A new addition, driveway, ADU, or sewer line can quietly kill a mature tree. The damage happens underground, and the tree may not show decline for two to five years, long after the contractor is gone.
How construction damages trees
Root cutting. Most of a tree’s roots are in the top foot or two of soil and extend well past the drip line. Trenching or excavating on one side can remove a large part of the root system.
Soil compaction. Heavy equipment, material stockpiles, and repeated foot traffic crush soil pores. Roots can’t get oxygen or water.
Grade changes. Adding even a few inches of fill over roots can suffocate them. Cutting grade strips them away.
Trunk and limb wounds. Equipment strikes create open wounds where decay starts.
What to do before work begins
Have an arborist evaluate the trees. Decide which are worth protecting and which should come out before construction, when access is easier and cheaper.
Set up a tree protection zone. Fence off the root zone so equipment, materials, and washout stay out.
Plan utility routes around roots. Boring or tunneling under roots instead of open trenching can save a tree.
Prune for clearance ahead of time. Prevents equipment from tearing limbs.
Mulch and water. A layer of wood chips over the root zone softens compaction.
Check city requirements
Some projects in Eugene and Springfield involve tree preservation requirements. Check with your city’s planning office before you start.
Call Wolfpack Tree Care at 541-556-9256 for pre-construction tree assessment and removal.
