1. CONS T RUCT I ON
DA MA GE
April 4, 2007
MISSOURI
COMMUNITY
FORESTRY COUNCIL
ANNUAL MEETING

2. Assist municipalities with tree inventories,
management plans and mapping services.
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DA MA GE
A forestry consulting firm based in St. Louis, MO.
Providing Urban Forestry consulting for twelve years.
Provide landscape contractors, arborists, and
homeowners with current information.
(Appraisals, diagnosis, tree protection, etc.)
Assist architects, city planners,
and developers with land-use
planning info. (Ordinances, tree
protection plans, etc)

3. Why Preserve Trees?
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Benefits of Urban Trees:
Energy Savings
Property Value
Shade
Air Quality
Aesthetics
Quality of Life
Urban Wildlife

4. TREE BASICS:
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90-95% of a Tree’s Root
System is located in the
Top 3 Feet of Soil!
50% of a Tree’s Root
System is located in the
Top 1 Foot of Soil!!!!
These are mostly the
absorbing roots that
provide WATER and
NUTRIENTS
3 ft 1 ft
Even though the tree
may be left
standing…..for now;
Major trauma to these
roots will kill the tree!

5. Critical Root Zone (CRZ):
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The CRZ is the starting
point when planning for
tree protection.
The CRZ encompasses all
tree roots out to AT-LEAST
the drip-line of a tree.

6. Factors That Affect A Tree’s
Tolerance to Construction Activity
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Small size trees are typically more
tolerant than larger sized trees
(Crabapple v. Oaks)
Young trees are typically more tolerant
than mature Trees
Species Vary in Tolerance

7. CONS T RUCT I ON
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Different
Species
Have
Different
Tolerance
Levels
Tolerant Species Intermediate Species Sensitive Species
White Pine Colorado Spruce Black Oak
Eastern Redcedar Catalpa Pin Oak
Green Ash Black Cherry White Oak
White Ash Kentucky Coffeetree
River Birch Hawthorn
Boxelder Bitternut Hickory
Eastern Cottonwood Basswood
American Elm Sugar Maple
Slippery Elm
Hackberry
Honeylocust
Black Locust
Red Maple
Silver Maple
Bur Oak
Red Oak
* From University of Minnesota Extension

8. Develop a Tree Protection Plan before Breaking Ground:
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Inventory all the existing trees and identify: Species, Size,
Location, and Condition. (Use site plan or create a map…aerial
photos)
Understand and mark where ALL Construction Activities will
occur on the site and how they will affect the tree population.
(Grading, traffic, material storage, irrigation lines, utilities, etc)
Note Trees to be Preserved; Encourage the developer/ architect
to consider possible alternatives in order to save more desirable
trees. Create an ACTION LIST for preserved trees.

9. Develop a Tree Protection Plan before Breaking Ground:
CONS T RUCT I ON
DA MA GE

10. Develop a Tree Protection Plan before Breaking Ground:
CONS T RUCT I ON
DA MA GE
Inventory all the existing trees and identify: Species, Size,
Location, and Condition. (Use site plan or create a map…aerial
photos)
Understand and mark where ALL Construction Activities will
occur on the site and how they will affect the tree population.
(Grading, traffic, material storage, irrigation lines, utilities, etc)
Note Trees to be Preserved; Encourage the developer/ architect
to consider possible alternatives in order to save more desirable
trees. Create an ACTION LIST for preserved trees.
Keep trees as healthy as possible before construction. Simply
watering, mulching and dead-wood pruning a tree can vitalize a
tree and limit future stress.

11. Tree
Number Species
Diameter
(in) PROTECT?
Root
Pruning Comments
1 Sweetgum 18 YES Install fence as shown
2 Sweetgum 18 YES YES
Root prune along edge of proposed driveway. Install
fence as shown.
3 Sweetgum 16 YES Install fence as shown
4 Gingko 18 YES Install fence as shown
5 Walnut 14 YES YES
Root prune along limit of disturbance line (or
remove tree).
6 Walnut 16 YES Woodland tree within protected area
7 Black Cherry 14 NO To be removed
8 White Oak 14 YES Woodland tree within protected area
9 Black Cherry 12 NO To be removed
10 Green Ash 18 YES YES
Root prune along limit of disturbance line (or
remove tree).
TREE PROTECTION ACTION KEY (for trees >12")
PROTECTION PROCEDURES:
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DA MA GE
Create and follow a plan!
Eliminate / Minimize activity in Critical Root Zones
Create a list of trees to be protected and what
actions will be required

12. CONS T RUCT I ON
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As a general rule, the
Critical Root Zone
should extend at least
to the drip-line of a
tree.
If the CRZ can not be protected…
Disturbance may come as close as
5 times the diameter of the
protected tree on ONLY ONE SIDE!!
5x…then protect the rest!!

13. PROTECTION PROCEDURES:
CONS T RUCT I ON
DA MA GE
Create and follow a plan!
Eliminate / Minimize activity in Critical Root Zones
Create a list of trees to be protected and what
actions will be required
Fencing, Root Pruning, Limb Pruning, Chemical
Treatments (Cambistat)

14. CONS T RUCT I ON
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FENCING
It is important to
prohibit heavy
machinery
traffic, material
storage and
other such
construction
stress within the
Critical Root
Zone!!!
Use tree
protection signs
to communicate!
Fencing can be
used to restrict
traffic to
designated
routes.

15. CONS T RUCT I ON
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ROOT
PRUNING
If compaction,
excavation, or
soil filling must
occur within the
CRZ….root
prune and fence
along the limits
of disturbance.

16. PROTECTION PROCEDURES:
CONS T RUCT I ON
DA MA GE
Create and follow a plan!
Eliminate / Minimize activity in Critical Root Zones
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Create a list of trees to be protected and what
actions will be required
Fencing, Root Pruning, Limb Pruning, Chemical
Treatments (Cambistat)

17. Grade Changes
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Soil Compaction
Trenching &
Excavating
Trenching &
Excavating
Construction Related
Stress Factors:
Soil Compaction
Grade ChangesGrade Changes

18. Grade Changes
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Soil Compaction
Trenching &
Excavating
Trenching &
Excavating
Soil Compaction
Grade ChangesGrade Changes
Construction Related
Stress Factors:

19. CONS T RUCT I ON
DA MA GE
Construction Damage
Results In:
No Root Flare
Wilted/Scorched Leaves
Drooping Branches
Early Fall Color
Premature Leaf Drop
Water/Sucker Sprouts
Flowering out of Season
Abnormal Die-Back
Stunted Annual Growth

20. Treatments for Stressed Trees After Construction:
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Water
Aerate
Fertilize (careful!)
Mulch
Prune Dead Limbs
Thin Crown
Remove
Drill 2 inch Diameter
Holes Spaced 2 ft Apart

21. Don’t let
this be
your job
site!!
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DA MA GE

22. INSTEAD…..
Make sure the
final results are
something you
and your client
are happy with!!
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