| Humans have an innate love for trees. We love them | | | | know a tree's roots will be cut or damaged due to |
| for their beauty. Their structural nature-upright, | | | | the construction, yet you want the tree to remain, |
| spreading, weeping, columnar, contorted. Their | | | | go ahead and trim the roots beforehand. This |
| colors-flowering, fruit-bearing, the changing of leaf | | | | measure is much less stressful on the trees than |
| color, the varieties of bark. We love them because | | | | having the roots ripped and torn. |
| of the way they make us feel. In fact, studies have | | | | Construction: |
| shown that surgical patients recover more quickly | | | | Hand-digging for utilities, electrical, plumbing and |
| when their windows provide a view of trees. We | | | | irrigation systems goes a long way in tree |
| love trees for the shade they give us. Trees actually | | | | preservation efforts. All trenches near trees should |
| alter their environment, improving air quality, harboring | | | | be dug in a radial pattern to mitigate root damage. |
| wildlife and moderating the climate. Perhaps the most | | | | See picture of a large pipe installed under tree roots |
| poignant reminder of our lasting relationship with | | | | below: |
| trees is how often trees are planted in memory of a | | | | For areas that are more sensitive, compressed |
| loved one or to mark a significant event. | | | | air can be used to blast the soil away from tree |
| Little wonder tree preservation gets our attention. | | | | roots. This way you can see all of the roots and run |
| Tree Preservation: The Killers | | | | your irrigation pipes, landscape lighting conduits, etc. |
| The Houston area is filled with a fascinating variety | | | | without cutting them. See picture below of tree |
| of trees, from the mighty oaks and pines to the | | | | roots exposed with compressed air: |
| miniature ornamentals. Their chances for survival are | | | | For deeper trenches or for Houston's heavy clay |
| much greater with some preservation and | | | | soils, use a hydro-vacuum to expose the roots and |
| conservation efforts. This is offer the first part of a | | | | navigate around the tree roots without cutting them. |
| large scale landscape project. | | | | In essence, you create tunnels in and among the |
| Trees face three offenders when it comes to their | | | | root system. |
| survival during construction: | | | | Use root barriers in tree preservation. During |
| Compaction. The main killer of trees, both during | | | | construction, root barriers can be installed to prevent |
| and after the construction of a home or building, is | | | | new and existing trees from damage due to new |
| soil compaction. Soil compaction is caused by these | | | | hardscapes, swimming pools, outdoor water fountains |
| culprits: 1) construction vehicles driving over the root | | | | and landscape lighting conduits. |
| zone; 2) construction materials being set down on | | | | Post-Construction |
| the roots; 3) soil being piled onto the root zone, | | | | Once construction is completed, trees need |
| which compacts the soil and suffocates the tree by | | | | another deep root fertilization to promote health. This |
| cutting off the exchange of gases in and out of the | | | | treatment is especially important when you are |
| soil; and 4) continuous walking over the root system. | | | | headed into the hot months. Houston summers-all by |
| The most common, yet overlooked, cause of | | | | themselves, regardless of any duress trees might be |
| compaction is foot traffic-in fact, compaction from | | | | under due to construction-can be very stressful for |
| foot traffic is the main killer of trees on a | | | | trees. |
| construction site. Sadly, people just don't think it | | | | Aeration is another important tool in tree |
| matters. | | | | preservation as it promotes root growth and |
| Root damage. Root damage can come from a | | | | combats compaction. |
| variety of activities, but generally it is due to digging | | | | Inspect the trees for insect infestations, such as |
| for foundations, swimming pools, landscaping, irrigation | | | | pine bark beetles and bores. Apply treatments as |
| systems, drainage systems and landscape lighting. | | | | needed. Insects can kill really quickly when Houston's |
| Soil contamination. Soil contamination is normally | | | | weather turns hot and the trees are stressed from |
| due to construction materials, such as paint, | | | | construction. |
| turpentine, lime, cement, or acid, being left or | | | | Tree Preservation: Why It Matters |
| dispensed on and near trees. Over time, these | | | | Besides the aesthetic qualities of trees, there are |
| materials leach into the soil, infect it and kill the trees. | | | | some very practical reasons to put time, money and |
| Tree Preservation: How to Lessen the Damage | | | | energy toward tree preservation. Energy bills are |
| There are many pro-active moves that can be made | | | | most notably affected by the presence of trees as |
| before and during construction to mitigate the | | | | the shade they produce helps reduce air-conditioning |
| damage to the existing trees on a site. | | | | costs. In this ecologically-aware era in which we now |
| Preconstruction: | | | | live, green architects tell us that what you do on the |
| One of the most commonsensical action items in | | | | outside of your house-like creating shade by planting |
| tree preservation is to fence off the root zone to | | | | trees or judiciously using the shade of existing ones-is |
| force people, trucks and materials away from the | | | | up to seven times more effective than anything you |
| trees. Be sure to install a fence that cannot be easily | | | | do on the inside of your house. |
| taken down or breached. | | | | Also, it's been proven time and again that a |
| Do a deep root fertilization to the trees so that | | | | landscaped and well-maintained yard, including trees, |
| they have as much nutrition as possible during | | | | increases your property's worth. "Trees are of great |
| construction. It is important to start this feeding early | | | | value to homeowners," says Jeff Halper with Exterior |
| because the feeding process takes time. | | | | Worlds. "They are more delicate than many people |
| Install a construction irrigation system to ensure | | | | realize and, unfortunately, construction kills a lot of |
| tree preservation. If the existing trees had regular | | | | them. Since trees are such large organisms, it takes a |
| irrigation prior to construction, it is important to | | | | while for them to die. So four or five years can pass |
| maintain that irrigation during construction. Many | | | | before they finally do die and your builder is long |
| times, construction can go on for a year or more, so | | | | gone by then. |
| changing the irrigation-or not watering at all-can only | | | | "Another important consideration is that most upscale |
| worsen the impact of the construction process. | | | | communities have tree replacement rules that require |
| Construct a path or bridge to reduce the impact | | | | property owners to replace the equivalent tree size if |
| of the construction. A confined path will minimize | | | | a tree is cut down. For instance, depending on the |
| impact on the site, soil and root structure. Paths and | | | | code, if you cut down a 12-inch tree, you must |
| bridges can be made of such eco-friendly materials as | | | | replace it by using, say, three four-inch trees or two |
| bark mulch, geo-grids or wood. See bridge below: | | | | six-inch trees. |
| Prune the roots to help tree preservation. If you | | | | |