Parks and Public Landscaping Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2018 02 01

Home Browse Search

Development around trees can be of concern for trees of any size, species, or age. Root, trunk and canopy damage are common during construction operations. Protecting trees during the design and construction process is necessary to prevent damage and death. Often, damage done during construction does not appear in the tree for 1 to 3 years after construction is completed. Care needs to be provided before the project begins and long after the project ends to keep trees healthy and safe. West Cottonwood 47"DBH This tree has been heavily impacted by the construction activities. While I was on site I noted that the grade had been lowered by over 2 feet on the west site of the tree within 2 feet of the trunk. There is significant structural root damage. The pictures below show the site. Structural damage to a root zone increases the likelyhood of whole tree failure and will directly impact tree health. With this much damage, the tree should be removed to prevent an unexpected failure. The canopy of this tree has notable defects on many of the limbs. This is not uncommon for a tree of this age. Pruning could be done to reduce the hazards that the tree has but it is not a tree that can be made reasonably predictable for limb failure. This tree should immediatley have a fence installed around the drip line of the tree to prevent any human activity below the canopy. This fence should be kept in place to keep people out until the tree is removed. There is a large wound on the trunk of the tree. There are no signs of major decay in the lower portion of the tree at this time. This area should be inspected for decay and stability on an annual basis. (The hard hat in this photo is about 7 inches tall for scale, the writing pad in the 2nd photo is 10 inches )