Photo Credit: M. Webber 2014
One of the greatest misconceptions by property owners and construction managers is that trees can easily withstand injuries from nearby construction activities. The roots of a tree are quite shallow and wide, so it’s important to understand why every root really does matter—and how to avoid damaging them.
The Root Of The Matter
Roots provide structural support to trees and are critical in supplying water and nutrients. While weather can impose great stress upon the canopy of the tree, the roots play a major role in dampening the strain placed on the tree from inclement weather. These loads in the upper canopy create potential tree-damaging energy loads that are transferred through the tree and ultimately affect the tree’s root-anchorage system. Therefore, it is incredibly important that a property owner work to protect and minimize unnecessary root damage by preventing construction-induced trauma to the tree roots.
By working to prevent construction damage, the trees’ fine root systems are also protected. A tree’s fine roots provide water and mineral salts from the soil to a tree’s leaves and/or needles for the life-supporting chemical process called photosynthesis. For tree roots to function properly, most trees require a minimum of 21-percent oxygen space in the soil. Additionally, the fine roots defend the tree against soil-borne pathogens by unique materials that surround each root tip called the root cap.