Tree Protection

Before Tree Protection	After Tree Protection

Tree protection may be required on all properties where soil disturbance, grade changes or impact to trees will occur.  The requirements vary depending on the state, county or municipality.  Historic preservation districts may have unique tree protection requirements to consider as well.  

Consulting with a Board or ISA Certified Arborist before breaking ground on your site will help to ensure the best possible outcome for your trees and reduce costs overall for your project.

Note: The tree protection services that we offer may also include elements of both General Tree Care (GTW) and Plant Health Care (PHC).

Helpful guidelines:

• Select a qualified arborist early in the design phase of your project.
• Schedule a preliminary site meeting to introduce your project team and establish clear goals and objectives.  
• Identify key trees to retain that will be impacted by the proposed site work.  
• Discuss alternatives if preliminary plans will impact trees desirable for retention.  
• Outline a "tree protection plan" that minimizes impact to existing trees and allows optimal use of the client’s property.
• Implement your plan according to the careful details outlined by your arborist.
• Follow-up after the completion of the tree protection plan.  

Select a qualified arborist early in the design phase of your project.  If protecting your valuable and potentially historic trees is important to you, selecting an experienced professional is the first step toward retaining the specimen trees on your site.  Checking credentials and references from similar tree protection projects is important.

Schedule a preliminary site meeting to introduce your project team and establish clear goals and objectives.  Having everyone on the same page from the beginning helps to reduce spending and preserve natural resources.  The client/ developer, architect, general contractor, engineer, landscape architect and arborist all work together to contribute to the success of the project.

Identify key trees to retain that will be impacted by the proposed site work.  Performing an inventory of the trees on site will provide useful data for finalizing the site plan and building design.  An inventory will list each tree by designated number, tree species, size, condition and tree protection and maintenance recommendations.

Discuss alternatives if preliminary plans will significantly impact trees desirable for retention.  Every plan is different, based on unique site conditions, utility locations, design elements and client expectations (i.e. moving a driveway entrance by several feet early in the design phase, or "floating a driveway" over roots to avoid cutting the roots of a valuable specimen, may be possible to achieve, or deciding to trench along the north end of the property to avoid a mature grove of conifers allows the installation of utilities while avoiding disturbing a healthy visual barrier and wind break, not to mention a habitat for wildlife).  Early discussions can allow for cost effective and environmentally sensible alternatives.  

Outline a "tree protection plan" that minimizes impact to existing trees and allows optimal use of the client’s property.  Tree protection plans should be practical.

NOTE: Not every tree is suitable for tree protection.  Arborists consider the species of trees, the age or size of the trees, condition of the individual trees, and tree proximity to site activity and soil disturbance.  Trees with structural defects, poor health or sufficiently impacted by the site development or building activity should be carefully considered for removal prior to starting construction.  Tree removals are usually far less costly when scheduled prior to site improvements.

A tree protection plan may include one or several of the following measures:

• Tree protection fencing
• Silt fencing
• Root pruning
• Root aeration matting or protection matting (soil compaction prevention)
• Trunk protection materials
• Soil aeration and amending (soil compaction remediation)
• Soil conditioning or fertilization
• Pruning for health, to reduce weight or to reduce hazards
• Insect, pest or disease suppression
• Watering to maintain soil moisture

Implement your plan according to the careful details and timeline outlined by your arborist.  Tree protection should be in place before and during the site development process.  It may involve simple measures or more complex procedures, depending on the unique challenges presented by the project.    

Periodic site inspections by an ISA Certified Arborist are often required by local authorities to ensure compliance with approved plans.  Also, during certain excavation or demolition phases of a job, an arborist site visit to inspect work in progress and offer guidance may be required if root pruning or root exposure is likely to occur.  Any deviation from the approved tree protection plan can result in fines, work stoppage, or both.  

Follow-up after the completion of the tree protection plan is important.  Most plans require an arborist to certify that the plan has been implemented according to the approved plan.  Equally important, once the tree protection measures have been performed, and the project is completed, is scheduling a semi-annual or annual site consultation to inspect site conditions, monitor tree health and safety and make recommendations for the care and longevity of the trees.