Having some remodeling or major yard work done around your house? Here’s something you may not have thought of: tree damage during construction.
The good news is that with a bit of planning it’s pretty easy to avoid damaging your beautiful trees during your construction project.
First off, you need to know that it may be necessary to remove a tree or two if you have major construction going on. Before you begin, schedule an appointment with an arborist to review the project. They can help you decide which trees can be saved and even meet with the construction company to advise them on working around trees.
There may be more ways that trees can be damaged during a construction project than you imagine. Here are some of the main things to watch out for:
Speaking of removing trees, it may be best or necessary to remove some. The ones in the way of any new construction are probably obvious, but others may not be healthy enough to survive or may be in the line of unavoidable damage. That’s where your arborist comes in — we can give you the advice you need for the all trees on your lot, including advice on which ones are more sensitive to compaction, grade changes and root damage.
In any case, getting your arborist and builder together may save you time and money in the end. A little planning up front may be especially valuable if a small change in your construction design makes a difference in whether a critical tree will survive. It’s also a chance to think creatively — maybe a bridge over the root system can work as a substitute for a conventional walkway. Also, routing utilities away from trees may be a solution — and if not, less damaging tunneling and trenching installation techniques might be the answer.
Tree Maintenance Going Forward
It may take your trees months or even years to adjust to injury and environmental changes that happen during construction. They may be more susceptible to disease and insect infestations simply because of the stress incurred during construction.
Don’t worry — give us a call and we can suggest treatments to help reduce stress and improve the growing conditions around your trees, helping to ensure that you’re happy with every aspect of your new construction!