How Coastal Gardens Can Protect Your Trees During Construction & Landscaping

Embarking on a home improvement project, whether it’s a new addition or a landscaping overhaul, can be exciting. However, when trees are involved, the equipment and added disruption can pose significant risks to your trees’ health.

In this article, you’ll learn about the potential for tree damage during construction and landscaping, as well as how to prevent it. And the best part? Coastal Gardens is here to help ensure your trees remain healthy and vibrant, even during the most challenging and time-consuming projects.

Key Takeaways:

• Activities like digging and grading can damage roots, while heavy equipment can compact soil and impact root health.
• A Certified Arborist can create a plan with fencing, designated work areas, and root protection to minimize disruptions.
• By protecting your trees, you’re preserving the beauty and value of your Palm Beach property.
• Coastal Gardens specializes in comprehensive tree care to protect your trees throughout the entire construction or landscaping process.

How Construction Impacts Your Trees’ Environment

Construction activities can create harsh conditions for trees, leading to stress and potential damage. Here are some of the key factors to consider:

Excavating or Trenching Soil

One of the most common ways construction can harm trees is through digging, excavation, or trenching. Whether you’re installing irrigation lines, concrete footings, or a new fence, digging into the soil can sever or disrupt both anchor roots and fine feeder roots of nearby trees.

While large, anchoring roots grow deep into the soil, most of a tree’s roots are close to the soil’s surface. These fine feeder roots are responsible for absorbing water and nutrients. If too many of these roots are damaged, it can be difficult for the tree to get enough to survive.

Grading or Leveling

Grading and leveling can also have a negative impact on trees. Changing the depth of the soil around a tree can harm it in two ways:

• Adding Soil: Adding soil over a tree’s roots will restrict water and oxygen to the root system. This can lead to rapid decline. If the added soil is built up around the base of the tree, it can bury the tree’s root flare, smothering its roots. When the root flare is buried, it encourages girdling roots, decay, and insect damage because a tree’s bark can’t survive when it’s covered by soil or exposed to constant moisture.
• Removing Soil: Removing too much soil can expose and sever the tree’s roots. Delicate feeder roots and root hairs will be exposed to Palm Beach’s heat and air, killing them within a matter of seconds.

Trees are strong and resilient, despite the harsh weather conditions and environmental stressors they endure. However, even subtle changes to their environment can cause significant harm.

How Construction and Landscaping Installation Can Damage Trees

In addition to the harsh conditions created by construction and landscaping, these projects can also physically harm trees. Here are some of the ways this can happen:

• Trunk and Branch Damage from Equipment: Mechanical damage is the type of damage that occurs when heavy equipment accidentally hits trees. This can cause broken branches or damaged trunks.
• Soil Compaction: Heavy equipment can compact the soil, making it difficult for roots to penetrate and breathe. This can lead to root suffocation and reduced water and nutrient uptake. A tree with a poor root system can also be more likely to topple in strong winds.
• Soil Poisoning: Construction sites often have concrete washout areas where equipment can be cleaned after concrete is installed. Concrete washout water is extremely alkaline and can change the soil’s pH, making it difficult for plants to grow. Other toxic materials, such as solvents, paint, hydraulic fluid, oil, or leaking fuel, can also contaminate the soil.
• Changes to Tree’s Environment: Construction projects may require removing structures, fences, or other trees, as well as installing new ones. These changes can affect the amount of sunlight, shade, wind, or water an existing tree receives, and it may struggle to adapt.

How Coastal Gardens Can Preserve Your Trees

At Coastal Gardens, we understand the unique challenges coastal trees face and are dedicated to protecting their health and beauty. You can count on us to minimize the impact of construction on your Palm Beach trees.

Make a Tree Protection Plan

Palm Beach has tree protection guidelines to ensure the preservation of its valuable tree canopy. So, before starting any construction or landscaping project, it’s important to have a Certified Arborist create a detailed plan to protect your trees. This plan will outline specific measures like vehicle routes, material storage locations, and debris staging areas to prevent root damage, trunk and branch injury, and soil compaction.

Temporary Fencing & Soil Compaction Prevention

We’ll install temporary, high-visibility fencing to keep materials, equipment, and debris away from the trees. This creates a physical barrier and a clear visual reminder to workers to respect the protected zone.

To further protect the soil and roots from compaction, we may also use plywood sheets or rigid construction mats. These materials can be placed around the base of the tree to distribute the weight of heavy equipment and prevent the soil from being compacted.

Post-Construction Care

Even after construction is complete, your trees may need some TLC to fully recover. We offer a range of post-construction care services, including:

• Pruning: We remove any dead, dying, or damaged branches to improve the tree’s health and appearance.
• Air Spading: Using compressed air, we can loosen compacted soil around the roots, promoting better aeration and water absorption.
• Deep Root Fertilization: We can also provide essential nutrients directly to the root zone to help support a tree’s growth and recovery from stress.
• Preventative Treatments: Applying targeted treatments to protect your trees from potential infections and pest infestations that can occur after construction-related stress.

Call Coastal Gardens to Prevent Tree Damage During Construction

Don’t let construction projects damage your valuable Palm Beach landscape. By choosing Coastal Gardens, you can rest assured that your trees are in the best hands. Our team of skilled professionals will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan that addresses your specific needs. From initial planning to post-construction care, we provide tailored solutions to minimize disruption and maximize tree health.

Call Coastal Gardens today at 561-308-7604 for a free consultation.