Problems with planting trees in front of house

[krishnakumar]

Hi

I want to plant couple of trees in front of my house about 1.5 feet from the front gate. But my contractor says tree roots will later damage sump and sanitary lines etc. Is this true? If that is case no one will plant trees at all. I refused to agree but wanted to check here so that in the future neighbours should not object and ask to cut down the trees. Also what kind of trees are best suited given this situation?

krishna

[msn1270]

if you plant the trees very close to the Compound/walls and also on the type of tree you planned makes the difference.

sampige, Honge and similar types of trees you can use, as their roots doesn't spread much and in no way they cause any harm.
There are such trees in our street, which are almost 20+ years old now. So far no such issues from the house owners.

Usually up to 2 feet from the site boundary, storm water drainage will be there. Ensure to plant the saplings after
the Storm water drainage area. If you have BESCOM Electrical lines towards your house, plant only those which grows lesser
height, else BESCOM guys will chop off regularly for safety reason. In such a scenario, plant it on to the other side of the road.

[Nivas]

plant trees that are exotic,headturner and useful and deterrent of axe. the below ones don't grow beyond 10 ft and root system are no so invasive.
Cananga odorata is a flowering tree with greenish yellow flowers and has very good aroma also referred as Manoranjini.
Mimusops elengi (bakula) is another flowering plant , whose flowers have very good aroma and will retain even dried , fruit resembles sapota and are edible (like a sapota tree).

Cananga odorata ( tree type) , Averhoa species Carambola startfruit or bilimbi , Phyllanthus (acidus (Small nellikayi, officianalis amla) , Plumerias
Guava , Annona (Ramphal, Sita phal , Hanumanphal etc) .

[Goodhome]

Please dont listen to him, yes choose right tree though, you are good man with good intentions. I say this coz you are increasing greenery and fresh air for not only your house for other also. I have planted trees in front of my home, one of them is coconut tree...my contractor told not to plan coconut tree, but its been divine thing i ever did. Also plan some indoor plants for your home like Peace lily, fish tale fern or types of ivy's or our simple tulsi

[sabarishm]

I have a kadamba and badam tree in front of our house. I wanted to replace the badam with some better tree/plant and I find reply from Nivas interesting. Can you also help me with procuring the tree saplings from Bangalore? Any specific nursery where I might get saplings ? Also i was looking for a bodhi tree sapling to plant at the common area in our layout.

[Nivas]

cadamba can grow very tall , prune appropriately. Replacement for almond , sesbania(leaves and flowers are edible), palash \ erythrina (flame of forest or coral flower), all spice , clove , jacaranda . saraca asoka , cassia fistula (amaltas), cassia javanica etc . you can get ficus religious (bodhi), but you can choose other ficus or acacia tree , latter is also religious.
Lalbagh nursery would be ideal to procure all above at reasonable prices, except saraca asoka(real asoka tree) , amaltas.

[sabarishm]

Thank you Nivas! I will visit the lalbagh nursery this weekend to get the saplings. Found that erythrina can grow up to 30 feet, which could cause problem. I will find out which one grows moderate from the many you have mentioned. Thank you again !

[Nivas]

crista galli erytrina is a small tree. you can see this fully grown tree in front of ganesha shrine near horti library.

[sabarishm]

Thank you Nivas. My previous comment on the height of the tree was a mix up from my side. I somehow thought the feet to be meters !! 20-30 feet is fine for a good tree like that and I think its safe enough.

[sabarishm]

My engineer cut the tree as he found that the kadamba had its roots spreading towards the foundation. I need to plant replacement tree that wont spread its roots much. From the previous posts, I think I will go with Manoranjini, Mimusops elengi and Plumerias Guava. I assume these are smaller plants and I can have 2 or three in front of the house. Read about some forest department nursery near hebbal giving away saplings for a nominal cost.