Additional tips
- In order to avoid any inconvenience, avoid planting anything within 3 m of the pipe and ideally 5 m from the pipeline.
- For more peace of mind, you can protect your pipes with a “stop-root” film. You can also make a buried wall to isolate the underground parts.
- If your pipes are buried at least 1 m deep, you can install perennials above and nearby. They will not cause any damage to your installations.
- If you have geothermal collectors in your garden, it is essential that you install nothing other than a lawn, as buried pipes are even more fragile and the earth nearby stays frozen longer when the heating is on.
Rosebush
There are many varieties of roses, some of which are in shrub or bush form. In this case, the roots are shallow and they have the advantage of being very robust and producing very many flowers. You can thus opt for a Bourbon rose, an Alba rose, etc. Shrub roses are those that require the least maintenance. It only takes a slight pruning before spring.
Azalea
This flowering shrub forms colorful bushes. They can reach a height of 0.30 m to 2 m high. We can distinguish the evergreen azaleas also called “Japanese” or the deciduous azaleas also called “Chinese”. The former are more or less hardy, while the deciduous species are all. You can plant it in acidic, humus-rich, well-drained and cool soil to watch it develop with pleasure. Whatever they are, azaleas prefer a location in partial shade or possibly a sunny location as long as you spare them sun scorch. Its roots are shallow, so you need to be careful not to bury it too deep and just cover the root ball.
Blueberry
This fruit shrub allows you to enjoy blueberries in your garden. This fruit of North American origin is from the same family as our wild blueberry, but it is a different species. It has a dense habit and glossy dark green leaves. In autumn its leaves take on a beautiful flamboyant red color. In spring, it is covered with small white flowers that have the shape of bells. These blue fruits with multiple virtues follow in the middle of summer. The “highbush” blueberry is a shrub that can reach up to 1.80 m in height. To be able to benefit from it, it is necessary to have a loose and acidic soil with a pH between 4.2 and up to 6. To offer you an abundant harvest of fruits, it will prefer a sunny location. It is very rustic.
Lilac
Lilac is renowned for its superb fragrant bloom. Rustic, this shrub is characterized by deciduous foliage. It can measure in 5 and 6 m and is easily cultivated. It is best to set it up in a sunny location, otherwise you may end up with a bloom that is paler in hues than it should be. The roots will extend over a length corresponding to one and a half times the width of the shrub. You can thus maintain a safe distance. The advantage with this type of shrub is that its roots will follow the water and nutrient sources that do not show resistance. Therefore, there is little risk of damaging what you want to protect.
Boxwood
This small shrub is widely distributed in gardens. It can be carved or left as is. It is characterized by evergreen foliage that can be green, golden, bluish or variegated with cream. Its growth is slow. It supports all exposures even if it does better in the sun or in partial shade. It supports temperatures down to -20 ° C and can adapt to all types of soil unless they are soggy. It is an easy shrub to grow and maintain.
Cistus
This fairly compact shrub has a bushy shape. Its evergreen foliage is dark green to gray-green depending on the species. Slender in shape, the leaves have a sticky texture and a wavy edge. The flowers it adorns itself from May to July are white or pink and resemble crepe paper. It is a shrub that is not very resistant and therefore will not be suitable for all regions. Used to growing in scrubland, it likes the sun, as well as poor, dry soil.
Rhododendron
Very hardy, the rhododendron is appreciated for its beautiful flowering which can extend from the end of winter to the beginning of summer. In order for you to enjoy its large flowers, you must provide it with perfectly drained soil and a location in partial shade. Full sun is its worst enemy, as is standing water. This evergreen shrub can measure 0.5 to 5 meters. Its roots develop on a fan-shaped surface, so your pipes are safe.
Lavatere
Among the many varieties of lavatera, the one with shallow roots is lavatera olbia or Hyères lavatera. It can be used as a hedge or in a bed in filtering soil, even dry, and in a sunny and warm location. It is a shrub that is particularly resistant to spray. Its main interest lies in its large pink flowers which bloom from May until the first cold weather. It is quite rustic since it supports temperatures down to -15 ° C.