Can your garden or Spring landscaping harm your home’s foundation? The answer is yes, but there are techniques and specific plants that will make life much easier for your foundation. Landscaping has become an art form in most recent years, but you must take your home’s stability into account. Making simple landscaping adjustments to supplement the needs of your foundation, also known as foundation plants or foundation planting, will help create the correct environment to keep your foundation safe and stable.
Create Space
Leave at least two feet of space between your foundation and the planting area. It’s never a good idea to place your plants directly up against your foundation. This causes moisture build-up, which can lead to mold, termites, and costly damage. No matter your preference in landscaping style, you should never direct water towards your foundation.
Watering the Yard
It’s common for homeowners to forget to turn off their sprinkler systems and water hoses after use. Consequently, this could cause major problems for your foundation. Any soaking or puddles caused by over-watering your yard for a prolonged period will cause moisture damage to your home’s foundation.
Landscaping
If you’re going to landscape the front of your home, it’s best to do the same on the sides and back of your home as well. If only one part of your home is landscaped, the soil in that area will be watered more often and expand. This expansion can lead to cracks in the foundation. which will need repairs before more damage is done.
Shrubs
Shrubs fit in nicely around your garden, but you have to be mindful of their roots. They will have one off three types of roots: fibrous, taproot, or adventitious. Fibrous-rooted shrubs make good foundation plants because they are non-invasive. They can also be removed easily if you would like to make a change or they become a problem.
Slope and Mulch
Never slope your flower beds towards your home. Always make sure they lead away from your foundation. Furthermore, it’s important to keep your garden well mulched. This will help retain any consistent moisture near or under your home’s foundation.
Planting Trees
First and foremost, plant any trees as far away from your home as possible. Trees with surface roots, such as Maples, will compromise your foundation and cause movement and cracks. The trees most known for damaging properties are oak, willow, and poplar trees.
As you can see, landscaping can lead to future foundation problems if you don’t address your home’s needs from the beginning. Enjoy your time in the Spring sunshine while gardening, but make sure you invest in the proper foundation plants to protect your home.
