Why does everyone keep planting maple trees 2 feet from house foundations?

I've been doing tree work in the Portland area for about 7 years now, and I swear every other week I get a call about a maple that's pushing into a basement wall or cracking a driveway. People plant them way too close thinking they'll stay small. I had one job last summer where a 30 year old silver maple roots had actually lifted a corner of a concrete slab by 4 inches. Homeowner said the nursery told her 5 feet was plenty of space. That is just not true for most maples. Has anyone else seen this pattern where the wrong spacing advice keeps getting passed around?

2 comments

2 Comments

anthony_lane5517d ago

Jeez, I guess my maple tree thinks it's auditioning for a home remodeling show.

gracecarr17d ago

Wait, are we really calling a tree doing its own thing a home remodeling show? I gotta disagree with you on that one. Trees dropping leaves and branches is just them being alive, not trying to ruin your roofline. If your maple is dropping stuff, it's probably dealing with wind or age, not plotting a demo day. You can trim some dead limbs if they bother you, but that's just basic yard care, not a renovation. Trees don't have the brainpower for home improvement vibes, they just do what they do.