Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Construction Affects Trees

Nearby construction and earthwork can mean a slow death to trees, say Extension timber specialists.

Unless trees are badly scraped, construction damage may go unnoticed.

The worst damage is usually below ground, at the roots, and it's often five to seven years before the tree really begins to show the effects.

So how can you protect your trees?

Keep in mind that what's below ground is as important as what's above ground. The root systems are often bigger than most people realize. A rule of thumb is that in clay soil, the roots extend about 1.5 times as far as the branches. In loamy soil it's twice as far and in sandy soil, it's three times as far.

Most of a tree's feeder roots are near the surface, so don't cut out the roots by disking or scraping soil out around a tree you want to save. Paving or adding fill dirt or ponding water during the growing season will cut off the oxygen supply to the roots and can kill a tree.

Soil compaction from traffic or parking equipment under trees will decrease the amount of water and air supply to the roots.