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I have a Cotoneaster growing against a wall of my house. It has been
there for about 20 years and is about 10 ft tall and 10 foot wide. I
prune it every year. However I am concerned that it's roots may be
damaging the structure of the house wall. Several roots are pushing up
a patio paving stone and there is also a small crack on the inside wall
between the wall and ceiling inside the house but this may be caused by
normal settlement of the property.
It is a lovely plant and gives us lots of pleasure so I don't want to
lose it.
Does anyone know if the roots of this plant can cause structural damage
please?
Thanks.

Dave





A cotoneaster, even a large one is not that water hungry and will not be
likely to cause subsidence due to shrinkage of clay soils in dry
conditions, nor are the roots every likely to be so big and powerful to
move your walls. However each house and plant is a different case and it
is very difficult to predict the very rare occasions when a plant will
cause damage. Many more innocent plants are removed than guilty!
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea