Product Focus
THE ROOT OF THE ISSUE There’s value to be had in beautiful landscaping. But that doesn’t always mean adding something to a property. “The best way to add the curb appeal is to first maintain and optimize the existing trees,” stresses Dylan Glazer, Operations Manager at Davey Tree Expert Company. “During construction, this means a complete proactive tree protection and preservation plan. This is a very common oversight that presents itself years down the road with visual tree decline.” And the stats say it’s worth the effort. “Ultimately, well-maintained trees and yards fetch a higher price and quicker sale. A manicured landscape and trees can add approximately 10-20% or more to the overall value of a property,” Glazer notes. “Properties with well-maintained trees and yards also reduce a home’s time on the market by up to 15%—particularly with healthy mature trees. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, 98% of realtors believe that mature trees have a strong impact on the
saleability of higher end homes. “Trees also improve the air you breathe, cut your energy bills with their shade, provide homes for wildlife, absorb rainwater and protect stormwater systems, and reduce noise pollution—especially in backyards and municipal settings,” Glazer adds. There’s even a psychological element. “Communities with more trees report lower crime rates and lower levels of anxiety.” Given that strict legislation and bylaw requirements can result in unexpected delays to a project schedule, Glazer always advises bringing in an arborist during the initial planning phases. “Contractors often underestimate the size of the root systems and the significant damage that construction activities can cause to trees, both immediately or years later,” Glazer says. “Issues we often encounter are soil compaction from builders driving or parking heavy equipment or storing material within root zones, improper placement of horizontal or verti-
cal tree protection measures, as well as mechanical injury to trunks or branches from construction equipment. Even grade changes as slight as a few inches can be disastrous. “And remember, roots can extend well beyond the drip line of a tree and are often already restricted, causing undue stress to survive in an urban setting. All these injuries can result in costly tree removals or even fines.” Davey Tree’s ISA certified arborists provide tree risk assessment reports, tree root protection zone calculations, mapping of critical root zones, soil analysis, on-site monitoring, tree preservation action plans and both short-term and long-term plant health care strategies to ensure projects move forward on schedule. And don’t forget that it’s not just tree roots lying beneath the surface, Glazer notes. “Before any underground work is performed, you should also prepare the construction site by checking for any underground utility lines.”
Going the extra mile to protect existing trees during new builds and renos pays off from both a health and financial perspective.
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ONTARIO HOME BUILDER SUMMER 2021
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