With its picturesquely twisted branches, the corkscrew willow, also known as the zigzag willow, is an attractive eye-catcher. This willow is one of the vigorous trees with extensive roots. For this reason, it should always be placed at a sufficient distance from buildings and neighboring properties.
What distance should a corkscrew willow be from the house?
The recommended distance of a corkscrew willow from the house is at least 14 meters to avoid damage to the masonry and accidents during storms. Please also note the legal boundary distances to neighboring properties, which are regulated differently in each federal state.
Growth habit and size
The zigzag willow can grow up to twelve meters tall. As a shallow-rooted tree, this tree also has an extensive root system that does not adhere to property boundaries. In order not to endanger the peace of the neighbor and to avoid damage to buildings, you should definitely pay attention to appropriate planting distances.
The distance to the house
The shallow-rooted tree reaches its final height quite quickly, as it grows up to 80 centimeters in height per year.
The required planting distance is calculated as follows:
- Expected height of the tree + two meter safety allowance.
- This results in a distance to buildings of at least 14 meters.
That may sound like a lot. This distance should under no circumstances be fallen short of for the safety of people and animals.
The reason:
- The roots of these trees spread into the upper layers of the soil and become significantly wider than the crown.
- If you place the corkscrew willow too close to a building, the strong roots could damage the masonry unnoticed over time.
- The shallow-rooted zigzag willow can also tip over during a storm and fall onto the house.
- This applies equally to, for example, car parking spaces, the garage, sidewalks or other structures.
Legal regulations for border distances
You should also strictly adhere to the legal regulations when it comes to the distance to the neighboring property. Since only a small part of neighborhood law is regulated in the Civil Code, the border distance from trees is a matter for the states. Unfortunately, almost every federal state has its own regulations in this regard.
Depending on the country, the regulations see growth vigor as a yardstick for planting distance. In this case, this is calculated based on the maximum attainable height of the zigzag willow. To avoid a rude awakening, it makes sense to ask the municipality directly about the regulations that apply to you before you plant a corkscrew willow.
Tip
For it to thrive, it is important not only to keep the right distance from the house, but also to give the zigzag willow the right location. The pretty trees prefer sunny to partially shaded places. The shallow-rooted plant is undemanding when it comes to soil and tolerates almost any substrate, provided it is not too dry.
