Swimming pool and ficus bushes

19 years ago

I posted this over at the swimming pool forum, thought I'd see what you guys thought.

~I have a row of ficus bushes that are 10' from our gunite pool. I have been told that the roots of the ficus will destroy my pool. However, I've had several pool contractors tell me that the roots are no match for the 7000psi gunite. Does anybody have any or know someone with ficus bushes near their pool, have your had any root problems? I'm ready now to rip them out and plant something else in their place if I need to.

Featured Answer

arbisi

19 years ago

As I said in respose to your question on the pool forum--ficus roots aren't a problem if the hedge is kept trimmed below 6 ft tall. Here is a bit of documentation I found:

"May 19, 2001

Question: I have a neighbor that recently planted a ficus hedge. Another neighbor told me it was illegal to plant ficus hedge due to the aggressive root system. Please inform me.
- Chris M., Fort Myers

Answer: Exotic invasive plants are usually banned from planting because of their ability to multiply unchecked, thereby, destroying native plant communities. However, ficus trees are the exception. They are often prohibited from being planted in some municipalities because of their destructive root systems and not necessarily because of their reproductive potential. Ficus roots have been known to cause destruction to roadways, sidewalks, and to interfere with building foundations and sewagesystems. Roots are much less invasive when planted as a hedge.

There are hundreds of ficus species found worldwide in the moist forests of the tropics and subtropics. Many species are stranglers outgrowing their host and often becoming massive free-standing trees themselves. Examples are the Cuban Laurel and our native Ficus aurea, better known as the strangler fig. You are prohibited from planting ficus plants in Fort Myers and certain other communities throughout South Florida. Check with your zoning department for verification. Ficus microcarpa, The Cuban or Indian Laurel, is now considered invasive because of its tendency to freely germinate from seeds.

Stephen Brown is a horticulture agent with the Lee County Extension. To submit questions call the horticulture desk at 461-7504 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. or via e-mail at shb@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu. Listen to the ÂGarden ShowÂ at 8 a.m. on 1200-AM WINK/WNOG."

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Comments (9)

katkin_gw
19 years ago
I can't say first hand about them doing damage to the gunite, but what about all the pipes that go to the pool? They are just PVC and can easily break at the fittings. I have had 11 leaks in my pool just because the soil wasn't properly compacted and settled. Nothing to do with massive roots putting pressure on them. Let's see what everyone else says.
coffeemom
19 years ago
Well, a ficus BUSH is really a ficus TREE cut to size. The ficus knows it's a tree and will send out roots accordingly even as you keep it pruned.
My backyard neighbor's ficus tree has sent roots the size of tree limbs into my yard.
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cindeea
19 years ago
We once lived next to a guy with a Ficus Benjamina hedge along the back of his property. The roots from his shrubs came all along the side between the houses where it proceeded to travel on and tear apart our sewer system in the front corner of our lot near the street! Beware!
livelife
Original Author
19 years ago
OK, I've started removing the ficus! Not too hard to do the biggest root I've found has been about the size of your thumb maybe a little bigger... now for the roots left in the ground, Do I need to worry about them? Will they just die? Oh, by the way, does anybody want any free ficus. :)
cindeea
19 years ago
livelife-Congrats girl, that is a very good, even though tough, sweat worthy project. I don't know about roots left in the ground. Do they keep growing?

Way To Go...nasty plants that will last for centuries if not removed.
fawnridge (Ricky)
19 years ago
The roots in the ground will die. If you are looking for a fast, inexpensive replacement - Cocoplum is a Florida native and can be grown into a hedge of almost any size. The roots will not travel far enough to cause your pool any problems.
S HF
5 years ago
My parents swimming pool was completely destroyed by the extensive damage caused by the next door neighbor’s fica tree. It cost them $45K to rebuild a new one on the opposite side of their yard! I’ve heard similar horror stories about the Fica’s invasive root system — it will eventually destroy anything in its path.
dirtygardener
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Had a friend in Venice who planted a ficus 20 feet from her house. Twenty years later, when she tried to sell her house, found out it had cracked the foundation and water was seeping up under her floor. She never noticed it because she had a floating wood floor over the concrete. She couldn't sell her house, so she took the tree out, killed the roots, then just tore the house down, ripped out the foundation, and built a new house.