Sarasota County Forestry Division: Avoid Construction Damage

Developers and Builders

Avoid Construction Damage

Tree stress and failure are sometimes unavoidable on construction sites but protective practices and vigilance can moderate the damage.

Key sources of tree injury on a construction site are mechanical and equipment damage, including root damage from soil compaction.

Above ground, trucks and machinery wound and tear at tree limbs and bark, inflicting permanent, sometimes fatal damage.

Those same trucks and machinery compact the underground soil.

This compresses the roughly 50% pore space tree root systems need for adequate oxygen and penetration routing.

Utilities installation entails digging and trenching that severs tree roots and may disrupt the root system’s ability to anchor the tree. A tree’s roots typically have a radial extension one to three times its height and severing a single major root can ruin up to 20% the entire system. Increasing the grade or adding soil layers can smother the root system as well, endangering that 90% of fine absorbent roots that operate in the upper 6" - 12" of soil.

To apply best practices and remain in compliance with Sarasota County ordinances, erect secure barriers around protected trees.

Barriers should be placed away from the trunk at a distance equal to one foot per each diameter inch of trunk.
Keep the barricade area clear of building materials, waste, excess soil.
Do not dig or trench within the fenced area.
Keep limited and specific service routes in and around protected trees for access to the site.

Place your access route so that heavy equipment, machinery or vehicles does not come close enough to invade and damage principal lateral branches, bark or the trunk of any protected tree.

Grading the ground level around trees, even a few inches, can cut off the trees oxygen supply and encourage bark disease around the trunk.

Consult a certified arborist, who can assist you in selecting protected trees for age and diversity and advise on groupings, tree root systems and sensitivities.

In their natural element trees grow as a community and shield each other from the elements and disturbances. Preserving the self-defense systems of tree clusters and groupings, will allow protected trees to survive construction and persevere as valuable assets to your development project.