Hello everyone,
Our garden has been landscaped by the landscaper, and all the slopes have been filled in. Now we have a brown, dusty desert.
We do get a fair amount of rain during “normal” summers here, but we have built on sandy soil. The rainwater drains quickly, and summers tend to be rather dry. Basically, the situation here is similar to the area cleared for Tesla in Grünheide. Therefore, we want to focus on a more Mediterranean-style planting and ideally avoid irrigation.
On the south side of our brick house, I would like to plant a fig tree, which I want to benefit from the heat stored by the façade in the evenings. After doing some research, I thought that a planting distance of about 1 meter (3 feet) for the fig tree might be okay. Closer would be better for heat utilization. Shade is also an important factor given the increasingly hot summers.
My main question is about the roots and what they might do to the exterior basement insulation. The basement is built with a waterproof concrete wall, so roots shouldn’t penetrate it, and the house would never leak because of roots.
Should I be worried about the insulation when planting a fig tree at this distance, or is 1 meter (3 feet) sufficient?
If you walk around in France, or regions like the Pfalz, for example, you see fig trees growing from all sorts of cracks and corners. Their houses are still standing.
Should I just go ahead, or take precautions?
Attached again are pictures of the shell construction and the site after landscaping. The distance from the light well is also 1 meter (3 feet), just like the distance from the exterior wall.
Our garden has been landscaped by the landscaper, and all the slopes have been filled in. Now we have a brown, dusty desert.
We do get a fair amount of rain during “normal” summers here, but we have built on sandy soil. The rainwater drains quickly, and summers tend to be rather dry. Basically, the situation here is similar to the area cleared for Tesla in Grünheide. Therefore, we want to focus on a more Mediterranean-style planting and ideally avoid irrigation.
On the south side of our brick house, I would like to plant a fig tree, which I want to benefit from the heat stored by the façade in the evenings. After doing some research, I thought that a planting distance of about 1 meter (3 feet) for the fig tree might be okay. Closer would be better for heat utilization. Shade is also an important factor given the increasingly hot summers.
My main question is about the roots and what they might do to the exterior basement insulation. The basement is built with a waterproof concrete wall, so roots shouldn’t penetrate it, and the house would never leak because of roots.
Should I be worried about the insulation when planting a fig tree at this distance, or is 1 meter (3 feet) sufficient?
If you walk around in France, or regions like the Pfalz, for example, you see fig trees growing from all sorts of cracks and corners. Their houses are still standing.
Should I just go ahead, or take precautions?
Attached again are pictures of the shell construction and the site after landscaping. The distance from the light well is also 1 meter (3 feet), just like the distance from the exterior wall.
A
Axolotl-neu15 Jul 2022 14:21K a t j a schrieb:
Strange. Apparently, you’ve built too much. 😉 Third house by now 😉,
But the average plot of 20x20m (65x65 feet) with a 10x10m (33x33 feet) house, which is roughly centered (due to setback requirements) and still leaves room for a front garden, wouldn’t allow for any tree if you keep a 10m (33 feet) planting distance. Even with a 25x25m (82x82 feet) plot it doesn’t work, since you have to respect boundary distances (neighbor regulations) – in NRW at least 4m (13 feet) for fast-growing trees, otherwise 2m (6.5 feet).
I always base it on the size and function of the tree, as well as its root growth.
K a t j a schrieb:
Ever tried digging up a mature tree including its roots? Not an oak, but cherry laurel, yews, and others up to 40 years old.
The roots never spread too far — never more than 1-1.5m (3-5 feet) from the trunk.
K a t j a schrieb:
Maybe I’m just too weak There are good professional tools for that 😎
W
WilderSueden15 Jul 2022 14:22K a t j a schrieb:
Wait, you have specific distance rules for different tree species?Of course. Here in Baden-Württemberg, everything is strictly regulated (Neighbor Rights Act BW §§12 and 16). Hedges must be at least 0.5 m (0.5 yards) away. Smaller trees require 2–3 m (2–3 yards) distance, except for smaller fruit trees, which can be planted 1 m (1 yard) away in inner areas. Birch, willow, and similar species require 4 m (4 yards) distance, while large spreading trees need 8 m (9 yards). There are also maximum height limits for each category, and if those are exceeded, you must maintain greater distances accordingly.
Axolotl-neu schrieb:
No oak, but cherry laurel, yews, and others up to 40 years old.
The roots had grown only within a manageable distance. Never more than 1–1.5 m (3.3–5 feet) from the trunk.
No offense, but I wasn’t actually asking you. Apparently, you are an experienced tree transplant specialist. 😀
A
Axolotl-neu15 Jul 2022 14:40K a t j a schrieb:
Apparently, you are an experienced tree mover. 😀I'm just a tree pusher 😉 – and quite a few had to go.WilderSueden schrieb:
Here in Baden-Württemberg ... Hedges 0.5m (0.5 yards). Small trees 2-3m (6.5-10 feet), except smaller fruit trees which are allowed 1m (3 feet) in interior areas. Birch, pussy willow, and similar species 4m (13 feet), large spreading trees 8m (26 feet). For each category, there is also a maximum height allowed; otherwise, you must keep a greater distance.Wow. We only have 0.5m (0.5 yards) distance for everything up to 2m (6.5 feet) and 2m (6.5 feet) distance for everything over 2m (6.5 feet).