Vegetation Around Your Home

vegetation around home

Do not allow your home to be hidden by vegetation

While lush greenery may look charming around a home, having vegetation too close to the structure can cause more harm than good. Tree roots can creep into foundations and underground pipes, leading to costly repairs. Dense shrubs and climbing vines tend to trap moisture against walls, encouraging mold, mildew, and even wood rot. Insects and rodents often use overgrown plants as a bridge to enter the home, while overhanging branches can clog gutters, damage the roof, and block sunlight and airflow—key elements in keeping a house dry and well-ventilated.

Beyond the risk of structural damage, vegetation near the home also presents safety hazards. In areas prone to wildfires, dry plants and brush close to the building become serious fire risks. Even in less extreme environments, accumulated leaves and organic debris around the perimeter of a home can hold in moisture and provide ideal conditions for pests. Keeping a clear buffer between your home and dense vegetation is not just about maintaining curb appeal—it's a necessary step in protecting your property and health.

trees around home

In addition to preventing insect damage, managing vegetation helps improve home security. Avoid letting tall shrubs or dense trees create hiding spots near doorways, walkways, or windows. Ideally, keep plantings under three feet tall in these areas. Pruning plants that obstruct your home from the street or your neighbors' view can also be a smart safety measure. While privacy is important, visibility helps ensure that any suspicious activity around your home doesn’t go unnoticed. When you're away, neighbors are more likely to notice anything unusual if they can see your doors and windows. Curtains and blinds offer indoor privacy—your landscaping doesn’t need to.

Regular maintenance is key. Trim back tree branches, vines, and shrubs so they don’t touch your home’s siding or roof. This allows sunlight to reach moisture-prone areas and discourages wood-boring insects, which are drawn to damp wood and the shelter of overgrowth. Branches and vines can act as ladders for pests, and decaying wood from dead trees or stumps within 50 feet of your home can support insect infestations. Firewood should also be stored off the ground and away from the house to avoid attracting unwanted guests.

Thoughtfully managed greenery around your beautiful home enhances both safety and longevity while still allowing your property to feel natural and inviting. Yes, its a lot of work, but your investment should always be your concern.

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Buying a home is arguably the most important, exciting and nerve-wracking purchase a person will ever make. This is the reason you need a great home inspector, and Dave Valley is just that. He is empathetic – he understands and appreciates the various emotions a potential home-buyer goes through. Most importantly, Dave provides you with objective information so you can make the most informed decision possible.

It was a pleasure working with Dave – he contains all the qualities that make a great home inspector – he is the consummate professional, prompt, courteous, meticulous in his detail and honest. Dave was reasonably priced – in fact Dave charged me the same amount I spent 10 years earlier on a smaller house and provided a far better work product.

Prompt

I arrived at the house at the agreed upon time on a cold and nasty day, and found Dave outside inspecting the exterior of the home. He was already a half hour into his inspection – I think this exemplifies and is symbolic of the fact that Dave is respectful of his client’s time.

Courteous

Dave was pleasant to deal with, personable and thoughtful not only to his client but also to the buyer’s real estate agent.

Detail-oriented

Dave spent almost four hours in his investigation of a 2,000 square foot house. He answered all my questions and reviewed every observation he had with me. David provided a detailed report, and encouraged me to call and email him to discuss the report and to ask questions.

Conclusion

The highest compliment I can give Dave is to say that I would use him again and will encourage and recommend him to others.

Michael S. Giaimo