Maintaining Tree Safety During Construction: Safeguarding Your Garden's Valuable Greenery
Building a home and want to keep your trees happy during construction? Here's the lowdown on protecting your leafy friends from construction chaos.
Construction activities can be a tree's worst nightmare if precautions aren't taken. Heavy equipment, digging, and even soil compaction can cause irreversible damage. But don't panic - with some easy steps and a bit of planning, you can ensure your trees survive the build, thrive, and continue to add charm to your home.
According to Dean Meadows, Principal Arboriculturist and Tree Risk Management Lead at Arbtech, construction poses multiple threats to trees.
- Digging near the roots can sever structural and fine-feeding roots, compromising stability and restricting water and nutrient uptake.
- Heavy plant movements can compact the soil, suffocating roots, and leading to tree health problems.
- Accidental trunk or branch impacts open pathways for disease and decay.
Neglecting tree protection can lead to tree decline, costly remediation, and reputation damage in the long run. So, it's wise to include tree protection in your extension plans to avoid any troubles later.
Why is protecting trees essential during construction?
Dean says that proper care during construction can save your trees from disaster and minimize costly repercussions.
What regulations protect trees during construction in the UK?
In the UK, tree protection is based on a solid legal framework. Activities that damage, remove, or cause serious harm to trees are illegal. Failure to comply can lead to fines of up to £20,000 per tree for TPO violations or unlimited fines in Crown Court cases.
Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) or being located within Conservation Areas offer tree protection in the UK. You must obtain permission before cutting down, pruning, or damaging protected trees.
Essential steps to protect trees during construction
- Identify & Report - Check with your local council whether any trees on your property are protected by a TPO or located in a Conservation Area. If they are, you'll need to apply for permission before making any changes.
- Hire an Arborist - Consult a professional arborist for a risk assessment if you are unsure. They can help identify trees with structural weaknesses and provide guidance on remedial actions.
- Plan Ahead - Review planning documentation and instruct an arboriculturist early in the process for feasibility consultation.
- Minimize Root Damage - Respect the Root Protection Area (RPA) of any trees. Fence off the area to prevent equipment and heavy vehicles from entering and causing root damage. A more flexible ground boarding system can be used when access within the RPA is necessary.
- Maintain Soil Integrity - Equip ground boarding systems with infill of woodchip or clean angular aggregate between the boards to protect the roots from compaction and maintain permeability.
- Guard the Trunk - Use padding or guards above ground level to shield the bark of the trunk from mechanical impact. Prune trees before construction to facilitate safe working clearances.
By following these tips, you can keep your trees safe during construction, ensuring their long-term vitality and the many benefits they offer.
Ready to learn more? Find out about protecting your garden during a build to safeguard your plants too.
- Including tree protection in your home-and-garden project planning can save your trees from potential damage during construction.
- Ensure you identify and report any protected trees to your local council before making any changes, as failure to comply with tree protection regulations could lead to fines.
- Hiring an arborist to conduct a risk assessment can help you identify trees with structural weaknesses and provide guidance on remedial actions.
- During construction, minimize root damage by fencing off the Root Protection Area (RPA) of any trees and using a more flexible ground boarding system when access within the RPA is necessary.
- To protect the roots from compaction and maintain permeability, equip ground boarding systems with infill of woodchip or clean angular aggregate between the boards, and use padding or guards above ground level to shield the trunk from mechanical impact.
