{"id":2016,"date":"2014-01-29T16:47:18","date_gmt":"2014-01-29T20:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.bartlett.com\/?p=2016"},"modified":"2025-05-20T11:47:25","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T11:47:25","slug":"trees-dispelling-myths-misinformation-11-of-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bartlett.com\/blog\/trees-dispelling-myths-misinformation-11-of-12\/","title":{"rendered":"Trees: Dispelling Myths & Misinformation (11 of 12)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Article 11 of 12 from Trees: Dispelling Myths & Misinformation, <\/em>prepared by the arborists of the Southwest Division of Bartlett Tree Experts as a community education initiative.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Asked by a property owner to meet with a building contractor about tree protection, an experienced arborist could tell the contractor didn\u2019t take seriously the need to protect trees during the project. \u201cI\u2019ve been doing this work for thirty years, and I haven\u2019t killed a tree yet,\u201d the contractor bragged.<\/p>\n

“This tree has little chance of surviving construction abuses, and with a severed root system, its risk of failure at some point in the future is increased.”<\/em><\/div>\n

How would he know? For some trees, it can take a few years to exhibit the effects of construction damage and maybe a decade or so to die from it. By then, the contractor is long gone, and nobody makes the connection. This is, in part, what has made it so difficult to convince decision makers that planning, implementing, and enforcing tree protection at construction sites<\/a> is critical, whether it\u2019s a commercial or residential site. But some businesses and communities are taking this process more seriously, and it\u2019s a pleasure to work with them in the interest of preserving trees for future generations. Let\u2019s look at some issues that will help property owners understand the need for a qualified arborist as part of the construction team.<\/p>\n

Planning
\n<\/strong>Far too often, an arborist is called into a project after damage has occurred. The task becomes remediation instead of protection, and this is always more costly in the long run, especially since the tree is more likely to die anyway as a result of the damage.<\/p>\n

Enforcement
\n<\/strong>Sometimes, an impressive tree-protection plan gets developed with the help of an arborist. The plan then helps secure the building permit, but no enforcement is required as part of the permit process. The trees suffer damage, exhibit symptoms of decline in the years that follow, and die prematurely. No one makes the connection.<\/p>\n

Protecting the Critical Root Zone (CRZ)
\n<\/strong>A good plan will specify that a chain-link fence (harder for workers to move out of the way) be installed around the tree to protect the CRZ (typically from the trunk to the drip line). Here are a few examples of what often happens if the fence is not there:<\/p>\n

Project employees:<\/p>\n