construction damage

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priest

ArboristSite Operative
Joined
Apr 15, 2005
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Location
Oklahoma
Construction of new neighborhoods is booming on the outskirts of town, and the developers are frequently leaving individual or groups of trees, predominantly Post Oaks, in the new yards.

A year or two after the houses are sold, the trees begin to show signs of decline, and then gradually die to the dismay of the homeowners. This is usually do to extreme damage to the root zone including trenching of utilities, construction of foundations, driveways, and streets, and compaction by heavy equipment (which drives all over around the trees, just not into them).

I receive quite a few calls from new homeowners with their trees in varying states of decline, from dieback in the upper crown to dead as a doornail. And none of them want to here that the cause is construction damage and that they're basically SOL. They want the problem to be some disease or bug that can be sprayed or perhaps they just need a little fertilizer, etc.

I looked at one such situation yesterday. I may have a chance to post some pictures on here, but it is not hard to imagine. Most of the 50 trees are Post Oaks, and 75% of them have a few feet of dieback in the top of the crown. A few of the trees are almost completely dead, and some that are further from structures look OK so far. Many of the trees have lost over 1/2 of their root zones do to the construction, and then compaction of much of what's left. The house is only 1 1/2 years old.
The lady that owns the expensive house is distraught. She loves the trees, and was lead to believe that they would be there for years to come. I have virtually no good solutions to offer her, only bad news.

Obviously, the developers need to get their sh$$ together on this issue. It's too obvious and too frequent of a problem for them to plead ignorance. They either need to protect the root zones when feasible or bulldoze the trees along with the rest of the forest to begin with. It's enough to make you sick. The house is sold, money's in the bank "Enjoy your trees!".

Hopefully people will become more educated as time goes on, but in the meantime, does anyone have any suggestions for salvaging these damaged trees? With the current client, the trees are already surrounded by a layer of cypress mulch. These trees grow in fairly poor, well-drained soils naturally, so I feel as though watering and fertilizing may do more harm than good. Maybe some aeration to alleviate the compacted conditions might help. Any suggestions or thoughts on this issue?
 
I feel your pain!
Construction damage is one of my bugaboos! The common theme from construction people it 'it will grow back', they have such little regard, or indeed knowledge about trees etc. Thinking the best of them, it's just ignorance, they don't know, the worst - they don't care.

As far as trying to help once damage is done - DON'T fertilize! (Yet) All you will do is encourage a flush of new growth, that takes energy and the energy reserves of these trees are already badly depleted. Relief of the compaction is what you want to try and do. Forking over the root zone, adding well rotted compost is the least that can be done. There are descriptions and diagrams of digging narrow trenches 6"x 18" that radiate out from the trunk through the root zone out to the canopy line (or beyond) backfill the trench with sandy rubble and compost. The idea is to give roots and rootlets somewhere loose and friable to grow into, then the tree can start to regain water and nutrients, stabilize it's energy reserves.

For you lot in climates where there are four seasons, it seems like once major damage is done, its too late, here where we get a growing season and slow growing season, trees can take a huge amount of abuse and survive. So the construction companies say 'see? trees fine what's your problem?' What they don't see are the problems that may take 5/10 years to appear! Drives me nuts!

I've been watching a huge Mahogany tree slowly decline over 6 years due to construction damage, but try and tell anyone they look at you like you're from lala land.
 
Decompaction and aeration. A proper set up with a spear or probe.

Also, get some of that mycorrhizal stuff you guys have and blast it into the soil profile.

Over here, like with Bermie, developers dont give a ****. There is no regs for proper protection and it's a sham what goes on.

Blame the regulatory authorities, it's the local govts responsibility to make laws and regs, that's what they're their for ... to govern.

Ask your client to write to the local member of the govt and get some regs into place. You dont have to reinvent the wheel here, just copy another county's regs.

But like here, the local govt is hopeless at implementing change, it takes time to do things like that, a lot longet than making a decision to increase taxes or bomb a nation.
 
What really drives me crazy is the homeowners will pay thousands of $$$ to escavators to bury and tear up the roots of the trees to create a grade so grass will grow, thousands to irrigation folks to trench through the tree roots, thousands to driveway pavers to compact soil and grade for driveways and sidewalks, pay thousands to landscape specialists that will overmulch and over fertilize and over plant trees in the wrong places and then start shopping prices after calling a tree guy that bids $500.00 on the dead tree removal caused by this damage a year after all the other checks have been deposited. Until homeowners stop thinking of trees as telephone poles in the ground nothing will change. :(
 
I'm with Bermie on the treatment. I'm doing a grove that'shalf dead tomorrow morning. I swing a pick in there to aerate, and stuff the holes with good stuff, then hose it in so the good stuff gets into the cracks. I have an airspade but it is so slooooooooooooooow in clay that the pick works better. We have some post oaks, and they have to be really trashed to die back that fast.

Basically it's Buyer Beware. The towns do not want to slow gropwth so they do not enforce the regs when they're there. I've made some progress by taking pictures/vodeo, finding a sympathetic town councillor to get it on the agenda, and presenting to the town council.

Read your town's ordinance; there may be conservation language in there already, but it's just being ignored. There is one builder who is now out >$4k because he messed up, but that's just a drop in his bucket; he'll figure he'll get away with it next time.

Sorry if this is a dupe for some:

Below is a report I did for a landowner whose trees were raped by a builder who blatantly broke the rules, but no enforcement happened. The local paper is now looking into it. Names deleted to protect the guilty.
ASSIGNMENT
On May 30, 2006 Mrs. asked me to review town documents regarding the development, and check the accuracy of the claims that the work on that site in regard to the trees followed the town’s requirements and the UDO.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Trees on the property were damaged after a fence was moved, before a fence was installed, and again during a trespass. The cost of curing the damages is $2,970.00. The Town of can assess a penalty of $40,000.00, plus the cost of restoring the damaged trees.
OBSERVATIONS
I refer below to UDO 8.2, Landscaping…, and especially to the site plan that was approved by the Town Planning Commission and the Town Council. Please refer to the numbers on the attached site plan, to more easily follow along with the listing below.
Western Border
1. Grading was done before the property line was surveyed and flagged. I spoke with surveyor about the exact location of property line bordering the property. Mr. told me that the corner pipes were located, but the property lines were not marked. On the site plan, the Town’s instructions were to “Have your surveyor flag the property line adjacent to buffers and other protection areas, and flag the protection limits.” before grading.
Staff properly recognized the neighbor’s residential property as a protection area. Staff required protection limits to be fenced.
2. Developer removed the fencing along the Annunziata’s western border that was mandated, inspected and approved by Town staff. The protection area was then graded, removing and critically damaging the roots of the neighbor’s trees, including a landmark persimmon tree and a very large pine tree.. The area disturbed is approximately 13’ x 120’, or 1560 square feet.
Northern Border
3. Grading was done before any protection fencing was installed. Fill dirt was applied on an area 14’ x 75’, on the s northern border inside the fence location. Total area disturbed, over 1050 square feet. “Disturbing these areas may result in penalties as much as $20.00 for every square foot of encroachment up to a maximum penalty of $40,000.” UDO 8.2.3 C) 1) 1560 + 1050 = 2610 square feet x $20/square foot = $52,200.00. It seems that could be fined the $40,000.00 maximum financial penalty that the Town of can levy for these violations.

4. The town required that the development’s main road be stopped short of the property line. Instead, their excavation went right up to the line, pushing back the fence that divides the properties. It dug out soil four feet deep less than four feet away from a 22” diameter pine tree, causing it to become a hazard to fail For reference, see the information in UDO 8.1.3 D) 4), “Cutting more than 30% affects the health of the tree, and cutting over 40% affects the tree’s stability”2. We observed protruding roots of ten of the ’s tre’s torn off within their Critical Root Zone.

INVENTORY OF NEIGHBOR’S TREES WITH CRITICAL ROOT ZONE DAMAGE

Species Diameter” 4.5’ above grade Distance’ from trunk to cut

Quercus alba, White oak 8 7 TRESPASS--TOTALED
Liquidambar styraciflua, Sweetgum 14 12
Pinus taeda, Loblolly pine ** 22 ** ** 4 ** HAZARDOUS
Liquidambar, Sweetgum 6 4.5
Quercus alba, White oak 6 3.5
Liquidambar, Sweetgum 15 4
Quercus alba, White oak 7 5
Cornus florida, Flowering dogwood 6 3
Nyssa sylvatica, Tupelo 5 1
Quercus rubrum, Red oak 8 5
TOTAL: TEN TREES 97 Diameter Inches

5. On the first tree on the above list, the machinery trespassed by reaching over the line and tearing two primary branches off a white oak tree belonging entirely to the s. Because the line was not marked, it is not clear whether the grading company is responsible for the trespass. The two branches comprised more than half of the tree’s total crown, so it could be considered a total loss. To date, no criminal complaint has been filed regarding this trespass.

6. The area to the east of the road is designated as a sewer easement, so staff did not require protection fencing there. Fill dirt was spread over the area. Nothing in the UDO was cited as a reason why this area did not receive any protection. Given the size of the easement, the line could be offset installed in a way that provides for the neighbor’s trees to be preserved.

“SAVE” TREES WITHIN

7. One dying white oak along Road is designated as a “save” tree on the site plan approved by the Town. The protection fence is only 5' away from this 28" dbh tree, and roots have been removed and damaged within 7' of the trunk. There are several sizeable dead branches in the crown and a severe infection on the same side of the trunk as the root damage. This “save” tree is dying due to the developer’s failure to follow the town’s tree preservation guidelines.
The UDO calls for inch-for-inch replacement for “save” trees that are not saved, so it seems that 28” of replacement trees could be planted if this one does not survive. s landscaper agreed to forward a plan to work on improving this tree’s chances, but this work has not commenced.

8. Another large white oak to the north has a tupelo tree right next to it. These trees are also designated “save” trees, but their fencing is also less than 5' away. They have lost roots from grading all around, even though they are also marked for protection on the Town's approved site plan. There is no evidence of care taken for their survival, so their future is uncertain.
9. Two oaks in the middle of the development were not designated on the site plan to be saved, but Mr. stated that he wanted to save them. The grading for the sidewalk tore up the roots of the largest one, so its survival is doubtful. I mention this out of due diligence because if it is left without any action taken to increase its stability, it may be a hazard to workers on the site and future homeowners. The smaller oak may survive, if steps are taken to protect it.

REACTIONS BY : The Town required to submit a tree management plan by a Certified Arborist, to mitigate the damage done after fences were removed. first submitted a plan drawn up by their uncertified landscaper. Then they resubmitted the same plan on the letterhead of an individual whose certification lapsed last year due to failure to keep up with his continuing education requirements. It was only after the neighbor checked these fraudulent credentials that complied with the Town’s instructions by finding an ISA Certified Arborist who would sign off on the plans.

SUMMARY
This is not a comprehensive accounting, but still it is not clear that has acted to follow the purposes set forth in the UDO, or comply with the regulations therein. The Town’s response to the in the months since they were notified of these problems has seemed to focus on finding ways that the UDO does not apply, instead of focusing on the UDO’s Purpose, “to promote and protect the public health, safety, peace, comfort and general welfare of the citizens and residents of and its…ETJ.”

Even if it is true that was not required to delineate RCA’s or to install plant buffers, I believe that should be held responsible for following the UDO and the plans that were agreed to and approved by the Planning Commission and the Town Council. I ask these bodies to make sure that the plans they approve are followed, so development in is not done at the expense of its natural resources, or its citizens’ rights.

This concludes my report. I would be glad to receive corrections of my analysis.
__________________
 
Looks like <1/3 total canopy loss. I'd reduce it and treat the roots.
 
Datatwins i need to copy what you said , print it and hand it out to customers, If thats ok?
. You so nailed it on the head , Great reply.
 
Seer, I think that oak looks a little past 1/3 dead, think most of the green around it is from other smaller trees, pics sometimes do lie.
B-edwards, copy and hand away, if it helps let us know
I looked at a location last week that a potential customer is developing for his own homesite. Wooded farm with lot of old oak and hickory that he wants to preserve during construction. Going to do some climbing inspection of a few of the older trees, check some cavities etc. get a preliminary plan of what to keep and what is not worth saving. Have a few with old storm damage that he would like to keep on the save list, going to check out the old rips and see what is salvagable. Also some ivy to pull off off a few old walnut trees that will eventually become part of the backyard. Should be a nice project, homeowner is addament about keeping as many old trees as possible, had gotten screwed over by landscape designer at previous residence, designer removed all the oak trees since he said they would not survive construction and planted red maple all around the property. Said they were fast growing and would look old quickly. :dizzy: I applauded the homeowner for calling me before the bulldozers and backhoes show up to start construction, I just hope his diligence continues. I will try to post some pictures of the progress of this project, it should be a lot of fun.
 
Dadatwins said:
going to check out the old rips and see what is salvagable. .
Remember woundwood can be 40% stronger than normal wood.

Sounds like fun Dada, be sure to get signed on for regular inspections until the end. It ain't over til it's over; landscapers kill a lot of trees. If it's in Richmond I'd like to see it; coming up soon.
 
treeseer said:
I'm with Bermie on the treatment. I'm doing a grove that'shalf dead tomorrow morning. I swing a pick in there to aerate, and stuff the holes with good stuff, then hose it in so the good stuff gets into the cracks. I have an airspade but it is so slooooooooooooooow in clay that the pick works better. We have some post oaks, and they have to be really trashed to die back that fast.

Basically it's Buyer Beware. The towns do not want to slow gropwth so they do not enforce the regs when they're there. I've made some progress by taking pictures/vodeo, finding a sympathetic town councillor to get it on the agenda, and presenting to the town council.

Read your town's ordinance; there may be conservation language in there already, but it's just being ignored. There is one builder who is now out >$4k because he messed up, but that's just a drop in his bucket; he'll figure he'll get away with it next time.

Sorry if this is a dupe for some:

Below is a report I did for a landowner whose trees were raped by a builder who blatantly broke the rules, but no enforcement happened. The local paper is now looking into it. Names deleted to protect the guilty.
ASSIGNMENT
On May 30, 2006 Mrs. asked me to review town documents regarding the development, and check the accuracy of the claims that the work on that site in regard to the trees followed the town’s requirements and the UDO.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Trees on the property were damaged after a fence was moved, before a fence was installed, and again during a trespass. The cost of curing the damages is $2,970.00. The Town of can assess a penalty of $40,000.00, plus the cost of restoring the damaged trees.
OBSERVATIONS
I refer below to UDO 8.2, Landscaping…, and especially to the site plan that was approved by the Town Planning Commission and the Town Council. Please refer to the numbers on the attached site plan, to more easily follow along with the listing below.
Western Border
1. Grading was done before the property line was surveyed and flagged. I spoke with surveyor about the exact location of property line bordering the property. Mr. told me that the corner pipes were located, but the property lines were not marked. On the site plan, the Town’s instructions were to “Have your surveyor flag the property line adjacent to buffers and other protection areas, and flag the protection limits.” before grading.
Staff properly recognized the neighbor’s residential property as a protection area. Staff required protection limits to be fenced.
2. Developer removed the fencing along the Annunziata’s western border that was mandated, inspected and approved by Town staff. The protection area was then graded, removing and critically damaging the roots of the neighbor’s trees, including a landmark persimmon tree and a very large pine tree.. The area disturbed is approximately 13’ x 120’, or 1560 square feet.
Northern Border
3. Grading was done before any protection fencing was installed. Fill dirt was applied on an area 14’ x 75’, on the s northern border inside the fence location. Total area disturbed, over 1050 square feet. “Disturbing these areas may result in penalties as much as $20.00 for every square foot of encroachment up to a maximum penalty of $40,000.” UDO 8.2.3 C) 1) 1560 + 1050 = 2610 square feet x $20/square foot = $52,200.00. It seems that could be fined the $40,000.00 maximum financial penalty that the Town of can levy for these violations.

4. The town required that the development’s main road be stopped short of the property line. Instead, their excavation went right up to the line, pushing back the fence that divides the properties. It dug out soil four feet deep less than four feet away from a 22” diameter pine tree, causing it to become a hazard to fail For reference, see the information in UDO 8.1.3 D) 4), “Cutting more than 30% affects the health of the tree, and cutting over 40% affects the tree’s stability”2. We observed protruding roots of ten of the ’s tre’s torn off within their Critical Root Zone.

INVENTORY OF NEIGHBOR’S TREES WITH CRITICAL ROOT ZONE DAMAGE

Species Diameter” 4.5’ above grade Distance’ from trunk to cut

Quercus alba, White oak 8 7 TRESPASS--TOTALED
Liquidambar styraciflua, Sweetgum 14 12
Pinus taeda, Loblolly pine ** 22 ** ** 4 ** HAZARDOUS
Liquidambar, Sweetgum 6 4.5
Quercus alba, White oak 6 3.5
Liquidambar, Sweetgum 15 4
Quercus alba, White oak 7 5
Cornus florida, Flowering dogwood 6 3
Nyssa sylvatica, Tupelo 5 1
Quercus rubrum, Red oak 8 5
TOTAL: TEN TREES 97 Diameter Inches

5. On the first tree on the above list, the machinery trespassed by reaching over the line and tearing two primary branches off a white oak tree belonging entirely to the s. Because the line was not marked, it is not clear whether the grading company is responsible for the trespass. The two branches comprised more than half of the tree’s total crown, so it could be considered a total loss. To date, no criminal complaint has been filed regarding this trespass.

6. The area to the east of the road is designated as a sewer easement, so staff did not require protection fencing there. Fill dirt was spread over the area. Nothing in the UDO was cited as a reason why this area did not receive any protection. Given the size of the easement, the line could be offset installed in a way that provides for the neighbor’s trees to be preserved.

“SAVE” TREES WITHIN

7. One dying white oak along Road is designated as a “save” tree on the site plan approved by the Town. The protection fence is only 5' away from this 28" dbh tree, and roots have been removed and damaged within 7' of the trunk. There are several sizeable dead branches in the crown and a severe infection on the same side of the trunk as the root damage. This “save” tree is dying due to the developer’s failure to follow the town’s tree preservation guidelines.
The UDO calls for inch-for-inch replacement for “save” trees that are not saved, so it seems that 28” of replacement trees could be planted if this one does not survive. s landscaper agreed to forward a plan to work on improving this tree’s chances, but this work has not commenced.

8. Another large white oak to the north has a tupelo tree right next to it. These trees are also designated “save” trees, but their fencing is also less than 5' away. They have lost roots from grading all around, even though they are also marked for protection on the Town's approved site plan. There is no evidence of care taken for their survival, so their future is uncertain.
9. Two oaks in the middle of the development were not designated on the site plan to be saved, but Mr. stated that he wanted to save them. The grading for the sidewalk tore up the roots of the largest one, so its survival is doubtful. I mention this out of due diligence because if it is left without any action taken to increase its stability, it may be a hazard to workers on the site and future homeowners. The smaller oak may survive, if steps are taken to protect it.

REACTIONS BY : The Town required to submit a tree management plan by a Certified Arborist, to mitigate the damage done after fences were removed. first submitted a plan drawn up by their uncertified landscaper. Then they resubmitted the same plan on the letterhead of an individual whose certification lapsed last year due to failure to keep up with his continuing education requirements. It was only after the neighbor checked these fraudulent credentials that complied with the Town’s instructions by finding an ISA Certified Arborist who would sign off on the plans.

SUMMARY
This is not a comprehensive accounting, but still it is not clear that has acted to follow the purposes set forth in the UDO, or comply with the regulations therein. The Town’s response to the in the months since they were notified of these problems has seemed to focus on finding ways that the UDO does not apply, instead of focusing on the UDO’s Purpose, “to promote and protect the public health, safety, peace, comfort and general welfare of the citizens and residents of and its…ETJ.”

Even if it is true that was not required to delineate RCA’s or to install plant buffers, I believe that should be held responsible for following the UDO and the plans that were agreed to and approved by the Planning Commission and the Town Council. I ask these bodies to make sure that the plans they approve are followed, so development in is not done at the expense of its natural resources, or its citizens’ rights.

This concludes my report. I would be glad to receive corrections of my analysis.
__________________
wow!
 
Uh, well, sometimes reports like that do some good. The builder paid the client all my fees(the 2 followup reports were done "on spec", meaning I billed the client, but I would not get paid for that time if the builder did not pay), and has agreed to pay for the first year's mtc., prune, mulch, inoculate, irrigate.

So far the town has done NO enforcement action on his other violations.
 
I really didnt like the client personally, I may not remove his trees.
Why? He is a christian I dont have problems with christians really until they try and get me to go to church. Self rightous condemnation gives many the compfortable feeling of superiority.

Underthe presumption that only Jesus christ can save america I wanted to tell him this" Hey, Mr. dont recruit me to go to church your self rightouness is condecending to me. You think its a virtue of your own the flag you stand under? Well its not its a circumstance and its christians like you that make me wanna be a muslium. I didnt enlighten him to his character defects instead I may let a hack serve him.

The tree I posted declined rapidly and is now transferring into others.
Heres the remaining pics. Im sure its construction damage 8 years ago, finally apparent.
 
If that's 8 years of dieback , the tree looks restorable from here.

Re religion, when I get evangelized, I talk about god and creation without getting into denominations and messiahs. No need to alienate folks when we all have a lot in common.
 
Heres another tree is approx. 20 feet from house and the decline he stated has happened in 3 weeks. I believe this leaf chloris is more like 3 months?

Im sorry this is slim flux from bull dozer blight at its base.
 
Is the phytopoira (SOD) going from tree to tree? I think it is heres an adjecent tree.
Pic 4 (the first pic) is of a tree that 8 feet away. Its just starting to decline. Ill do better at arranging my post. Pic 3 and 6 are of the major SOD?

If I take on the client (he wants removal) if I cut these tree should I dip my saws in a solution of bleach water to kill the virus,fungus, bact. whatever phyotophoria is to prevent it from spreading?
I know dogwood anthracnos it is necessary to do this to stop transferring it.
 
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