People like to utilize summer for construction and renovations projects. This can include commercial and residential projects. Municipalities can be upgrading highways, streets, and sidewalks and homeowners can be improving their homes and amenities. Regardless of who is conducting the construction projects, they all can majorly impact trees. If we want to preserve our precious trees, our team at Five Star Tree Services wants to help educate you on the damage that can occur to trees and how you can protect them during construction.
What Construction Causes Damages to Trees
Virtually any construction close to trees can cause damage. But here are some popular construction activities that can damage trees:
- building additions
- pool installation
- driveway paving
- foundation excavation
- other landscaping
- municipal construction like road widening and sidewalk installations
How Trees can Be Damaged
There are different types of tree damage that can occur from construction, this includes:
- compaction
- scraping bark
- breaking of branches
- trenching/digging up roots
- piling of soil on roots
- grade change
Compaction
This can be caused by heavy equipment or vehicles driving over the soil and compressing it tightly together. If this happens around the root zone of a tree, this causes suffocation from lack of oxygen in the soil. It also can make water absorption harder, further limiting the tree from essential nutrients.
Scraping Bark & Broken Branches
This leaves wounds in the tree. When this happens, it leaves the tree vulnerable to insect infestation or can lead to decay. Branches can be broken or weakened and break during storms if pruning is not used to correct it.
Piling Soil on Roots
If a tree has an established root system and then all of a sudden there is a lot more soil than before, it can prevent water from getting to the roots.
Trenching, Digging Up Roots, & Grade Changes
All of these significantly impact tree health. We also want to point out that you might not see signs of a stressed tree for a few years after the occurrence of root damage. This makes prevention even more important, since by the time you notice something is wrong, it’s many years too late.
How To Prevent Tree Construction Damage
If you want to take preventative measures to make sure your trees remain damage free, even with construction happening around them, make sure to do the following:
-keep material piles away from tree root zones (this is the area directly under the tree) the most important part to protect is around the dripline.
-protect your tree with things like fencing in order to keep things like materials, equipment, and vehicles far enough away from the root zones.
-if the root zone of a tree is where digging occurs, try to keep it as far from the tree as possible. If there are roots that are exposed, clean cut them with a saw. This will help them heal faster and easier as opposed to if they are torn or ripped.
-make sure to give clearance with pruning before any heavy equipment is brought in.
-be aware that grade changes can kill trees.
How Five Star Tree Services Can Help
Preserving our trees is important and utilizing preventative measures when construction is happening is very important. If you need a professional arborist team to help you with your tree care in Toronto, our team at Five Star Tree Services is here for you! Contact us today at (416) 990-3355!