British Columbia: Vancouver: foundation/water main safe planting

Hi there!
Two-fold question...

What trees and flowering shrubs are safe to plant near a foundation (ideally right next to the house) and near the city water main? My concern is the roots damaging either.

Second, the house I'm going to move in to has in the back next to the house, a western red cedar that has been kept at gutter-height, and in the front is a type of cedar (not sure of the variety, but it's sometimes referred to as a "juniper"), of a similar height (diameters for both are around 10"). They have grown there for years and the house is 60 years old. There is no damage to the foundation currently. Are either safe to leave there (and kept short) or will they certainly eventually damage the foundation? The one in front is near the water main, too. Again, no damage currently.

I like them and really don't want to *have* to remove them.

Thanks!

 

Re: Vancouver BC: foundation/water main safe planting

I have been convinced over the years, by dealing with housing professionally & in my own home, that large shrubs & treees are best kept away from buidlings. for many reasons. If you really want them close to your house, I suggest careful pruning & keeping them to a modest size. When I have had to take plants out from around the house, I have tried to plant their replacements ahead of time which can be months or years. JMO.

My preference is to have nothing around my house for at least 1 meter, then, ideally I would consider smaller plants up to 3-4 feet. then larger ones can be introduced. I am definitely not a landscape designeer. My concerns are purely practical - moisture, debris, insects, vermin, maintaining suitable ground level & access to name the most obvious ones.

gb.

PS. Eric is being modest in your other post - the UBC Botanical Gardens themselves are one of BC's great resources for native plant gardening. A lovely trip for you & tons of ideas!

 

Thanks for the ideas. Darn, I was hoping to either keep them, or plant something in their place.

Not a good idea, huh? :/