Wednesday, September 3, 2003

Construction damages trees

With the construction of homes increasing in the area, the Georgia Forestry Commission urges homeowners and builders to take necessary precautions to protect trees during the building process.

Commission foresters point out those trees on a home site can increase property value as well as providing shade, lasting beauty, and enhance the character of a home. However, many disappointed homeowners move in and find their trees dying of invisible injuries suffered during construction.

Homeowners usually see the obvious damage to trunks and limbs, but the unseen root system, which may extend laterally two and one-half times the height of the tree, can be seriously damaged and cause a beautiful shade tree that would have lived the owner's lifetime to die shortly after the home is completed.

Commission personnel investigating such cases, suggest that the prospective homeowner and contractor work together to prevent damage. Trees to be retained should be carefully selected and construction planned accordingly. Records show damage to the base of trees is often not visible after the property has been landscaped, so the homeowner often has no indication of the problem until it is too late. Such damage often occurs when dirt is piled around the base of a tree and compacted over the root system. Underground gas and electrical systems are also potential problems to be considered.

Parking vehicles and storing building materials on the site may also impact the soil and prevent root systems from absorbing oxygen and nutrients. Parking and storage areas should be designated.

If it is impractical to save a tree, the tree should be removed when the site is cleared because it is usually more expensive and dangerous to remove it after the house is completed.

For further information on preserving and saving trees during home construction, contact the Georgia Forestry Commission at 770-227-5522 or 770-358-1459. Visit www.gfc.state.ga.us.

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