Landowners and developers often have desirable trees that will add value to a new development. Protecting healthy trees on construction sites will raise property values and make the site more attractive and likely easier to sell or market. Removing or damaging a tree during construction means that value is lost. Some municipalities will require tree protection as part of their development codes and requirements.
If a tree is damaged during construction and dies after the property owner moves in, they shoulder the burden of paying for tree repair or removal. Damaged trees may also become dangerous and expose the property owner to high levels of risk from trees with compromised root systems.
Common Tree Injuries During Construction
Trees can easily be damaged on construction sites. The most common injuries include:
- Trunk injuries and broken branches from heavy equipment or poor pruning
- Torn and ripped roots from activities like grading, trenching, and digging
- Heavy equipment compacting the soil, resulting in inhibited root growth and water and oxygen penetration. This damage may not create immediate visible damage, but can begin a slow death spiral caused by root loss.
To avoid these construction injuries, contact Hansen’s Tree Service and let our certified arborists help you plan your construction project. Our arborists have years of experience working with homeowners, developers, engineers, architects, and contractors. Realistic tree protection plans will consider a balance between construction needs and tree protection.
When planning a construction site, here’s what you can do to avoid harm to trees on your construction site:
Hire A Professional Tree Care Service With Certified Arborists
Professional tree care services do more than just prune trees; they also consult with development and construction firms to provide tree protection plans. These plans are designed to protect the site from unnecessary damage and make site recommendations after performing an assessment of which trees are most worthy of protection and which trees are best removed to reduce risk.
An experienced certified arborist will use their experience to determine which trees can and cannot be preserved and help you in the early planning stages. For example, if you are building a home, a certified professional can help provide alternative construction methods in order to save a critical tree. If a tree is to be removed, they will clear the land in a responsible way.
Control Traffic
Controlling traffic around the trees is one way to prevent damage to them. Carefully plan equipment and foot routes around trees to prevent equipment from damaging the tree. Putting up barriers around desirable trees is an effective way to limit soil compaction and reduce tree damage. In fact, barriers are often required. An experienced certified arborist will make sure barriers are in the correct place to minimize disturbance.
Care For Trees After Construction
After construction is completed, the trees should be checked once again for damage and cared for with tree health services like:
- Mulching
- Fertilization
- Soil aeration
- Pruning
These activities put the finishing touch on a project and encourage healthy and safe trees. A professional tree service will always make sure that the trees on your property not only survive, but thrive.