The best protecion is limiting all activity under trees you want to protect.
TREE PROTECTION is critically important on construction projects where owners want to preserve their trees. The arborists at TBW take advantage of their many years of experience helping to design and implement tree protection plans to minimize the negative aspects of the construction process on established trees. The most important aspect of tree protection is advanced planning. It is far easier to protect against damage than to repair damage after it has been done. If your builder says "oh, don't worry about it, we build around trees all the time and they will be fine", you need to worry. The trees may look fine for a while, but it usually takes several years for the real impact to become noticeable. That is when many people call the arborist.
Effective tree protection is a joint effort supported by owner, builder and arborist. If the builder doesn't sign on to the plan, the chances of success will be slim. Someone must police or enforce the agreed to measures in the plan. If it is not policed, it will not happen.
Array of measures to protect trees:
- Design project with concern for the existing valuable trees, realizing that some trees might need to be sacrificed for the good of the most valuable trees.
- Remember to consider the routes for the installation of underground utilities. Route them around trees if possible. If not, consider boring under the trees.
- Establish access routes and designated staging areas for parking, equipment and materials away from protected trees. (Workers will want to park and work under the trees.)
- Limit activity by fencing or roping off areas within the drip lines of trees to be protected.
- Post signs stating value of trees and expectations of protecting the trees.
- Prepare trees prior to commencement of construction so that they are in best shape possible going into the construction process. This might include exposing root flares, aeration, fertilization, pruning or pest management.
- Install wood chips, large gravel or mats in area where activity can not be limited within drip zone of the valuable trees.You want to minimize compaction of our heavy clay soils. Compaction is the number one problem. Compaction leads to struggling or dead trees.
- Prune roots, making clean cuts in areas where significant roots must be cut either for excavation for foundations or in areas where trenching will sever roots. Root pruning minimizes extent of damage and creates an situation where root regeneration can occur compared to root deterioration.
- Manage water needs during construction.
- Monitor for and manage for pest infestations during construction. Stressed trees are prone to many different pests.
- Don't damage trees with irrigation and landscape installation.
- Remember that the heavy watering required for new turf and landscapes can be damaging to established trees.