Question From:
Cheryl Berry in Glass House Mountains, Glass House Mountains Queensland
Nature of problem:
I need to access if the plants have an invasive root systems so as to damage pipes
Type of Plant (if known):
Dwarf Baby Bunting Lillypilly and Nerium Oleander
Symptoms of Plant Illness (please try NOT to diagnose your problems yourself):
None
Soil Type (e.g. sandy, clay or loam) OR Potting Mix Type:
Clay
How often do you water the plant:
Every second day in Summer
How many hours of sunlight does the plant get each day:
Morning Sun
How long since you planted it:
2 Years
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:
In the Ground
What other treatments have you given the plant:
Only a light prune.
Upload photo if available:
Other Comments:
I am concerned that the roots of these shrubs may be invasive to sewer and storm water pipes and need to know if that is correct.
I would appreciate your expertise.
Thankyou
Answer:
Hi Cheryl, Any plant can grow into pipes seeking water, however, 99% of the time that this occurs is when the pipes are made of clay and are already leaking at their joints. IE the pipes cause the problem, not the plants. If you have modern plastic piping, there is little to worry about. While Oleanders are not water-seekers, all lillypillies are water lovers. Nonetheless, in the very rare case where they break pipes, it would be entirely by accident – plants are not clairvoyant enough to guess that inside a plastic pipe there is water. The nasty plants that break footpaths, gutters and roads are mostly evergreen figs (Hills weeping fig and other rainforest figs are the worst) . Don
