5 trees you should never plant along the pavement

When selecting garden trees, consider not only growth rate and shade provision, but also root behaviour. A poorly chosen tree can heave up paving, damage paving stones, or reach underground pipework over the years.

When choosing garden plants, attention is usually paid to how quickly a tree grows and how much shade it provides. However, it is equally important to consider the tree's root system, especially when the planting site is near a pavement, paving stones, or underground pipes.

Planting the wrong tree species along the pavement can cause serious problems over the years: roots can lift stones, crack concrete slabs, or reach water and sewage pipes. Repairing such damage is expensive and troublesome.

For this reason, it is worth thinking carefully before planting which tree species is suitable for a particular location. While some species are indeed attractive and fast-growing, their root systems are so aggressive that they should not be planted near pavements.