large poplar tree fairly near house, is it a problem?

tucbiscuit

Hi any help with this is appreciated, I am looking at buying a house which has a fairly large tree in the front garden. I have worked out it is a poplar tree, but not sure what type of poplar. It is a large tree with a really thick base (at least three feet diameter).

The tree is roughly 15 metres from the house (I say house, it's a bungalow).

I can't see any damage to the house, but was just wondering if anyone knew anything about poplar trees and their roots and how likely they are to damage a house and what is a safe distance from a house for a tree to be.

If anyone is knowledgeable and would like to help I can pm them an address as you can get a good look at this tree on google street view.

thanks in advance if anyone can help

hallowitch

I renewd my house insurance today with different insurance company and one of the questions the asked me was if there were any large trees near my house

[Deleted User]

a safe distance for a poplar which is 28m high is 35m from the house

Fluffysheep38

Hello. This is a little vague I'm affraid, but I watched the TV show Help, my house is falling down. One house was terribly affected by tree roots. They damaged the pipes under the ground and the house had terrible subsidence.

From what I remember its something like however high the tree is, thats the length the roots will come outwards (can't be 100% sure though).

I think there's also a difference with what tree it is. Trees which need buckets more water will automatically head towards water pipes in search of the water.

I've just tried to look on the channel 4 website, but it doesn't state this info which was talked about on the show, but there is info on the protection of large trees.

Apologies for fairly vague info, but maybe it will give you a start in a google search lol!

Good Luck

Errata

If it's one of these poplars, they don't have much of a root system. We pulled half a dozen out from out back garden with a Land Rover and chain.

tucbiscuit

thanks for the replies so far, it's not one of those poplars, it's rounder and stouter, with a chunky trunk

westiea

I would get a qualified Arborist (tree surgeon) to give you an opinion and put it in writing.

That way you will know any potential and long term problems you may have, will also aid negotiations with the seller, mortgage company and buildings insurer.

Dustykitten

I've been looking at tree species to plant in our back garden and sorry to say but the one mentioned most for doing damage was the poplar species so I would definitely get it checked out.

newleaf

Unfortunately, Poplars are one of the worst trees to have near to a house. You need to get specialist advice.

jay1976

I had a poplar tree in my back garden much higher than the house, I had it removed in the end at some cost. The tree specialists cut the tree down in high winds the one bloke was swaying from side to side up the tree, while trying to cut the tree with a chain saw, I just couldnt watch :eek:.
Its true the roots do go a long way, I had to dig out the garden as it was full of rubble and the roots go close to the house.

tucbiscuit

thaanks for all the replies, it's possibly a black poplar, and may be protected