Importance of Trees in our Life

TREES ARE OUR BEST FRIENDS. THEY PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR LIFE. WE CAN NOT LIVE WITHOUT THEM. THEY GIVE US TIMBER, PAPER AND FIREWOOD.

TIMBER IS USED IN MAKING HOUSES, TRAIN COMPARTMENTS, BIG BOXES, TOOLS ETC. WITHOUT PAPER LIFE MAY BE DIFFICULT FOR US. PAPER IS NECESSARY FOR STUDY AND WRITING. PEOPLE IN VILLAGES USE FIREWOOD TO COOK MEALS. THEY USE WOOD TO BUILD HOUSES, HUTS, CARTS AND AGRICULTURE TOOLS.

TREES ALSO GIVE US FOOD, GUM AND MEDICINE. THEY ALSO ADD TO THE BEAUTY OF LIFE. GARDENS CAN NOT BE CHARMING WITHOUT THEM. WE NEED THEM FOR OXYGEN AND GOOD HEALTH.

TREES ALSO HELP TO CONTROL POLLUTION: THEY ABSORB CARBON DIOXIDE. THEY IMPROVE OUR ENVIRONMENT. THEY CAUSE RAINFALL AND PROTECT WATER RESOURCES UNDER THE GROUND. THEY PREVENT FLOODS AND DROUGHTS.

THEREFORE, WE SHOULD TRY OUR BEST TO GROW MORE TREES. GOVT. AND SOCIAL WELFARE SOCIETIES SHOULD START A MOVEMENT. THERE SHOULD BE AWARDS FOR THOSE PERSONS WHO GROW MORE TREES.

TREES COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE

EXCESS CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) CAUSED BY MANY FACTORS IS A BUILDING UP IN OUR ATMOSPHERE AND CONTRIBUTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE. TREES ABSORB CO2, REMOVING AND STORING THE CARBON WHILE RELEASING THE OXYGEN BACK INTO THE AIR. IN ONE YEAR, AN ACRE OF MATURE TREES ABSORBS THE AMOUNT OF CO2 PRODUCED WHEN YOU DRIVE YOUR CAR 26,000 MILES.

TREES CLEAN THE AIR

TREES ABSORB ODORS AND POLLUTANT GASES (NITROGEN OXIDES, AMMONIA, SULFUR DIOXIDE AND OZONE) AND FILTER PARTICULATES OUT OF THE AIR BY TRAPPING THEM ON THEIR LEAVES AND BARK.

TREES PROVIDE OXYGEN

IN ONE YEAR AN ACRE OF MATURE TREES CAN PROVIDE ENOUGH OXYGEN FOR 18 PEOPLE.

TREES COOL THE STREETS AND THE CITY

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES IN LOS ANGELES HAVE RISEN 6°F IN THE LAST 50 YEARS AS TREE COVERAGE HAS DECLINED AND THE NUMBER OF HEAT-ABSORBING ROADS AND BUILDINGS HAS INCREASED.
TREES COOL THE CITY BY UP TO 10°F, BY SHADING OUR HOMES AND STREETS, BREAKING UP URBAN “HEAT ISLANDS” AND RELEASING WATER VAPOR INTO THE AIR THROUGH THEIR LEAVES.

TREES CONSERVE ENERGY

THREE TREES PLACED STRATEGICALLY AROUND A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME CAN CUT SUMMER AIR CONDITIONING NEEDS BY UP TO 50 PERCENT. BY REDUCING THE ENERGY DEMAND FOR COOLING OUR HOUSES, WE REDUCE CARBON DIOXIDE AND OTHER POLLUTION EMISSIONS FROM POWER PLANTS.

TREES SAVE WATER

SHADE FROM TREES SLOWS WATER EVAPORATION FROM THIRSTY LAWNS. MOST NEWLY PLANTED TREES NEED ONLY FIFTEEN GALLONS OF WATER A WEEK. AS TREES TRANSPIRE, THEY INCREASE ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE.

TREES HELP PREVENT WATER POLLUTION

TREES REDUCE RUNOFF BY BREAKING RAINFALL THUS ALLOWING THE WATER TO FLOW DOWN THE TRUNK AND INTO THE EARTH BELOW THE TREE. THIS PREVENTS STORMWATER FROM CARRYING POLLUTANTS TO THE OCEAN. WHEN MULCHED, TREES ACT LIKE A SPONGE THAT FILTERS THIS WATER NATURALLY AND USES IT TO RECHARGE GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES.

TREES HELP PREVENT SOIL EROSION

ON HILLSIDES OR STREAM SLOPES, TREES SLOW RUNOFF AND HOLD SOIL IN PLACE.

TREES SHIELD CHILDREN FROM ULTRA-VIOLET RAYS

SKIN CANCER IS THE MOST COMMON FORM OF CANCER IN THE UNITED STATES. TREES REDUCE UV-B EXPOSURE BY ABOUT 50 PERCENT, THUS PROVIDING PROTECTION TO CHILDREN ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES AND PLAYGROUNDS - WHERE CHILDREN SPEND HOURS OUTDOORS.

TREES PROVIDE FOOD

AN APPLE TREE CAN YIELD UP TO 15-20 BUSHELS OF FRUIT PER YEAR AND CAN BE PLANTED ON THE TINIEST URBAN LOT. ASIDE FROM FRUIT FOR HUMANS, TREES PROVIDE FOOD FOR BIRDS AND WILDLIFE.

TREES HEAL

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT PATIENTS WITH VIEWS OF TREES OUT THEIR WINDOWS HEAL FASTER AND WITH LESS COMPLICATIONS. CHILDREN WITH ADHD SHOW FEWER SYMPTOMS WHEN THEY HAVE ACCESS TO NATURE. EXPOSURE TO TREES AND NATURE AIDS CONCENTRATION BY REDUCING MENTAL FATIGUE.

TREES REDUCE VIOLENCE

NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOMES THAT ARE BARREN HAVE SHOWN TO HAVE A GREATER INCIDENCE OF VIOLENCE IN AND OUT OF THE HOME THAN THEIR GREENER COUNTERPARTS. TREES AND LANDSCAPING HELP TO REDUCE THE LEVEL OF FEAR.

TREES MARK THE SEASONS

IS IT WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER OR FALL? LOOK AT THE TREES.

TREES CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES

FRUIT HARVESTED FROM COMMUNITY ORCHARDS CAN BE SOLD, THUS PROVIDING INCOME. SMALL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN GREEN WASTE MANAGEMENT AND LANDSCAPING ARISE WHEN CITIES VALUE MULCHING AND ITS WATER-SAVING QUALITIES. VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR YOUTH INTERESTED IN GREEN JOBS IS ALSO A GREAT WAY TO DEVELOP ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FROM TREES.

TREES ARE TEACHERS AND PLAYMATES

WHETHER AS HOUSES FOR CHILDREN OR CREATIVE AND SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION FOR ADULTS, TREES HAVE PROVIDED THE SPACE FOR HUMAN RETREAT THROUGHOUT THE AGES.

TREES BRING DIVERSE GROUPS OF PEOPLE TOGETHER

TREE PLANTINGS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND EMPOWERMENT THAT IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. ALL CULTURES, AGES, AND GENDERS HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY AT A TREE PLANTING OR TREE CARE EVENT.

TREES ADD UNITY

TREES AS LANDMARKS CAN GIVE A NEIGHBORHOOD A NEW IDENTITY AND ENCOURAGE CIVIC PRIDE.

TREES PROVIDE A CANOPY AND HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE

SYCAMORE AND OAK ARE AMONG THE MANY URBAN SPECIES THAT PROVIDE EXCELLENT URBAN HOMES FOR BIRDS, BEES, POSSUMS AND SQUIRRELS.

TREES BLOCK THINGS

TREES CAN MASK CONCRETE WALLS OR PARKING LOTS, AND UNSIGHTLY VIEWS. THEY MUFFLE SOUND FROM NEARBY STREETS AND FREEWAYS, AND CREATE AN EYE-SOOTHING CANOPY OF GREEN. TREES ABSORB DUST AND WIND AND REDUCE GLARE.

TREES PROVIDE WOOD

IN SUBURBAN AND RURAL AREAS, TREES CAN BE SELECTIVELY HARVESTED FOR FUEL AND CRAFT WOOD.

TREES INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES

THE BEAUTY OF A WELL-PLANTED PROPERTY AND ITS SURROUNDING STREET AND NEIGHBORHOOD CAN RAISE PROPERTY VALUES BY AS MUCH AS 15 PERCENT.

TREES INCREASE BUSINESS TRAFFIC

STUDIES SHOW THAT THE MORE TREES AND LANDSCAPING A BUSINESS DISTRICT HAS, THE MORE BUSINESS WILL FLOW IN. A TREE-LINED STREET WILL ALSO SLOW TRAFFIC – ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE DRIVERS TO LOOK AT THE STORE FRONTS INSTEAD OF WHIZZING BY.

 

10 REASONS LIVING TREES ARE VALUABLE

TREES SPARED FROM HARVEST HAVE GREAT VALUE

THE TREES AROUND US ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN NECESSARY FOR IMPROVING THE HUMAN CONDITION - BOTH DURING ITS LIFE AND AFTER HARVEST. IT IS NOT A STRETCH TO BELIEVE THAT WITHOUT TREES WE HUMANS WOULD NOT EXIST ON THIS BEAUTIFUL PLANET. IN FACT, SOME CLAIM CAN BE MADE THAT OUR MOTHER'S AND FATHER'S ANCESTORS CLIMBED TREES - ANOTHER DEBATE FOR ANOTHER SITE.

SO, TREES ARE ESSENTIAL TO LIFE AS WE KNOW IT AND ARE THE GROUND TROOPS MAKING UP AN ENVIRONMENTAL FRONTLINE. OUR EXISTING FORESTS AND THE TREES WE PLANT WORK IN TANDEM TO MAKE A BETTER WORLD. BUT I DARE SAY THAT TREES ARE NECESSARY TO HARVEST IN A PRACTICALLY PLANNED AND SUSTAINABLE WAY USING THE MULTIPLE-USE CONCEPT.

AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF OUR HUMAN EXPERIENCE, TREES WERE CONSIDERED SACRED AND HONORABLE: OAKS WERE WORSHIPED BY THE EUROPEAN DRUIDS, REDWOODS A PART OF AMERICAN INDIAN RITUAL, BAOBABS A PART OF AFRICAN TRIBAL LIFE, TO THE CHINESE THE GINKGO LINK AND MONKEY PUZZLES TO THE CHILEAN PEHUENCHE. ROMANS AND SCHOLARS DURING THE MIDDLE AGES VENERATED TREES IN THEIR LITERATURE.

THE MODERN HUMAN COMMUNITY HAS OTHER, MORE PRACTICAL REASONS TO ADMIRE AND HONOR TREES. HERE IS A SHORT LIST OF REASONS TREES ARE NECESSARY FOR IMPROVING OUR WORLDLY CONDITION.

FALL TREES IN LANDSCAPE. 

1.  TREES PRODUCE OXYGEN

LET'S FACE IT, WE COULD NOT EXIST AS WE DO IF THERE WERE NO TREES. A MATURE LEAFY TREEPRODUCES AS MUCH OXYGEN IN A SEASON AS 10 PEOPLE INHALE IN A YEAR. WHAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS THE FOREST ALSO ACTS AS A GIANT FILTER THAT CLEANS THE AIR WE BREATH.

TREES AND BRIDGE, ARBOR DAY FARM. 

2.  TREES CLEAN THE SOIL

THE TERM PHYTOREMEDIATION IS A FANCY WORD FOR THE ABSORPTION OF DANGEROUS CHEMICALS AND OTHER POLLUTANTS THAT HAVE ENTERED THE SOIL. TREES CAN EITHER STORE HARMFUL POLLUTANTS OR ACTUALLY CHANGE THE POLLUTANT INTO LESS HARMFUL FORMS. TREES FILTER SEWAGE AND FARM CHEMICALS, REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF ANIMAL WASTES, CLEAN ROADSIDE SPILLS AND CLEAN WATER RUNOFF INTO STREAMS.

BURR OAK, ARBOR DAY FARM.

3.  TREES CONTROL NOISE POLLUTION

TREES MUFFLE URBAN NOISE ALMOST AS EFFECTIVELY AS STONE WALLS. TREES, PLANTED AT STRATEGIC POINTS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD OR AROUND YOUR HOUSE, CAN ABATE MAJOR NOISES FROM FREEWAYS AND AIRPORTS.

BLUE SPRUCE, ARBOR DAY FARM. 

4.  TREES SLOW STORM WATER RUNOFF

FLASH FLOODING CAN BE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED BY A FOREST OR BY PLANTING TREES. ONE COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE, EITHER PLANTED OR GROWING WILD, CAN INTERCEPT MORE THAN 1000 GALLONS OF WATER ANNUALLY WHEN FULLY GROWN. UNDERGROUND WATER-HOLDING AQUIFERS ARE RECHARGED WITH THIS SLOWING DOWN OF WATER RUNOFF.

A SALVAGEABLE WALNUT TREE. 

5.  TREES ARE CARBON SINKS

TO PRODUCE ITS FOOD, A TREE ABSORBS AND LOCKS AWAY CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE WOOD, ROOTS AND LEAVES. CARBON DIOXIDE IS AGLOBAL WARMING SUSPECT. A FOREST IS A CARBON STORAGE AREA OR A "SINK" THAT CAN LOCK UP AS MUCH CARBON AS IT PRODUCES. THIS LOCKING-UP PROCESS "STORES" CARBON AS WOOD AND NOT AS AN AVAILABLE "GREENHOUSE" GAS.

WHITE ASH, ARBOR DAY LIED CENTER. 

6.  TREES CLEAN THE AIR

TREES HELP CLEANSE THE AIR BY INTERCEPTING AIRBORNE PARTICLES, REDUCING HEAT, AND ABSORBING SUCH POLLUTANTS AS CARBON MONOXIDE, SULFUR DIOXIDE, AND NITROGEN DIOXIDE. TREES REMOVE THIS AIR POLLUTION BY LOWERING AIR TEMPERATURE, THROUGH RESPIRATION, AND BY RETAINING PARTICULATES.

HEALTH ITALIAN YEW. 

7.  TREES SHADE AND COOL

SHADE RESULTING IN COOLING IS WHAT A TREE IS BEST KNOWN FOR. SHADE FROM TREES REDUCES THE NEED FOR AIR CONDITIONING IN SUMMER. IN WINTER, TREES BREAK THE FORCE OF WINTER WINDS, LOWERING HEATING COSTS. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT PARTS OF CITIES WITHOUT COOLING SHADE FROM TREES CAN LITERALLY BE "HEAT ISLANDS" WITH TEMPERATURES AS MUCH AS 12 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT HIGHER THAN SURROUNDING AREAS.

OSAGE ORANGE IN WIND BREAK,

8.  TREES ACT AS WINDBREAKS

DURING WINDY AND COLD SEASONS, TREES LOCATED ON THE WINDWARD SIDE ACT AS WINDBREAKS. A WINDBREAK CAN LOWER HOME HEATING BILLS UP TO 30% AND HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON REDUCING SNOW DRIFTS. A REDUCTION IN WIND CAN ALSO REDUCE THE DRYING EFFECT ON SOIL AND VEGETATION BEHIND THE WINDBREAK AND HELP KEEP PRECIOUS TOPSOIL IN PLACE.

BALDCYPRESS, OKEEFENOKEE

9.  TREES FIGHT SOIL EROSION

EROSION CONTROL HAS ALWAYS STARTED WITH TREE AND GRASS PLANTING PROJECTS. TREE ROOTS BIND THE SOIL AND THEIR LEAVES BREAK THE FORCE OF WIND AND RAIN ON SOIL. TREES FIGHT SOIL EROSION, CONSERVE RAINWATER AND REDUCE WATER RUNOFF AND SEDIMENT DEPOSIT AFTER STORMS.

IN BOTANY, A TREE IS A PERENNIAL PLANT WITH AN ELONGATED STEM, OR TRUNK, SUPPORTING BRANCHES AND LEAVES IN MOST SPECIES. IN SOME USAGES, THE DEFINITION OF A TREE MAY BE NARROWER, INCLUDING ONLY WOODY PLANTS WITH SECONDARY GROWTH, PLANTS THAT ARE USABLE AS LUMBER OR PLANTS ABOVE A SPECIFIED HEIGHT. TREES ARE NOT A TAXONOMIC GROUP BUT INCLUDE A VARIETY OF PLANT SPECIES THAT HAVE INDEPENDENTLY EVOLVED A WOODY TRUNK AND BRANCHES AS A WAY TO TOWER ABOVE OTHER PLANTS TO COMPETE FOR SUNLIGHT. IN LOOSER SENSES, THE TALLER PALMS, THE TREE FERNS, BANANAS AND BAMBOOSARE ALSO TREES. TREES TEND TO BE LONG-LIVED, SOME REACHING SEVERAL THOUSAND YEARS OLD. THE TALLEST KNOWN TREE, A COAST REDWOOD NAMED HYPERION, STANDS 115.6 M (379 FT) HIGH. TREES HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 370 MILLION YEARS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE JUST OVER 3 TRILLION MATURE TREES IN THE WORLD.

A TREE TYPICALLY HAS MANY SECONDARY BRANCHES SUPPORTED CLEAR OF THE GROUND BY THE TRUNK. THIS TRUNK TYPICALLY CONTAINS WOODY TISSUE FOR STRENGTH, AND VASCULAR TISSUE TO CARRY MATERIALS FROM ONE PART OF THE TREE TO ANOTHER. FOR MOST TREES IT IS SURROUNDED BY A LAYER OF BARK WHICH SERVES AS A PROTECTIVE BARRIER. BELOW THE GROUND, THE ROOTS BRANCH AND SPREAD OUT WIDELY; THEY SERVE TO ANCHOR THE TREE AND EXTRACT MOISTURE AND NUTRIENTS FROM THE SOIL. ABOVE GROUND, THE BRANCHES DIVIDE INTO SMALLER BRANCHES AND SHOOTS. THE SHOOTS TYPICALLY BEAR LEAVES, WHICH CAPTURE LIGHT ENERGY AND CONVERT IT INTO SUGARS BY PHOTOSYNTHESIS, PROVIDING THE FOOD FOR THE TREE'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. FLOWERS AND FRUIT MAY ALSO BE PRESENT, BUT SOME TREES, SUCH AS CONIFERS, INSTEAD HAVE POLLEN CONES AND SEED CONES; OTHERS, SUCH AS TREE FERNS, PRODUCE SPORES INSTEAD.

TREES PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN REDUCING EROSION AND MODERATING THE CLIMATE. THEY REMOVE CARBON DIOXIDE FROM THE ATMOSPHERE AND STORE LARGE QUANTITIES OF CARBON IN THEIR TISSUES. TREES AND FORESTS PROVIDE A HABITAT FOR MANY SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS. TROPICAL RAINFORESTS ARE ONE OF THE MOST BIODIVERSE HABITATS IN THE WORLD. TREES PROVIDE SHADE AND SHELTER, TIMBER FOR CONSTRUCTION, FUEL FOR COOKING AND HEATING, AND FRUIT FOR FOOD AS WELL AS HAVING MANY OTHER USES. IN PARTS OF THE WORLD, FORESTS ARE SHRINKING AS TREES ARE CLEARED TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF LAND AVAILABLE FOR AGRICULTURE. BECAUSE OF THEIR LONGEVITY AND USEFULNESS, TREES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN REVERED AND THEY PLAY A ROLE IN MANY OF THE WORLD'S MYTHOLOGIES.

ALTHOUGH "TREE" IS A TERM OF COMMON PARLANCE, THERE IS NO UNIVERSALLY RECOGNISED PRECISE DEFINITION OF WHAT A TREE IS, EITHER BOTANICALLY OR IN COMMON LANGUAGE.IN ITS BROADEST SENSE, A TREE IS ANY PLANT WITH THE GENERAL FORM OF AN ELONGATED STEM, OR TRUNK, WHICH SUPPORTS THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC LEAVES OR BRANCHES AT SOME DISTANCE ABOVE THE GROUND.TREES ARE ALSO TYPICALLY DEFINED BY HEIGHT, WITH SMALLER PLANTS FROM 0.5 TO 10 M (1.6 TO 32.8 FT) BEING CALLED SHRUBS, SO THE MINIMUM HEIGHT OF A TREE IS ONLY LOOSELY DEFINED.LARGE HERBACEOUS PLANTS SUCH AS PAPAYA ANDBANANAS ARE TREES IN THIS BROAD SENSE.

TREES ARE BEAUTIFUL AND USEFUL GIFTS OF NATURE. TREES ARE GREAT FRIENDS OF MEN. TREES GIVE US FLOWERS, FRUITS, TIMBER, BAMBOO, FUELS, ETC. WE CAN REST UNDER THE COOL SHADE OF A TREE. WE GET WOOD FROM THE TREES TO MAKE FURNITURE, DOORS, WINDOWS, ETC.

TREES ARE ALSO A GREAT SOURCE OF MATERIALS FOR PAPER, RUBBER, GUMS, HERBS AND MEDICINE PLANTS. FOREST BRINGS CLOUDS AND CAUSE RAINFALL. TREES PREVENT SOIL EROSION. THEY PROTECT US FROM SEVERE WEATHER.

IMPORTANCE OF TREES: TREES ARE A PART AND PARCEL OF EARTHLY LIFE. ALL LIFE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY OWES ITS EXISTENCE TO THEM.

TREES RELEASE OXYGEN WHICH WE NEED FOR OUR LIFE. THEY ALSO ABSORB THE CARBON-DIOXIDE.

TREES ARE THE NATURAL HABITAT OF MANY ANIMALS AND BIRDS.

TREES HELP MAKE THE LAND FERTILE. WE GET GOOD CROPS OUT OF FERTILE LAND.

THEY ARE THE SOURCES OF THE FRUITS AND FLOWERS.

THEY OFFER US COOL SHADE DURING SUMMER.

DURING RAINY SEASON, WE TAKE SHELTER UNDER THE TREES.

TREES AND PLANTS ARE THE SOURCES OF MANY SUPPLY LIFE-SAVING DRUGS.

THEY PREVENT LAND EROSION AND GUARD US AGAINST POLLUTION. THUS, TREES KEEP UP THE ECOLOGICAL BALANCE.

TREES PROTECT US FROM INCLEMENT WIND ALSO.

CONCLUSION: THUS, TREES PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR LIFE. FELLING OF TREES DISTURBS THE ECO-SYSTEM. WE SHOULD PRESERVE TREES AND PLANTS WITH GREAT CARE.

PROTECTING TREES DURING CONSTRUCTION  &

BUILDING AROUND TREES

AS ASPIRING HOMESTEADERS CONTEMPLATE A WOODED LOT, THEY USUALLY IMAGINE THEIR DREAM HOME SURROUNDED BY HEALTHY, VIGOROUS TREES THAT SHADE THE SUMMER SUN AND WHISPER WITH EVERY BREEZE. AFTER THE HOME IS BUILT, HOWEVER, THE TREES THAT MADE THE LOCATION DESIRABLE OFTEN ARE EITHER GONE OR DYING, THE VICTIMS OF DAMAGING CONSTRUCTION WORK.

THE CONFLICT BETWEEN LAND DEVELOPMENT AND TREE PROTECTION SEEMS TO BE A LOSING BATTLE. OFTEN TIMES, A BUILDING SITE HAS BEEN CHOSEN BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE OF MATURE TREES. THESE TREES, HOWEVER, HAVE DIFFICULTY SURVIVING THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS. ALTHOUGH MOST DEVELOPERS WOULD PREFER TO SAVE TREES ON A PROPERTY, THEY ARE OFTEN DISCOURAGED BY PAST FAILURES OR REGULATIONS THAT FORCE THEM TO REMOVE TREES TO LOCATE UTILITIES. COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION AMONG ALL PARTICIPANTS INVOLVED IN THE BUILDING PROCESS (LANDOWNER, CONTRACTORS, ARCHITECT, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, ARBORIST, ETC.) IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL TREE-PROTECTION PLAN. 

NO MATTER HOW GOOD OUR INTENTIONS, ANY CONSTRUCTION WORK NEAR TREES WILL HAVE SOME IMPACT ON THEM, BECAUSE OF THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A TREE AND THE SOIL SURROUNDING IT. TREES ARE MUCH MORE THAN THE VISIBLE TRUNK, BRANCHES AND LEAVES.

HOW TREES ARE HARMED BY CONSTRUCTION

TREES CAN BE HARMED BY CONSTRUCTION WORK IN SEVERAL WAYS. ANY BREAK OR TEAR IN A TREE'S BARK DISRUPTS THE FLOW OF VITAL FLUIDS AND EXPOSES WOOD TO INVASION BY DISEASE AND DECAY MICROORGANISMS, WHICH THE TREE MUST THEN EXPEND ENERGY TO DEAL WITH. A TRUNK WOUND DOES NOT ALWAYS CAUSE CORRESPONDING LOSS OF BRANCHES OR FOLIAGE, SO THE CONSEQUENCES MAY NOT BE FULLY APPARENT. BUT A LARGE WOUND IN THE TRUNK OF A TREE IS SERIOUS-IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED AND WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY RESULT IN FUTURE DECAY AND LOSS OF STEM STRENGTH.

JUST AS SERIOUS, ALTHOUGH NOT AS VISIBLE, IS DAMAGE TO THE ROOT SYSTEM. ROOTS CAN BE SEVERED BY EXCAVATION OR SMOTHERED BY EARTH FILL OR COMPACTED SOIL.

COMPACTION, THE LOSS OF TINY AIR SPACES WITHIN THE SOIL FROM FOOT OR VEHICLE TRAFFIC, IS ESPECIALLY INSIDIOUS. NOT ONLY WILL EXISTING TREE ROOTS BE AFFECTED, BUT FUTURE ROOT GROWTH ALSO WILL BE IMPAIRED. SYMPTOMS OF ROOT DAMAGE FROM COMPACTION INCLUDE SLOW GROWTH AND BRANCH DIEBACK IN THE TOP OF THE TREE. SOIL COMPACTION MAY KILL TREES, ALTHOUGH NO OTHER DAMAGE OCCURS. NEW TREES, SHRUBS OR GROUND COVERS PLANTED IN THE DENSE SOIL ALSO WILL SUFFER.

INJURIES ARE CUMULATIVE. CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL COMPOUND PROBLEMS TREES MAY HAVE RECEIVED FROM EARLIER DROUGHT, INSECTS OR OTHER NATURAL CAUSES. THIS MEANS

THAT TREES IN POOR CONDITION BEFORE CONSTRUCTION WORK ARE NOT AS LIKELY TO TOLERATE FURTHER DAMAGE. IT ALSO MEANS THAT TREES THAT DO NOT SUCCUMB TO CONSTRUCTION DISTURBANCE MAY BE LEFT WEAKENED AFTER THE WORK IS FINISHED.

 HOW TO PROTECT TREES DURING CONSTRUCTION

ARE WE JUST LUCKY IF TREES SURVIVE CONSTRUCTION? NOT AT ALL. WE CAN GREATLY INCREASE THE CHANCES OF KEEPING TREES HEALTHY BY USING THESE STRATEGIES:

SURVEY THE ENTIRE CONSTRUCTION SITE WELL BEFORE WORK BEGINS TO DETERMINE WHERE TREES ARE AND WHAT CONDITION THEY ARE IN. IT IS BEST TO PLOT ALL TREES ON A SCALED DRAWING, BUT THIS ALSO CAN BE DONE ON THE GROUND, ESPECIALLY FOR SMALL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. HEALTHY, VIGOROUS TREES WITH SOLID STEMS AND A FULL COMPLEMENT OF LIVE BRANCHES ARE THE BEST CANDIDATES FOR SAVING. LARGE, OLD TREES MAY NOT TOLERATE MUCH DISTURBANCE. DON'T OVERLOOK SMALLER, UNDER-STORY TREES, SUCH AS DOGWOOD, REDBUD, SERVICEBERRY AND IRONWOOD. IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH BUILDERS, INFORM THEM OF YOUR DESIRE TO SAVE TREES.

DEVELOP A CONSTRUCTION PLAN THAT BLENDS THE BUILDINGS WITH THE TREES ON THE SITE. THIS IS THE TIME TO DECIDE WHICH TREES WILL BE REMOVED AND WHICH WILL REMAIN. CONSIDER ALTERNATE LOCATIONS FOR FOOTINGS, WALKS, DRIVES AND CHANGES IN THE GROUND LINE TO SAVE THE BEST TREES.

KEEP IN MIND THAT IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO REMOVE SOME GOOD TREES SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT SPACE FOR THEM. IT IS MUCH EASIER TO MAKE THESE CHOICES BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION WORK BEGINS. THE PLAN CAN BE DRAFTED ON A LAYER THAT OVERLAYS THE SURVEY PLAN, OR MARK THE GROUND WITH STAKES OR FLAGS. REMEMBER THAT YOU NEED TO KEEP A RELATIVELY LARGE UNDISTURBED AREA AROUND EACH TREE TO HELP PROTECT IT. THE LARGER THE TREE, THE LARGER THE AREA NEEDED SURROUNDING IT.

ESTABLISH TREE PROTECTION ZONES AROUND INDIVIDUAL TREES OR GROUPS OF TREES TO BE SAVED. EXCLUDE ANY TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION DISTURBANCE, INCLUDING GRADE CHANGES, VEHICLE PARKING OR STORAGE OF MATERIALS AROUND PROTECTED TREES. SET STEEL FENCE POSTS WITH FLEXIBLE, SNOW-FENCE-TYPE FABRIC AROUND THE PERIMETER OF EACH PROTECTION ZONE.

ROUTE TRENCHES AS FAR AWAY FROM TREES AS POSSIBLE. UTILITIES THAT MAY REQUIRE TRENCHING INCLUDE SANITARY SEWER, WATER, GAS, ELECTRICITY AND TELEPHONE OR TELEVISION CABLE. SOME UTILITIES MAY BE ADVANTAGEOUSLY PLACED IN THE SAME TRENCH. PLACEMENT OF SOME UTILITIES IS FLEXIBLE, WHILE OTHERS ARE NOT. IF A TRENCH CANNOT BE PLACED BY THE BUILDER TO AVOID COMING CLOSE TO A VALUABLE TREE, CONSIDER GOING UNDER IT. DIG THE TRENCH DIRECTLY UP TO A TREE TRUNK ON BOTH SIDES. THEN BORE OR FORCE A TUBE OR LINE THROUGH THE SOIL BELOW THE TREE. REROUTING OR TUNNELING FOR UTILITIES MAY ADD TO THE COST OF THE PROJECT, BUT ALSO WILL INCREASE THE CHANCES OF SAVING TREES.

IF BRANCHES OR ROOTS MUST BE SEVERED, CUT THEM WITH CARE. GENERALLY, REMOVE ENTIRE LIMBS OR BRANCHES AT THEIR ORIGIN. USE THE 3-CUT METHOD TO AVOID STRIPPING BARK BELOW THE LIMB AND TO PROMOTE PROPER WOUND CLOSURE. ROOTS SHOULD BE CLEANLY CUT WITH A SAW TO MAXIMIZE ROOT REGENERATION AND MINIMIZE CHANCES FOR DECAY. DO NOT LEAVE RAGGED ENDS. DIG CAREFULLY AROUND LARGE ROOTS AND ALLOW THEM TO PASS THROUGH A TRENCH. PLACE UTILITY PIPES OR LINES BELOW THE ROOTS. BACKFILL TRENCHES WITH LOOSE SOIL PLACED ON TOP.

BECAUSE LEAVES MANUFACTURE FOOD FOR A TREE, REMOVAL OF MORE THAN ONE FOURTH OF THE LIVE BRANCHES THREATENS A TREE. WEAK TREES, OR TREES WITH ROOT DAMAGE, FOR EXAMPLE, MAY TOLERATE LESS. REMOVING DEAD LIMBS WILL NOT HURT A TREE.

PRUNING YOUR TREES BEFORE CONSTRUCTION COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAVING THAT BEAUTY AND LOSING IT! THESE RECOMMENDED GUIDES WILL GIVE YOU THE INSTRUCTIONS YOU NEED TO KEEP THOSE TREES HEALTHY!

USE WOOD CHIPS AS A PROTECTIVE BLANKET OVER THE GROUND. A LAYER 4 INCHES OR MORE DEEP WILL HELP PREVENT SOIL COMPACTION, ESPECIALLY WHERE CONSTRUCTION WORK NEAR TREES CANNOT BE AVOIDED. CHIPS HELP PROTECT SOILS ANYWHERE ON THE SITE WHERE NEW TREES, SHRUBS OR TURF WILL BE PLANTED. REPLENISH CHIPS AS THEY DETERIORATE OR WEAR THIN.

AVOID POST-CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES WHICH COULD FURTHER STRESS WEAKENED TREES. REFRAIN FROM ADDING TOPSOIL AROUND TREES, INSTALLING UNDERGROUND IRRIGATION PIPES OR USING HERBICIDES WITHIN TREE ROOTING AREAS. DO NOT PRUNE TREES HEAVILY, UNTIL NORMAL GROWTH RATE RETURNS.

PLAN FOR NEW TREES, SHRUBS, AND GROUND COVERS, WHICH ARE COMPATIBLE WITH A WOODED ENVIRONMENT. PLANT SHADE TOLERANT SHRUBS AND SMALL TREES AROUND SAVED TREES TO MAINTAIN A WOODED APPEARANCE AND HELP PRESERVE THE ORIGINAL ROOT ENVIRONMENT. RETAIN AND EXPAND THE NATURAL FOREST FLOOR WITH BARK MULCH. PLANT TURF GRASSES IN MORE OPEN, SUNNY AREAS WHERE THEY WILL GROW BETTER AND COMPETE LESS WITH TREE ROOTS.

BUILDING HOMES OR OTHER BUILDINGS ON WOODED SITES REQUIRES TAKING PRECAUTIONS TO PRESERVE THE TREES. CONSIDER TREE NEEDS BEFORE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS. FIND THE BEST TREES AND CONCENTRATE ON SAVING THEM. YOU MAY WISH TO PROTECT SMALL TREES THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GROW INTO SHADE TREES.

DURING CONSTRUCTION, PROTECT AS MUCH UNDISTURBED AREA AROUND EACH TREE AS POSSIBLE, REMEMBERING TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT BOTH THE VISIBLE AND THE FRAGILE UNDERGROUND PARTS OF THE TREES. FINALLY, CONTINUE TO CARE FOR YOUR TREES AFTER CONSTRUCTION IS FINISHED. YOUR EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE TREES WILL MAKE YOUR DREAM HOME IN A WOODSY SETTING A REALITY.

NO TWO TREES WILL REACT THE SAME TO DISTURBANCE BECAUSE OF DIFFERENCES IN SOIL TYPE, SPECIES, AGE AND CONDITION. HEALTHY TREES GENERALLY CAN TOLERATE LIMITED INJURY IF THEY HAVE A GOOD GROWING ENVIRONMENT FOR RECUPERATION. THE MORE SEVERE THE DAMAGE AND ADVERSE THE GROWING CONDITIONS, THE HIGHER THE RISK.