These are the best trees to plant close to your house and the ones you shouldn't if you want to avoid damage to your property, warn experts

Young silver birch trees growing in garden border next to fence and plants including alliums.

If you've been researching the best trees to plant close to a house and which ones to avoid, you're not alone; a little slice of nature right outside your window, adding shade in summer (and colour in autumn) sounds positively dreamy... but only if you do it properly.

That's right: whether you've been researching the best trees for small gardens or have visions of a towering oak or fluffy blossom, it's always a good idea to pause for a reality check. Because some trees? Well, they’re basically homewreckers in disguise.