Protect Trees During Construction

Tree Neglect During Construction Kills

This large diameter Western Red Cedar is getting a raw deal.

Common damage to trees during construction

• Mechanical trauma to roots
• Mechanical trauma to trunk and canopy
• Compaction of soil
• Soil grade alteration
• Suffering due to hydrological changes
• Chemical damage

This type of abuse is far too common. The frustrating part about this is that with a little planning damages to trees during construction can easily be avoided. As increasingly more people begin to understand the enormous value that urban trees provide more municipalities are making tree protection planning for construction a priority in the building process. 

Implement a tree protection plan

Step 1 Hire an arborist 

At the design planning stage hire a consulting arborist. Have them compile an arborist report.  This will include an inventory and assessment of all trees on your property. It should also include neighbouring trees that could be impacted. Work with the arborist to determine which trees should be saved and which should be removed. They will figure out the specific needs for protecting each tree and develop a plan to implement when construction begins.

Step 2 Install tree protection

Implement the recommendations of the arborist report. This will include installing tree protection fencing, or barriers. It may also include specific details about activities that may require special attention from the arborist during points of construction. Make sure that you the homeowner, and all site contractors understand that the tree protection areas are not to be disturbed. 

Step 3 Arborist follow up

Connect with your arborist at various points during and after construction. Monitoring your site over time you will discover if the tree protection plan was effective. Very often trees don't show the effects of construction trauma until some years have passed. It's important for the arborist to know if the efforts were successful or not. This will benefit your tree management and it will also provide more depth of experience for the arborist to apply to future jobs.