How close to houses can you plant trees?

Trees should be planted 15 to 20 feet away from a house or outbuilding. The distance depends on the projected size of the mature tree.

Trees provide a wonderful service to home and business owners by producing shade, but they need to be sited properly at the time of initial planting in order to best meet the needs of the property. Trees that are planted too close to structures run the risk of posing a fire danger, particularly for those who live in regions where seasonal wildfires are a possibility. Trees that are too close to buildings may also be a contributory factor to basement humidity and flooding, especially if they are species that require a great deal of extra watering during the dry season.