Abstract

YOST, G.O. 1986. Construction worker, spare that tree. Arbor Age 6(5): 20,22.

The demise of a once-stately tree will be blamed on a particularly cold winter or on a severe drought. Seldom will the owner suspect the true culprit: construction damage. Preventing damage to trees during construction isn’t difficult. It just takes commitment. However, that commitment must come from the owner, the landscape architect, the contractor and everyone else on the design team. Pre-planning can take various forms. Many contractors, following suggestions by the designer, put up barriers around natural areas to be preserved. These define the “construction envelope” for all to see. In attempting to preserve at least some of the natural environment, remember that it can be damaged in many ways. The six most frequent are: grade changes, soil compaction, changes in drainage, changes in soil pH, root breakage or removal, and mechanical wounding.

• © 1987, International Society of Arboriculture. All rights reserved.