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How to Protect Your Trees During a Construction Project


Protecting existing and newly installed trees on a residential construction site is important because trees are a valuable asset to a home’s landscape.

Taking a little time to provide this protection is well worth the effort, especially for mature existing trees whose value can be irreplaceable.

We were at a residential building site a few weeks ago, and we took a photo to show you how young trees are protected during a construction project. The trees were installed while the new house was still being built, so it was important to protect them.

What Could Happen to a Tree During Construction?

Anyone who has ever purchased a tree from a nursery or garden center knows that trees are not cheap. Building sites are typically areas of high activity resulting from the many building trades that are working on site. Truck doors swing open, materials and tools are unloaded from trucks, bobcats, forklifts, and other equipment are moving around the site, and materials are being delivered in bundles or on palettes. Around such activity, a tree is very vulnerable to damage.

How To Protect Trees

Young Trees: Trees with small trunk diameters, such as 1 3/4″ or 3″, can be protected while construction is going on by placing a length of flexible 4″ corrugated plastic drainage pipe around the trunk. The length of the pipe that protects the best is from the ground to just under the lowest branch. After the length of pipe is cut, slice the pipe lengthwise from one end to the other end using a sharp utility knife. Then slip the pipe around the tree trunk.

Existing Mature Trees: Large trees will have trunk diameters that are too large to be wrapped with the corrugated pipe. In this case, the tree can be protected by creating a protective boundary around the tree trunk. On a mature tree, more than the trunk needs to be considered. Using an area near the tree for storing heavy building materials, or vehicles and equipment that repeatedly driving over the root area, can cause soil compaction around the roots which can have a negative effect on the tree’s health.

The protective boundary should be large enough to prevent damage to both the tree’s trunk and its roots. Typically, the extent of a tree’s canopy (also, called the dripline) mirrors its root spread below the ground. At the outer limits of the dripline, drive sturdy stakes into the ground deep enough so that the stake stays put if bumped or if there are high wind conditions. The height of the stakes above ground should be easily visibility.

To complete the boundary, secure vinyl flagging tape to each stake to encircle the protective area. This vinyl marking tape is usually manufactured  in bright, highly visible colors, and is available at hardware and home improvement centers.

 

 

 

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