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Bulletin
How to Save Trees During Construction
Life is just better when you are surrounded by trees. Bird songs fill the air, adding delight to daily routine. Trees cast their sheltering shade as they moderate the temperature, quiet the noise, and clean the air.
In summer, shade trees can save up to 58 percent of air conditioning costs. In winter, windbreaks can reduce heating bills by as much as 30%.
As an organization, the Arbor Day Foundation works hard to encourage people to plant trees. However, it is equally important to save the trees that Mother Nature has invested years in growing.
Saving trees during construction often requires courage by an individual — especially in communities where the common practice is simply to bulldoze everything in sight before construction begins. We’ve been inspired by the stories of people who have battled to save trees slated for destruction during a construction project. And we’ve been saddened by the stories of people who willfully destroy trees that could’ve and should’ve been saved.
But saving trees during construction requires more than the right attitude. It requires the right actions. This bulletin features a concise description of the actions you need to take to ensure the health of existing trees long after the sounds of construction fade away. We hope the information provided here will be put to good use. Your efforts will pay off for years as you enjoy the trees you’ve saved.
In This Bulletin
Here’s what’s inside:
- Plan to Avoid Trouble – understanding which trees to keep and which trees to remove before the project starts
- Avoid Damage During Construction – helping trees survive a construction zone
- A Word About … – general tips for keeping trees healthy and fire-safe landscaping
- Construction and the Urban Forestry Program – steps municipalities can take to help protect existing trees during construction