When thinking about building a retaining wall around your garden beds or just thinking about planting a tree near a bordering wall, it will be helpful for you to consider that the tree and the wall should live in harmony. Since both building and planting at your Cleveland home will take planning and time, we want to make sure that your tree will grow healthy and strong while your wall will remain sturdy and unbroken.

To build a retaining wall, check the surrounding area for tree roots, or if you are planting a new tree, make sure to leave enough room for the tree roots to spread out. Avoid setting stones or laying concrete on established roots or where roots can get too close to the wall. You may not think that a tree’s roots can do much damage to a stone or concrete wall, but they can spread under the structure and cause the wall to crack, up-heave, or buckle. The best example of this is when you see a slab of concrete sidewalk forced into a mountain shape due to a nearby tree’s roots pushing up into the concrete.

What about cutting or trimming the tree roots? Our experienced Cleveland tree experts at VanCuren do not recommend trimming since it can severely damage the tree and it’s stability. If you think a tree absolutely needs its roots trimmed, it is best to call a professional team to take a look and do the job — it is a risky and challenging job that should not be done on your own.

So, how close can I plant my new tree? Or how close to the tree can I build the wall? If your tree is expected to grow 20 feet tall, then it will need at least 20 feet in diameter of space to properly lock into the ground and thrive. Plan to set up your wall a bit farther than the recommended growth area for the tree just to be sure.

In general, the best options for planting near a wall or retaining wall are bushes and perennials. Adding a tree to your landscape can really add to the beauty of your home, so if you do choose to plant a tree near a wall, pick a tree that will remain small once it is matured.

Have more questions or want to schedule a free inspection from the experts at Cleveland tree company VanCuren? Call us today! We specialize in tree removal and tree trimming but we have serviced the Cleveland area on all sorts of landscaping projects as well.