Cherry tree in garden.

The roots on these usually spread as wide as the branches, and are usually quite close to the surface, and 6ft is nowhere near enough distance from the house.
I would see your local council, explain the situation to them and see what happens, Derek.

Ornamental Cherries have fibrous roots, so are unlikely to damage a house.

They are really beautiful in spring.

I have one just 4 feet from the house which was [lanted about 50 years ago by my father. It is now dying in bits every year and we have to prune out the dead branches. But absolutely no problems with the roots. As Kildermorie says, they just aren't tough enough. On an aside though, we have a close neighbour who has a sycamore just yards from our house. That one is causing disagreements.

Also, if your Surveyor is any good then he/she will investigate any problems with the roots. Our Daughter lives in a Conservation area and even though their neighbours have shown the Council the damage a tree is doing to all the properties, they are still not allowed to remove it.

It must depend on what variety you're growing, the rootson mine, which I cut down last year, were as thick as my arm, and spread out as far as the branches, and it was a devil of a job to get them out, Derek.

Tricky one.., If the variety of cherry can be determined then, the above questions could reasonably be answered. As it is, -
Six feet doesn't seem an awful lot; How big is the tree now?

Some, grafted onto rootstock, trees will have a very limited growth depending upon which rootstock is used. Whereas, if grown from seed...

A bit of judicial root-pruning may well be all that is needed in future years if it is not a problem right away.

The original poster says it is an Ornamental Cherry, not a Fruit Cherry. Ornamental Cherry are short lived (20-30 years) and do not have problematic roots.

Thank you so much for all your valued answers to my question re cherry trees. Ive been v Busy at house im buying and so havn't replied individualy. There are more trees at the house eg:non native Eucalyptus, prob o.k for cold remedies?? When settled i'll no doubt have more questions. I adore most trees, plants all flora but my knowledge is limited unfortunatly. Thanks for all answers. I'll go and sit near the christmas tree safe in the knowledge there is no root invasion. Happy Christmas. Rainbird.

The one I had was planted by my father, also 50 years ago, and showed no sign of dieing off, but it had to go, to make room for my new greenhouse, Derek.

Eucalyptus tends to have deep rather than spreading roots. So again not one that one would worry about near a house. It is an issue if it is 50ft tall...

We had one a few feet from our neighbour's drive and the roots were so near the surface they cracked the drive.

Ornamental cherries are often surface rooters and I would dig down where the tree roots could meet the house foundations. I would cut back any roots and investiage the product 'Rootguard' which I believe can be placed against the foundations and will prevent contact with roots,

Owdboddy, has anyone in your daughter's neighbourhood tried a few anonymous copper nails in that tree?

STERAGRAM!! Breaking the law is not allowed. (But it may work).

1st. make sure what variety the tree is, ornamental might be alright but if its a fruiting cherry like the one we had outside our house and the same which caused subsidence on our two front bays because the roots were under the house searching for water. This all took four years (one year was for monotoring) to decide what action to take and in the end our insurance paid for the work after a £1000 excess was paid first and that has now gone up to £2000! The tree has been removed I am glad to say but we will have difficulty selling our house when the time comes. :(

Surely it isn't breaking the law if its in your own garden? Does being in a conservation area automatically put TPOs on all the trees?

@Steragram. Yes. Certainly true in England, and Wales usually has the same laws.