The $20 Garden Center Purchase That Could Damage Your House Years Later

A $20 garden center tree may seem like a bargain, but planting it too close to your home can lead to expensive problems years later. Mature roots, branches, and poorly planned placement can threaten pavement, plumbing, and nearby structures. Page Light Studios/Shutterstock

That $20 tree sitting outside the garden center might look like the perfect bargain for your yard. It’s small enough to fit in your trunk, promises beautiful shade, and seems like an inexpensive way to improve your landscaping. But plant it in the wrong spot, and that innocent-looking sapling could eventually contribute to cracked pavement, damaged sewer lines, or costly problems around your home’s foundation.

The problem isn’t necessarily the tree itself. It’s where homeowners decide to plant it without considering how large it will become.