Question From:
George in FISH HOEK, Cape Town International
Nature of problem:
Bottlebrush close to pier foundation
Type of Plant (if known):
Bottlebrush
Symptoms of Plant Illness (please try NOT to diagnose your problems yourself):
Healthy
Soil Type (e.g. sandy, clay or loam) OR Potting Mix Type:
Unknown
How often do you water the plant:
Never
How many hours of sunlight does the plant get each day:
8
How long since you planted it:
Unknown
Have you fertilised? If so, with what and when:
No
Is the plant indoors or outdoors:
Outdoors
Is the plant in a pot or in the ground:
Ground
What other treatments have you given the plant:
None
Upload photo if available:
Other Comments:
Hi Don, I found an answer from you on the web to a question by a reader that was concerned about a bottlebrush to close to their house and possibly causing damage to the foundations. In your answer you assumed the house had a solid slab, and hence concluded it poses no risk. I have the same question, with a healthy bottlebrush with height 3m and spread 2m planted about 1m from a pier of a 60 year old home at ground level. The pier is probably about 0.5m beneath ground level. The pier is one of three that supports a 12m RC beam at first floor level on top of which the front wall of the home is built (the home is built on a slope). It is a beautiful self sustaining tree and would hate to kill it. Kind regards, George
Answer:
Hi George, I see no problems at all with the bottlebrush’s roots in your situation. They love water, always growing near creeks or rivers in the wild in Australia, so they can block leaking water pipes (eg sewerage). But they do not cause the leaks: they just capitalise on them. They do not do structural damage at all. thanks for a precise and clear question. Don
