When you think of Commercial Landscaping, how do you think you should go about planting trees or shrubs? You’re mistaken if you don’t think it’s a significant issue. “But all I have to do is pick some attractive trees and shrubs, stick them in the ground, and water them. Right?” Unfortunately, no. There is much more to planting trees on a commercial property. 

Let’s dive in.

Why Tree Placement Matters 

Where you choose to plant a tree matters. If you put a big tree in the wrong spot, it can affect your property. What’s more, if you don’t notice the error quick enough, the tree can establish roots and be nearly impossible to move without killing it.

Planting a tree too close to a building could pose a risk from large tree limbs landing on your roof or pedestrians. Tree roots extend much further than you might think, too. They can grow up to 3x the width of the tree’s crown, causing issues with your sidewalks, lots, or underground plumbing.

A skilled landscape designer will do the research needed to ensure they plant your commercial property trees in the correct place.

Placement For Long-Term Growth 

It may be tempting to start trees and plants right next to each other and create an instant garden. But plants get bigger, so you need to plant them with future growth in mind and adequate space between them. 

When they’re stuffed too close together or planted very near a building or structure, you’ll just have to rip them out and replace them in a few years. No one wants to be responsible for that oversight and the costs it will incur.

Our landscaping experts consider plants at the size of maturity, not their size when they’re installed.

Placement for Safety

Line of sight for vehicles entering or leaving your commercial property is a big concern. You don’t want your trees or plants interfering with pedestrian traffic, blocking security cameras, or offering hiding spots for intruders or criminals.

Out-of-control tree limbs can snag pedestrians, hinder safety lighting, or grow into overhead wires. That’s why you need to work with a knowledgeable landscaping expert to ensure you prevent these issues. After all, you don’t want to take that blame.

Placement to Prevent Your Stress

If you install trees too close to each other or buildings, they’ll likely start causing some of the above problems and need replacement. That means spending money that’s probably not in the budget, creating extra stress.

It can be better to make sure they’re planted right in the first place by commercial landscapers who know how to plan accordingly for how your tree will grow.

How can planting trees affect my building’s foundation?

Risks and benefits are associated with trees and how close they are to buildings. However, the risks can be extensive and cause significant damage to your building’s foundation in the long run. It’s important to think carefully about trees and their placement before you start landscaping. Because tree roots can be so large, you’ll need to consider their impact.

Trees and shrubs can absorb excess moisture near a building’s foundation, ultimately minimizing drainage issues and keeping your foundation dry and stable. If your commercial property has foundational issues because of moisture or you get a lot of rain, strategically placing trees can benefit you.

Conversely, predicting if those roots will absorb too much or too little moisture or even both can be difficult. Suppose you plant your trees too close to your building. In that case, it can actually create excessive fluctuations in soil moisture, which can cause the soil to expand and contract, putting pressure on the building’s foundation. If those roots cause structural damage, they can worsen it. Gradually, this pressure can cause significant foundational cracks and even cause thousands of dollars of damage to the building’s interior.

That’s why you want to work with a professional who’ll understand these careful considerations in detail. Why put yourself under pressure to get it right when you can work with someone who has years of experience?

How far away from my commercial property should I plant trees?

It’s crucial to keep in mind that roots spread out much wider than the width of the tree’s canopy. For as big as you think the top of a tree might be, the root system can be several times bigger. While the outermost lengths of the tree roots are typically small and fibrous, you can’t guarantee that every time.

Experts often suggest the following recommendations for planting trees near your commercial building:

• Small trees (up to 30 feet tall): 8 to 10 feet away
• Medium trees (30-70 feet tall): at least 15 feet away
• Large trees (Larger than 70 feet): at least 20 feet away

However, these measurements change if you’re putting a tree near the building’s corner. In that case, the guidelines are as follows:

• Small trees: 6 to 8 feet away
• Medium trees: 12 feet away
• Large trees: 15 feet away

Shrubs and small bushes will have slightly different standards and suggestions. Their root systems aren’t as large or far-reaching as trees, so you can plant them a bit closer to your property and be safe from the root damage a tree might cause.

Keep medium-height shrubs at least three feet from your building and tall shrubs at least five feet away. Generally, experts suggest putting shrubs a minimum of half the distance of their full-grown width away from your foundation. For instance, you should plant a shrub that will end up being 20 feet wide at least 10 feet away from your foundation.

You can safely put plants with small root systems, such as annual flowers, as close as six inches away.

Establishing drainage systems and tools

Suppose you want to plant some trees throughout your commercial property. In that case, it will also be crucial to map out the necessary drainage systems and grates. Without the proper drainage system, even the tiniest plants and shrubs could pose a significant risk to your foundation. What’s more, plants need consistent watering, including not sitting in too much water, and a system takes this burden off your shoulders.

Your foundation type and the soil under and around your commercial property will determine the drain you use. Proper drainage systems are essential to protecting your foundation from the impacts of landscaping and protect it from run-off water that can erode the soil around your property.

There are several drain types you can use, including:

• Surface drains: We install these types of drains just below ground level. They are commonly used to keep rainwater from running down into the foundation.
• Channel drains: These are similar to surface drains, but we specifically use them to collect water from concrete surfaces and hardscapes.
• French drains: We use these drains to collect subsurface water. This water would move right on past a surface drain, so we need a separate drain to collect it.
• Retaining walls: These are a strong, sturdy selection for keeping run-off water from eroding your soil. Retaining walls can also be the most aesthetically appealing choice.

Quick tips for planting foundation-safe trees

With a considerable amount of options and a great deal of spatial planning to consider, what are the most crucial factors you should understand before choosing the landscaping around your commercial property’s foundation?

• Grade your soil away from the building’s foundation to ensure water can move away from the structure, off the soil, and prevent standing water from sitting near your foundation.
• At maturity, a tree’s root system is the ultimate deciding factor. You’ll want to research and consult with a landscaping expert to determine how large your drainage system needs to be and how much of a potential risk the roots pose to your foundation.
• Think about how much sunlight each tree or shrub will need and plan their placement accordingly. Some plants do well in the shade, while others need full sun all day.
• Don’t put your trees too close together.

No matter what plants and trees you decide to go with, we highly suggest getting a foundation inspection performed by one of our experts well before we start planting. We want to ensure your commercial property can safely, effectively, and healthily host the gorgeous trees you want. 

Are you looking for trees for your commercial property? Mayer Tree Services would love to help. Give us a call or reach out through email today.