SAVE YOUR TREES!
Important steps to take to prevent construction damage to your trees
by Mark Cummins - July 2006
Mark Cummins is an arborist with Ryan Lawn & Tree.
You can reach him at 913.381-1505.Each year many people plan and start large construction projects around their homes. Contractor damage caused from these projects may put your trees at risk. The larger the tree is, the more potential for damage. Site pre-planning may eliminate or greatly reduce tree damage.
Trees are a valuable asset to any home. They frame our houses, add character, provide privacy, and give shade during the hot summer months. It can be a terrible loss to lose a big tree, especially if it is a needless loss.
What is the problem with construction? The two main issues are soil compaction and equipment running into the tree. Compaction occurs when heavy machinery on the construction site drives over the ground adjacent to the trees. The weight of the equipment compacts the soil, reducing the amount of air space necessary for healthy root growth. The second issue is heavy equipment physically running into the tree, breaking branches or damaging the trunk.
To minimize damage, start with a site and construction plan assessment. Where will equipment need to travel? Where will the construction take place? How much of this area is full of primary tree feeder roots? If possible, set posts at the drip line of important trees in the construction zone. I recommend putting temporary fence on these posts to keep construction equipment and supplies out of the area. If the root zone is in the traffic pattern, use wood chips to reduce compaction. Mulch the chips six to ten inches deep out to the drip line of the tree. After construction is completed and the mulch is removed, have the lawn aerated to loosen the soil and allow optimal air penetration into the root zone.
Careless movement of heavy machinery can cause direct injury to trees during construction. Healthy trees can bounce back from small wounds. If the tree is not able to overcome the wound, decay will begin. These damaged areas on the tree serve as entry points for rot. If trees are going to be in the path of the equipment, first look to reroute the equipment. You may judge the value of the tree in the construction area to be low and opt to remove the tree before construction starts. Use this as an opportunity to start several new, more desirable trees in appropriate places in your landscape.
Grade changes can also cause construction damage. If the project requires excavation, do not allow the contractor to place the soil under the drip line of the tree. This acts similarly to compacting the soil and may start a gradual decline of the tree, sometimes leading to death.
Get an arborist involved to reduce or prevent construction damage resulting from home improvement projects. A good arborist should point out what I have talked about in the above paragraphs. I hope that your goal is to maximize the value of your home with minimal landscape damage. Happy building.