As a final tip on this series about constructions impact to trees, I wanted to address the practice of washing off tools and the concrete chute of the cement truck on the job. Most of the time it is done in an area of no consequence. Other times however it is done near the root zone of existing trees or a swale where a tree or trees may be planted. I am assuming the thought is that the water would be good for the trees or where they may be planted. While water is, the runny mixture of concrete washout is not! It is very alkaline, to the point of being caustic. At a minimal, it can inhibit tree growth if not entirely kill a tree.
Finally, the last part of a tree preservation plan is the follow up care. This may be soil and tree treatments such as aeration, vertical mulching, fertilization, systemic insecticides, foliar fungicides and most importantly, monitoring. Monitoring may be for a year or much longer. The objective to this monitoring program is to track the trees vigor and growth after the project is over. Through frequent monitoring, an Arborist can check for stress symptoms. The earlier these are observed, the quicker necessary adjustments and or treatments can be performed to alleviate the root cause of the stress.
I hope you have enjoyed this series, but it is time to get back to the relevant and current issues of this fall. In the next few weeks we will address the impact to trees from that early October snow as well as those pesky little gnats that are in the air all over town.
As always, for further questions, quotes and consultations, give us a call today.