How far should shrubs be from your house? Far enough that no leaf, branch or stem touches the wall, the windows or the roof. A foot or two is the least you want, and three feet is better where the bed is wide enough. In Brevard County, where plants grow all year, shrubs against the house are one of the easiest ways for pests to walk indoors.
TL;DR
- Shrubs that touch the house are a bridge for ants, roaches and rats.
- Keep a clear gap between every plant and the wall. A foot or two at minimum.
- Keep branches and palm fronds off the roof and away from the eaves.
- Thick growth also holds moisture against the wall, and pests like damp.
- Fall is a good time for a hard trim. Plants grow slower and the rainy season is over.
Why do shrubs near the house cause pest problems?
A shrub touching the wall is a ramp. Ants walk up the stem, cross the leaf, and step onto the stucco. Roaches do the same. Rats climb too, and a thick shrub gives them cover while they do it.
Shrubs also hold water. A dense bush blocks sun and wind, so the soil and the wall behind it stay damp long after the rain stops. Moisture draws ants and roaches. Our post on why you keep seeing ants in your home explains how a colony uses a plant as a path to the kitchen.
UF/IFAS tells Florida homeowners to prune plants so they sit away from the structure and to cut back any limbs that overhang or touch the house. That is the same advice, from the state extension service.
How far back should you trim?
There is no single number in Florida. Use these as a working rule.
- Walls and windows. Leave a clear gap so you can see daylight between the plant and the wall. A foot or two is the least. Three feet is better.
- Roof and eaves. Nothing should touch the shingles, the fascia or the soffit. About 3 feet off the roof is the rule of thumb technicians use.
- Air conditioner, meter box and hose bib. Keep these clear too. Ants and crazy ants love the warm, damp spots around them.
- Plant shape. Cut shrubs so they are narrower at the bottom and wider at the top, a V shape. Sun then reaches the lower part and the base of the wall.
If a shrub is too big to keep a gap, it is in the wrong place. Move it, or take it out and put in something smaller.
Do shrubs attract rats to a Brevard home?
They can. UC IPM says roof rats usually live and nest above the ground, in trees, thick shrubs and palm fronds. A tall hedge that meets the roofline gives them a road from the yard to the attic. UF/IFAS lists ornamental shrubs among the places roof rats live, and says to keep trees and branches trimmed away from the building.
Our posts on palm fronds and roof rats and citrus trees and roof rats cover the other plants that do the same job.
What we see in Brevard
On Melbourne and Palm Bay homes, the usual pattern is a bed built years ago with small plants, now grown into one wall of leaves against the stucco. Mulch is piled up under it. Shrubs and mulch touching the house take longer to treat properly, because the bugs have cover right where we need to work. Our post on whether mulch attracts bugs covers the bed itself.
What to do now
- Walk the house and look up. Find every plant touching a wall, window, gutter or roof.
- Cut back anything touching. Trim to leave a clear gap, using sharp pruners so the cuts are clean.
- Take branches off the roof. Use a pole saw, or call a tree service for anything above reach. Do not climb a wet roof.
- Pull mulch back from the slab at the same time, so the base of the wall is bare and dry.
- Check again in six weeks. Florida shrubs grow back fast, and a small trim now is easier than a big one in spring.
When to call somebody
Trimming helps, but it does not remove a colony or a nest that is already inside. If you cut the plants back and still see ants on the walls, hear scratching in the attic at night, or find droppings, call us. Our general pest control page lists what we cover, and our rodent control page explains attic work. A weekend of pruning is a job you can do yourself.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How far should shrubs be from your house?
Far enough that no leaf, branch or stem touches the wall, the windows or the roof. A foot or two is the least, and three feet is better where the bed is wide enough.
Why do shrubs near the house cause pest problems?
A shrub touching the wall is a ramp for ants, roaches and rats. Dense shrubs also hold water, and the damp soil and wall draw ants and roaches.
Do shrubs attract rats to a Brevard home?
They can. UC IPM says roof rats usually nest above the ground, in trees, thick shrubs and palm fronds. A tall hedge that meets the roofline gives them a road to the attic.
How far should branches be from the roof?
Nothing should touch the shingles, the fascia or the soffit. About 3 feet off the roof is the rule of thumb technicians use.
Will trimming shrubs get rid of the pests?
Trimming helps, but it does not remove a colony or a nest already inside. If you still see ants, hear scratching in the attic or find droppings, call a pest company.
Dealing with this at your place?
Gator Pest Control has served Brevard County since 1994. Free estimates, no contracts.
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