Everybody loves trees and the shade and fresh air they provide us. They’re such a normal part of our lives and you might not have considered the risks they can pose to your home. Some species of tree shouldn’t be planted too close to your house because they have aggressive root systems which can cause a lot of damage to your drainpipes.
Some types of trees are more well-known for creating issues with your plumbing. These trees grow aggressively and form root systems within your pipes. They include jacarandas, figs, gum trees and oaks. If you’re thinking about planting a new garden, make sure you ask your nursery for plants and trees that don’t have invasive roots. Additionally, you might like to think about using root barriers in the ground to control root systems. A complete list of trees that should not be planted near pipes is given below for your information:
Don’t Plant These Trees Within 10 to 15 Metres of Your Pipes
Brush Box
Lophostemon Confertus
Bunya Pine
Araucaria bidwillii
Figs
Ficus species
Illawarra Flame trees
Gum Trees
Eucalyptus species
Hoop Pine
Araucaria cunninghamii
Jacaranda
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Norfolk Island Pine
Araucaria hetcropshylla
Oaks
Quercus species
Plane Trees
Platanus species
Poplars
Populus species
She Oaks
Casuarina species
Silky Oak
Grevillia robusta
Rubber Trees
Ficus elastics
Teatrees
Leptospermum species
Wattles
Acacia species
White Cedar
Melia azederach
Wisteria
Wisteria sinensis
Don’t Plant These Trees Within 3 to 6 Metres of Your Pipes
Adelia
Adelia species
Bamboo
Phyllostachys species
Banksia
Banksia species
Bird of Paradise
Sterlitzia reginae
Bottlebrush
Callistemon species
Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea species
Camellia
Camellia species
Coral Tree
Erthrina species
Crepe Myrtle
Lagerstrocmia indica
Flame Tree
Brachychiton accritblium
Frangipani
Plumeria species
Grevillea
Grevillea species
Hibiscus
Hibiscus species
Lasiandra
Tibouchina species
Lilly Pilly
Syzygium species
Oleander
Nerium oleander
Paperbarks
Melaleuca species
Privet
Ligustrum species
Why Do Tree Roots Clog Pipes?
Roots grow into drains because of the environment they provide. Pipes carry water that hold air, water and nutrients – everything a tree needs to grow. If a pipe gets small cracks, it will let water into the soil around it. This draws tree roots towards the pipes. Once the roots are inside, they will grow quickly and block the entire pipe.
After this, tree roots will catch onto other substances in your drains like grease, fat or oil. This can make the blockage worse, as and they will possibly back up stop movement all throughout the pipe. When waste material from your kitchen or toilet is not flowing it could potentially lead to flooding which has can pose risks to your health and the structural integrity of your home.
Contact Sydney’s Leading Drain Clearing Plumbers
So next time you go to plant a tree in your yard with the hope of it growing big and beautiful, consider your drain system as well. Silverwater Plumbing will happily inspect your pipes to see if you’ve been affected by tree root intrusion and clear any blockages you may have. Call us today on (02) 9199 2055 or send an email to workorders@silverwaterplumbing.com.au.
