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Let it be · 09-04-2013, 06:03 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

Let It Be wrote:
Janet wrote:
In article , lid says...

Spider wrote:
On 08/04/2013 14:47, wrote:
In ,
wrote:

A neighbour and friend of mine is about to plant a copper beech
hedge. One section of hedge will be on their boundary between
their own suburban garden and the next. Another section will be
between their drive and front steps *and within 6ft of the house
frontage*. I confess this rang alarm bells with me.

Am I worrying unnecessarily, or is there a real risk to their
home once this hedge is established? I would really appreciate
any help with this, not least because the *copper* beeches mark a
copper wedding anniversary and I don't want to spoil their
romantic joy in planting this hedge.

The main risk is if the house has some extremely dubious drains
or foundations, or they let it get completely out of hand.
I wouldn't worry about a hedge like that.

Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Thank you, Nick, that is reassuring. I will tell them, with
appropriate warnings of dire consequences should they lapse with
their trimming regime. On London Clay and with a postcode that
makes insurance companies nervous, there are always concerns about
foundations and drains. However, they are sensible people and
will, I am sure, keep both panic and hedge under control.
Thanks again.

Be aware that if the hedges grow too big and sucks up enough water
out of the clay, then that could cause subsidence - or if after many
years, they decide to cut them back, then that could cause
ground-heave. Both situations are enough to give insurance
companies large fits.

Probably not worth worrying about with small hedges, but the effects
could make themselves very plain if those hedges are neglected and
left to grow to a rather graceful and pleasing size.

Pretty unlikely to happen, given that the hedge is 6ft from the
front windows and front steps to the front door..

Janet

As long as the bushes stay small I agree, but as you know, the roots
from larger trees will spread far more than 6 feet.

Just out of interest, as I type this, I'm looking at a neighbours 40
odd foot tall birch tree some30 feet away from my property - and its
roots are touching the wall of my house (having about a foot down
under slabs of the full garden length patio.

Correction

This:

"and its roots are touching the wall of my house (having about a foot down
under slabs of the full garden length patio".

Should have read:

"and its roots are touching the wall of my house (having TRAVELLED about a
foot down under THE slabs of the full garden length patio."

Ah well, sods law again.