I think it looks nice there.
If you see large roots around the sidewalk, i would just cut them at that point. Roots invading and messing up foundations is waaay overated. If you are really concerned but also want to keep the tree i would put a 2 foot root barrier down in the soil right infront of those 3 bushes you have there and it might cut through some of the cherry roots but should keep roots from growing towards the house.

Here is a link that might be useful: root barrier link

Your call. To me it looks like it's only going to get bigger and bigger and bigger. You'll be needing to do a lot of limb removal as it starts to hit the house.

I'd probably put in something that would be a bit smaller. Evergreen dogwood, Kousa dogwood, crape myrtle, East Palatka or Eagleson holly.

Does this area get some shade? If so, maybe Sasanqua camellia or a Stewartia.

If you don't remove it, you'll worry and second guess yourself. Let it bloom once more in spring then take it out - and spend the winter selecting a smaller replacement.

bboy is right i do get very large surface roots some as thick as the trunk. and like dave say i do have to do a lot of limb removal. one of the problems is that i have to cut the main branches in the middle because i don't want to go all the way to the trunk. This tree get a lot of water from two drip irrigation lines. One for the flower bed and one for the bushes. There is also a lot of compost and fertilizers around the annual flower bed.
This area does get shade, its the east facing side of the house and i have a large birch that shade the area from about noon (see the picture).
I have two big Japanese maples in 45 gallon pot that need replanting. Do you think it will be a good to put one instead of the cherry?

boy thats a big black eye.. in the middle of a gorgeous house ..

get rid of it ...

the idiot who planted it ...didnt really understand it a freakin tree... and as such.. it will continue to grow.. FOREVER... and eventually swamp out the entire architectural impact of the house... lol.. it was probably the architect herself... lol ... trees grow???

i would also get rid of all the shrubs along the garage... on the same logic ...

IMHO .. the tree goes ASAP ... the shrubs.. within a few years ...

i doubt its much of a danger to much of anything [maybe the sidewalk in a few decades] ...

its just ugly as sin ...

ken

Thanks Ken
The shrubs along the garage already gone. They were indian hawthorn and full of leaf spots. They grew on the garage window sills and the wood behind was completely rotten with termite damage. I took all 6 of them out with the roots, I had to replace all the wood and treat the soil for termite. It was a costly damage but i learned the lesson.

With the birch on the left the spot for another tree is the other side, near the right corner of the house. Will have to be something that develops fairly quickly to get big enough to balance the birch (and soften the way that half of the house juts out at the viewer) reasonably soon.

When we bought our house way back 1999 the cherry tree still little. it doesn’t bear fruits only flowers it’s now 2020 the cherry is tall and the roots are huge and it’s almost close to our driveway. i love the tree cuz of its flowers but the problem is the roots I don’t want the roots to destroy our driveway. I talked to a landscaper to cut my cherry down cuz it’s already destroying my grass and all you can see are those huge roots.

This cherry tree to the far right is higher than the roof right now . It is planted very close to the house. Do you think the roots will hurt the foundation? Your post made me think of mine!!

Dale, mine is exactly like yours and planted about 5 feet from the house I dont want it damaging the foundation I’d rather move it now than allow it to do structrual damage. I don’t think lansdcapers/homebuilders think about what they are planting for the home’s future

Although this was initially posted ages ago, if you read any of the previous responses you should have figured out that tree roots will have minimal impact to a structurally sound foundation. That is not a worry....roots DO NOT affect a structurally sound, intact foundation!! The issue with the cherry in the OP's post was the incidence of surface roots that can affect sidewalks and driveways. Lots of tree develop surface roots - cherries are a big offender - and they can crack or lift the relatively thin slabs of concrete walkways and drives. But they don't bust through a solid foundation wall!!

However, wouldn’t it be better to move the tree to a different location that’s further away from the house before it starts hitting the gutter and roof? Seems like deal with the issue now, while a less expensive problem and save the tree

If you keep it pruned the roots will have to feed less so won't grow much.. I had a huge fig right next to our house..they are bad offenders..it didn't do any damage but was way too big for the area.

One question..(you've probably moved the tree by now) what direction is the house facing? if south, no way would I move it! I'm madly planting trees that will get huge to shade our patio and large gravel driveway and parking area. They are all heat sinks. And after this stinking hot summer..we need more shade on our S-SW facing home. The trees are further away though.

I do agree with gardengal48 though. Structurally sound foundation etc. I'm also in PNW.

"If you keep it pruned the roots will have to feed less so won't grow much.."

This may seem logical on the surface but it is actually an erroneous assumption. Pruning stimulates growth and that will be reflected in the root system as well. And tree roots grow much more vigorously, rapidly and farther away from the base of a tree than you might expect.

In short, keeping a tree pruned unnecessarily can be damaging to the tree and will have no impact on its ability to generate surface roots. As noted previously, some trees just do so with impunity :-))

I wasn't suggesting unnecessary pruning..just keeping it pruned. In no way damaging to the tree.

I will take the root growth under advisement as I've been told by knowledgeable people otherwise..but always better to ere on the side of caution.

Concerning original discussion... I'm going ahead and planting a Prunus Serrulata next to a walkway. After I remove a HUGE NZ Flax(7'x7')...not looking forward to doing that!!

I'm considering planting a Prunus 'Snofozam' SNOW FOUNTAINS in a spot that will have sidewalk on the north and east side and concrete foundation on the west side with the south side being open (front entry/walkway of home).

The overall width of the area is only about 5', length is about 10'. Is this a bad idea? Would a root barrier system make it "safe"? Would keeping it in a container be better?

Snow Fountains is a naturally dwarfed form of weeping cherry. It may or may not be grafted. If it is grafted, that could influence more extensive surface root development than if not but in either case, I would not have concerns about the foundation. The walkways could be an issue as would be clearance for a relatively short, stubby tree that typically produces weeping stems that cascade to the ground. Without photos to illustrate the siting, it's hard to judge how well it might fit but these dwarf weeping cherries are commonly planted in often tight entry gardens or beds.

Don't have a great photo handy at the moment, just this.

There is virtually no roof/cover over the approx. 5'x10' area. The tree would be planted up towards the house (dirt area ends where the brick column is. It would be maintained to keep the spread mostly within the planted area.

Don't know what was used for root stock, but am pretty sure it is grafted at the base and top. It is currently about 6' tall. Have considered calling the nursery that grew it to ask about root stock, if they even know (bought at a box store, but has nursery information on the tag).

I appreciate your response to a post in an old thread!

Thanks for the photo....that helps. That space is too confining for that tree. While it is sometimes offered as a serpentine or a somewhat skinny umbrella, the unmanipulated shape would generate a tree as much as 15' tall and 12' wide. Even topgrafted at 6', it could easily develop a canopy spread that just would not fit in that space. And routine pruning rarely enhances the appearance of these.

Don't cut it is a beautiful