Yes, having trees inspected before construction or remodeling is a good idea if the work will happen near them. Digging, heavy equipment and grade changes can damage roots and trunks, and an inspection beforehand can help you decide which trees to protect, which may need work and which may not be worth keeping.
Construction damage to trees often doesn’t show up until months or years later. Planning ahead gives your trees a better chance.
How Construction Can Affect Trees
Most of a tree’s roots are in the upper layer of soil and often spread well beyond the branches. Trenching for utilities, digging footings, pouring driveways and adding or removing soil can cut or smother those roots.
Heavy equipment driving or parking under trees can compact the soil, making it harder for roots to get air and water. Trunks and low branches can also be scraped or broken by machines.
What an Inspection Can Help With Before the Project
An inspection can help identify which trees are in good enough condition to be worth protecting and which already have serious problems. It can also point out branches that may be in the way of equipment or the new structure.
With that information, you and your contractor can plan work zones, equipment routes and material storage areas away from the trees you want to keep.
Protecting Trees During the Work
Common protective steps include fencing off an area around the tree to keep equipment and materials away, routing trenches away from the trunk and avoiding piling soil against the tree.
When roots must be cut, planning which roots are affected and how they’re cut can reduce harm. Cutting large roots close to the trunk can affect a tree’s stability as well as its health.
The Missouri Department of Conservation publishes guidance on protecting trees during construction, which can be useful to share with your builder.
After Construction Is Finished
Keep an eye on trees near the work area for a few years afterward. Thinning leaves, dead branches or a new lean may be signs of construction-related stress.
A follow-up tree inspection after the project can help catch problems early. If a tree has declined significantly, options may include pruning, monitoring or, in some cases, tree removal.
Remodeling projects that seem small, like a new patio, deck or fence, can still affect nearby roots. It’s worth mentioning any digging near trees, not just major construction.
Tell your contractor early which trees you want to keep. Protection works better when it’s part of the plan from the start rather than added after equipment arrives.
Planning a build or remodel near trees on your Joplin property? Having them looked at before work begins can help you protect the trees you want to keep and plan around any that may need attention.
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