Latest news with #rosebush
Irish Times
14-07-2025
- General
- Irish Times
I'm worried the roots of my neighbour's roses will damage the foundation of my side wall. What can I do?
My house is semidetached and extends approximately 6ft beyond the rear wall of the adjoining house. My neighbour planted a large rose bush against my side wall a few years ago. This rose now climbs up to a height of almost 5m against my side wall. I understand roses can have deep root systems. My house was built in 1850 and has foundation walls only. I am concerned that the root system of this rose bush is going to damage the wall foundation right beside it. I would prefer to – excuse the pun – 'nip things in the bud' rather than wait for foundation problems, presumably subsidence, to develop. While I appreciate that my neighbours have the right to plant whatever they choose, what are my rights when it comes to their planting right beside my house's side wall/foundation? You have a right to protect your property, but demonstrating that the rose bush is a risk may be necessary. As the root system is not accessible for inspection, the potential damage, if any, is unknown. In addition to exerting pressure on the foundation, the growing root system would absorb moisture and cause shrinkage in a clay type soil, thereby weakening the underlying support to the foundation. To deal with it, I suggest you consider a three-stage approach. The first stage is to have an amicable conversation with your neighbour, outline your concerns, including the nature of the foundation and the possible risk of damage from growing roots. Your objective should be to bring the issue to their attention and assess their reaction. You may suggest relocation of the rose bush. [ Surely our neighbours are responsible for maintaining their old and dangerous oak tree? Opens in new window ] If you believe your neighbours will co-operate and remove the rose bush, you should monitor the situation and have follow-up conversations if necessary. However, if you detect reluctance to co-operate, you can assume that the issue is likely to become adversarial. Patrick Shine, chartered geomatics surveyor and chartered civil engineer The second stage involves building your case. There may not be any obvious indications of damage by the roots, but it is advisable to engage a chartered building surveyor to carry out an inspection and give you a written assessment. The foundation will be a key factor in the assessment. As you do not have access to it at the location of the roots, you should, if possible, excavate an opening in the ground at the external rear wall of your house close to the boundary to facilitate an inspection of the depth and condition of the foundation by your surveyor. This will enable the surveyor to form an opinion on the nature and depth of the foundation at the location of the roots. Your surveyor will also inspect and photograph the internal surface of the wall at which the rose bush is located to ascertain if cracks or dampness are evident. If your surveyor's assessment states that there is evidence of damage and that the roots are the likely cause, this will give you a strong case against your neighbour. If there is no evidence of damage, it will be necessary for your surveyor to monitor the situation periodically over several months, or more if necessary. Without evidence, you are dependent on your neighbour's goodwill and co-operation to deal with the issue. [ I'm worried about our home being devalued because our neighbour's trees block light. What can we do? Opens in new window ] However, if there is evidence of damage, or if damage becomes obvious during subsequent monitoring, you should engage again with your neighbour and offer them a copy of your surveyor's report and ask them to co-operate in resolving the issue. If your neighbour continues to refuse, you should tell them that you have little choice but to consider getting legal advice on how to protect your property. If there is still no positive response, the third stage will require a consultation with your solicitor who will consider various options. The first option may be to write to your neighbour requesting them to co-operate. Alternatively, your solicitor may consider if your neighbour is liable under nuisance law. If the damage is significant, or in the opinion of your surveyor, is potentially significant, your solicitor may apply to the District Court for a Works Order which is provided for under Sections 43 to 47 of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009. This legal provision covers a wide range of boundary-related issues that need to be rectified, and provides for access to adjoining property if necessary. The details contained in your surveyor's report will be essential for your solicitor to assess your case and advise if it is sufficient to persuade the court to grant a works order. Provided a sufficiently strong case is made, the District Court will grant a works order if an adjoining property owner refuses consent to grant access for inspections or necessary maintenance work, on or close to the boundary between the respective properties, to protect the applicant's property. Hopefully, by means of persuasion and patience on your behalf, and goodwill and co-operation on your neighbour's behalf, you will resolve the issue without getting to the third stage and thereby maintain good neighbourly relations. Patrick Shine is a chartered geomatics surveyor, a chartered civil engineer and a member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland. Do you have a query? Email propertyquestions@ This column is a readers' service. The content of the Property Clinic is provided for general information only. It is not intended as advice on which readers should rely. Professional or specialist advice should be obtained before persons take or refrain from any action on the basis of the content. The Irish Times and it contributors will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from reliance on any content
CTV News
09-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- CTV News
Flower and plant gift ideas for mom on Mother's Day
Robert Plante Greenhouses tells us what you can do outside ahead of the long weekend. Flowers and plants are a popular gift for mom on Mother's Day. And with sunshine and warm temperatures in the forecast for Ottawa starting this weekend, you may be thinking of what types of plants to get for mom on her special day. CTV Morning Live spoke with Colin Matassa of Robert Plante Greenhouses about gift ideas for mom for Mother's Day. 'Mother's Day weekend and we've got you covered. We've got tonnes of amazing gift ideas, whether you're looking for something flowering, like our hanging baskets or planters,' Matassa said Friday morning. 'Or maybe, if mom's a gardener, you can get her something to plant right in the garden.' Rose bushes Matassa says a rose bush is a great gift idea, and it's low maintenance. One suggestion he brought to CTV Morning Live is a 'Petite Rose' bush. 'It's a rose that stays very compact – only a foot by a foot. If you have a really small space, or even containers, the Petite Rose would be a great idea,' Matassa said. 'You can plant it in the garden; it will come back year after year. Sometimes people are a little bit scared of roses, they think it's really complicated but roses are actually very low maintenance. They'll bloom for you all summer.' Petit Rose bush Robert Plante Greenhouses shows off a Petit Rose bush on CTV Morning Live. Matassa says there are 'many different varieties of rose bushes.' 'You put bone meal when you plant them, and you have nothing to do after that,' Matassa said, adding the bone meal helps establish the roots. Flowering Perennials Another suggestion for mom for Mother's Day and for your garden is Flowering Perennials. A Flowering Perennial is a plant that will live for more than two years and bloom repeatedly. Robert Plante Greenhouses Robert Plante Greenhouses shows off some lupines on CTV Morning Live. Peonies Matassa says a peonies plant is a 'very nice one' for your garden. 'You plant them in the ground, they'll come back year after year,' Matassa said. Eclipse Hydrangea Matassa says new for 2025 at the Robert Plante Greenhouses is the Eclipse Hydrangea. 'This is a hydrangea that has really dark coloured leaves, and it's going to come out with these beautiful red flowers with a white interior,' Matassa said. 'It's a new variety for this year, so the chances are she doesn't have one of these.' Matassa says if mom is not into gardening in the ground, you can get her flowers or tropical plants. 'Great for the containers, great for the shade,' Matassa said about tropical flowers. Matassa also took some time to answer questions from CTV Morning Live viewers for gardening season. How do you bring back or fix patches of dry grass from the winter? 'The first thing is to choose the right type of grass seed; if you have a shady spot or a spot that's full of sun, you want to make sure you're picking the right grass seed – a good quality grass seed so you're sure it's going to grow,' Matassa said. 'Put a layer of top soil and you reseed all over. Make sure to not bury your seeds too deep because sometimes it won't germinate if it's too deep.' What is the best type of fern to use in an outdoor area that receives early morning and late afternoon sunshine? 'You can use something like the Kimberley Fern; these are a fantastic fern for pots,' Matassa said. 'They're a tropical plant; it's the type of fern that can take the most sun out of all of them.' Robert Plante Greenhouses is located on Navan Road.
