Gardens – I get it! Flower gardens, shrubs, and trees look so good close to your home. They create a soft transition from the yard to the structure and typically are seen to increase “curb appeal.” However, planting anything next to the foundation of your home is highly unrecommended. What is needed when it comes to planting? Well, NOT what we typically do: a designated flat space immediately adjacent to the foundation (avoiding slope), which ensures the water we put on the plants will stay in the roots and not drain away. Then, we usually surround the plants with mulch or rock, and all of this material needs to be contained so it doesn’t spill into grass or other landscaped areas. In order to achieve this containment, we install various forms of edging, which perform like a dam, holding the water close to the foundation, rather than allowing it to retreat from the building. 

If we plant shrubs or trees close to the foundation, they produce roots, which are constantly seeking water, cracks in foundations, or anything that allows them to grow stronger. 

And speaking of irrigation, we typically use a hose, drip lines, or sprinkler heads to water our grass, flowers, shrubs, or trees directly next to our foundation, which now has a decreased capacity to shed the water. All of this is a very bad idea for anyone who wants to avoid moisture and potential mold in the home.

Think of your foundation as a living, breathing being, which needs protection from the elements just like humans. It should not be bathed in moisture; it needs to breathe, and it needs to remain uncluttered in order to perform the job it’s designed to do. Your foundation is meant to keep water from compromising the structure of the home, thereby reduce the potential for water permeation and potential unwanted organic growth.