eucalptus tree

[honkytonk]

anyone no if this tree can damage house foundations

[andyjevs]

I don't think they are particularly deep rooted or go looking for a water supply such as drainage pipes like willows do BUT........ Eucalyptus grow quick and they grow big. I planted one 6 years ago and it is already 60'+.....and it was 12" high when planted. They have the ability to grow to at least 80' within a very short space of time. But they can be cut back and grown as almost a shrub.

[Chessman]

My neighbour has 2, quite close to his and my houses, they've been there for at least 20 years, and we've never had any problems.

[alan30]

I deal with a lot of tree related subsidence claims.  It is dependent on a number of factors, particulalrly the soil type.  If you live in an area with shrinkable clay then any tree in the right circumstances can extract water from the soil causing the soil to shrink and causing subsidence damage to buildings founded on the soil.  Faster growing trees such as willow, poplar and eucalyptus can be more of a problem due to their higher water demands to sustain the growth rates.  Other factors include the size ot the tree and its proximity to the building.  If the house is relatively new and the eucalyptus or other trees were there when the house was built, the foundations should have been designed to take the potential for a clay soil to shrink into account.  If you are talking about roots directly damaging foundations then this is unlikely unless the tree is hard up against the property.  If the tree is large and or very close and you are on shrinkable clay then get proper advice from an arboricultural consultant.  Arboricultural Association (http://www.trees.org.uk/) can give you names local to you.  If there is a potential problem don't be led into believing that reducing the tree in size will help; it needs a drastic reduction on a regular basis to make any difference.  If you cut eucalyptus down it will regrow with a vengeance from the cut stump so poisoning or stump grinding is required.