big-tree-near-house

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.

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