green" (Juniperus chinensis)

Loropetalums (Loroptelaum)

Laurel 'Otto Luyken' (Prunus laurocerasus)

Mahonia 'Grapeberry' or 'Leatherleaf' (Mahonia beali)

Nandina 'Compacta' (Nandina domestica)

Nandina 'Harbour Dwarf' - (True Dwarf) (Nandina domestica 'Harbour Dwf')

Pittosporum 'Variegated' (Pittosporum)

Rose 'Knockout' (Rosa)

Spirea 'Gold Mound' (Spirea)    

Spirea 'Little Princess' (Spirea)

Upright Yew (Podocarpus)

Yucca 'Adams Needle' (Yucca filamentosa)

Keep any shrubs 5 feet from your foundation to avoid damage from roots and to prevent damage that may occur from watering the shrubs.

The following shrubs may contain poisonous berries and/or bright colored leaves which may be a hazard to children. The children may be tempted to eat the leaves or berries:

Holly
Yew
Privet
Laurel
Rhododendron

Good luck.  Let me know if I can be of further help.

Mark Harshman
http://www.mahdrafting.com
Email: [email protected]

http://www.scribd.com/markscrib47