When you beautify your home, don't forget to protect the trees

Home improvement projects neednt cause the demise of trees use care and caution to protect tree roots during construction and digging

It may still be winter, but spring will be upon us before we know it. Some of us are already making plans for home or garden improvement projects. Whether you're planning to put in a new patio, repair a driveway, rebuild a sewer line or remodel or build a new home in the middle of a wooded property, there are numerous ways you might inadvertently damage tree roots that could ultimately spell the demise of your tree.

You wouldn't want this for a host of reasons for one thing, trees and shade trees add to the value of residential and commercial properties. Fortunately, with just a little care and foresight, these fatal consequences can be avoided.

Debunking an urban legend: most mature trees dont really have much of a "tap root"

When planning ways to protect your tree and the roots upon which it depends for survival, its important to have a good understanding about exactly how and where a trees roots grow. Contrary to urban myth, in a mature tree, the roots dont extend that far down. They are found mostly in the upper 6 to 12 inches of the soil, and, they extend far out from the trunk. In fact, roots typically may be found growing out laterally a distance of one to three times the height of the tree.

Avoid cutting, smothering roots and compacting soil

The digging and trenching associated with building a home, installing underground utilities and other home improvement projects can easily sever a portion of your tree's roots. Your tree might not die right away, but will begin to decline over several years. Loss of roots also increases the potential for a tree to topple over in high winds or bad weather.

Smothering roots

The fine roots of a tree need space, air and water to stay healthy and meet the needs of the tree; if you allow soil to be piled over a tree's root system, it smothers the roots. Only a few inches of added soil can smother the fine roots of a sensitive mature tree, leading to its decline and death. Don't let this happen to your tree.

Compacting the soil

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When you beautify your home, don't forget to protect the trees