How to Landscape if the Trees Are Too Close to the Sidewalk

Trim low-hanging branches from trees near sidewalks to keep them from impeding foot traffic on the path or causing injury to passersby. Use a pruning saw to remove dead and dying branches or those that jut into the path of the sidewalk. Bundle the removed branches with twine and dispose of them at a nearby landfill.

Plant a flowering ground cover around the base of the tree for an attractive landscaping option. Measure the distance between the tree and the sidewalk. Dig out a trench of the same width around the base of the tree in which to plant the ground cover. Opt for creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera), hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 9, which flowers with purple blooms from July to September and thrives in full sun to partial shade. Alternatively, select Grecian windflowers (Anemone blanda), hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8, which grows to a height of 6 to 12 inches and bursts forth into pink, white and/or blue blooms.

Replace older trees that have developed intrusive roots with new alternatives with smaller root systems. As trees grow bigger, the roots may grow so large that they buckle nearby sidewalks or work their way into septic systems or foundations. Opt for trees such as kousa dogwoods (Cornus kousa), hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8, which grow to a height of 15 to 30 feet, bloom in May and June and attract butterflies. Saucer magnolias (Manolia x soulangeana), hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9, add a touch of color and scent when they bloom in March and grow 20 to 25 feet tall. Both have smaller root systems due to their relatively short stature.