Trees should be planted well away from any house, not right up against it. Source: uglyhousephotos.com

There are several reasons why it’s best to plant a tree at a certain distance from a house or other structure.

• Tree roots can dry the soil out too much during a severe drought and thus weaken the building’s foundation;
• Branches can damage the walls or roof by rubbing against them;
• The tree’s symmetry can be negatively affected by the proximity of a structure, as it will tend to lean to one side rather than grow straight up;
• If the branches protrude above the house, there’ll be constant litter from fallen leaves and dead branches that can clog the gutters.

On the other hand, the belief that the roots will “attack” and penetrate the foundation is largely a superstition. Tree roots, in fact, tend to travel away from foundations, much too dry for their taste.

Logically, therefore, it’s wise to place the trees a certain distance from the house. But how far exactly?

Here is a calculation that usually works well:

Tree Height at Maturity	Distance From the Building
0–25 feet (0–8 meters)	10 feet (3 meters)
25–50 feet (8–15 meters)	15–20 feet (4–6 meters)
50+ feet (15+ meters)	30–50 feet (10–15 meters)

Normally, you’ll find the mature dimensions of your tree (including the height) on the label it bears at the time of purchase.

Trees with Invasive Roots

There are exceptions, however, including trees with extra-long, invasive roots. For these species, mainly poplars (Populus spp.) and willows (Salix spp.) as well as silver maple (Acer saccharinum), always plant them 50 feet (15 meters) from any structure.

My tree is Closer to My House Than You Recommend!

No need to panic! That a tree is growing nearer to a house than it should is not usually a major problem and there’s a lot you can do to alleviate any complications that might or do arise. Read When a Tree Grows Too Close to a House to get a better picture of the situation.