Planting an Oak close to house, how close?

bold_defender · Hazel Tree Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 1

What distance is reasonable to leave between a oak and a house in terms of root damage.

GPI · Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 4:07 pm Post subject: Planting an Oak close to house

Hello bold_defender,
Welcome to Irish Gardeners.
I would class an oak tree as a forest tree, wide in canopy and root.
No forest tree should be planted within 20 mtrs of a house, ideally 30mtrs.

However, you may not have a true oak tree, maybe it is a cultivated variety.
If it is, then you may be able to plant it closer.
Supply us with the Latin name as printed on the label (if any).

Bugs · Ash Tree Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 210 Location: Dublin

GPI · Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 7:39 pm Post subject:

And that tree probably stopped its main growth spurt around about year 200.
So I guess you could say that under good growing conditions that an oak tree will put on 1 mtr of crown spread every 4 to 8 years.
With a possible similar root spread.

verge · Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 8:09 pm Post subject:

Hi bold_defender. If you choose to plant the traditional English oak its botanical name is Quercus robur. It is also known as French oak, Black oak, , Pedunculate oak, Slavonian oak or Polish oak. A nice tree but quite slow growing.