'I've seen homes lose thousands in value because they are growing one of these 4 plants'
While a lush green garden can add character to your home and garden, some plants can actually be damaging to your property if they're left to grow. From cracked brickwork to damaged drains, certain plants might look beautiful but can cause serious problems that hit you where it hurts most: your wallet and your property value.
Kevin Barzegar, a property expert atKaybridge Residential, has shared how there are four plants that can impact property sales and maintenance costs. He explains: "I've seen properties lose thousands in value because of problematic plants. What starts as an innocent garden feature can turn into a nightmare that's expensive to fix and puts off potential buyers."
While English Ivy certainly looks pretty, it's one plant that can be terrible for your property. Kevin dubs it "the wall destroyer." This climbing plant clings to walls with tiny roots that burrow into mortar and brickwork, causing cracks and crumbling.
Alongside causing damage to brickwork, ivy traps moisture against walls, leading to damp problems and creating hiding spots for pests. This plant should be removed professionally, as pulling it off the wall yourself can lead to more damage.
Bamboo is great for creating privacy screens, but this plant has one of the most aggressive root systems around. Once established, bamboo is incredibly difficult to control, and its roots can regenerate from even the smallest fragments.
Kevin said: "I've seen bamboo roots travel several meters from where they were planted. They push through paving, damage structures, and can crack foundations."
The invasive Japanese Knotweed is any homeowner's worst nightmare. Kevin said: "Japanese Knotweed can make your property virtually unsellable. I've seen sales collapse and homes drop in value significantly because of it."
Knotweed can grow up to 10cm a day, with tough roots that exploit cracks in paving, brickwork, and foundations. Leaving this to grow can also land you in legal trouble under the UK's Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
This law makes it an offence to cause knotweed to spread into the wild, and if it encroaches onto a neighbour's property, you could face civil claims and costly removal. Treatment for Japanese knotweed can take years and can run from £900 up to £20,000 depending on severity.
Willow TreesWillow trees can be a beautiful addition to any garden, but they should never be planted too close to your property as their roots actively seek out water, and will head straight for drains and pipes.
Kevin said: "Willow roots can extend up to three times the height of the tree. A 10-meter willow could have roots spreading 30 meters, easily reaching underground pipes."
Damage caused by willow trees can cracked pipes, blocked drains, and ground movement affecting foundations, with repair costs often running into the thousands.