Beware of Your Pipes With New Spring Planting
Ricky Pattillo • March 24, 2020
Spring is in the air, and it’s the perfect time of year to get outside and get started planting. But before you dig, there are a few things to consider. At Plumb Works Inc., we’ve got some tips to keep your yard looking beautiful and keep your underground plumbing safe now, and years down the line.
General rule of thumb for planting near pipes
Whether you’re installing a new pond, adding some azalea bushes, or planting shade trees, it’s important to know what’s under the ground before you dig. Your local utility company can schedule an appointment to come to your property and show you where any water or utility lines are located. Avoid planting directly over any marked pipes and septic systems, and be sure to maintain a safe distance. Roots will naturally grow towards water, even if it’s the water in your plumbing lines, so it’s helpful to know the growth habits of what you’re planting. By considering the water needs, root depth, and canopy growth, you can choose plants that will thrive in your yard without the risk of plants damaging water pipes, creating the need for burst pipe repair.
For people wanting to plant trees
Small, slow-growing trees and shrubs are ideal for planting near your home near areas where pipes are located. Japanese Maples, Crape Myrtles, and Magnolia trees provide beautiful seasonal foliage and flowers without extensive risk to plumbing systems. Evergreens like Blue Atlas Cedar and Japanese Privet stay under twenty feet in height and offer lovely year-round leaves that won’t block drains. Consult with your garden center for more recommendations, and don’t forget to call a local plumber to get your pipes inspected. Only plant near well-maintained systems that aren’t leaking, or you could end up with roots blocking water pipes.
Plants to avoid having in your garden
If you’d like to plant trees or shrubs in your yard this spring, there are some that should be avoided unless they’re far away from your plumbing. Generally, you can estimate the root spread by measuring the mature canopy of the trees you’d like to install. The wider the treetop stretches, the further away you’ll want to plant it. Some can be tricky, however. Boxwood shrubs and birch trees are great decorative plantings, but with shallow, wide-spreading root systems, they easily get enmeshed in pipes. And for some trees, like the Ginkgo Biloba, it’s not so much the roots you have to worry about as the fan-shaped leaves that drop by the thousands every season, clogging gutters and drains.
Do you have roots blocking water pipes, or leaking pipes attracting root growth? Plumb Works Inc. is your local plumbing expert, indoors and out. Call 404-524-1825 to learn more about the services we offer!
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Eric, thank you—for your 20 years of service, for the integrity you bring to your work, and for being a core part of the Plumb Works family.
