Cherry tree roots?

[YJ]

Hi all - I'm planning to plant a cherry tree - Prunus avium Stella - in the front garden, 4.5m from the house. My neighbour thinks the roots might spread to damage our foundations. I'd been told that the height can be limited to 6ft (by pruning) so didn't see how the roots could spread as much as 4.5m - what do you think? Is it ok to plant it there?

[landscaper2]

I assume you live in a 'clay' area, hence your neighbour's worry. The tree you mention is a relatively small tree, but it is grafted onto the vigorous wild cherry root stock and 4.5m does seem a little close to your house. See http://www.bureauinsure.co.uk/tree.htm for MINIMUM recommended planting distances from buildings. Hope this helps, could you edge the planting a little further away?

[TBinEye]

I'm in the process of trying to get rid of the roots of a Prunus which I had to cut down. I'm unsure about the roots damaging foundations (I would have thought that unlikely) but the roots are proving to be an awful nuisance. There are shoots coming up all over my garden, the neighbours garden and the green in the front of the house. Planting a tree is fine, but 20 years down the line you'll have problems.