Construction damage is one of the leading causes of tree decline and death in urban and suburban areas. As development expands, valuable wooded sites are often chosen for homes, commercial buildings, and neighborhoods to boost property appeal and value—sometimes by tens of thousands of dollars.
Unfortunately, without proper protection, many of those trees suffer root damage, soil compaction, trunk injuries, or grade changes during construction—and they may decline or die years later, leaving owners with costly removals and replacements.
The good news? Early involvement from a certified arborist dramatically improves outcomes. Prevention is far more effective (and economical) than trying to fix damage after the fact.
Why call Urban Tree Care early?
As soon as your plans are drafted, bring us in for a site assessment. Our ISA Certified Arborist (with deep construction background from growing up in a family of builders) can:
- Evaluate which trees are healthy and structurally sound enough to save.
- Recommend adjustments to building footprints, driveways, utilities, or grading to minimize impact.
- Create a detailed tree protection plan, including Tree Protection Zones (TPZs)—fenced exclusion areas around critical root zones to block equipment, materials, and traffic.
- Guide subcontractors on barriers, signage, and no-go zones to avoid accidental damage (like trenching, rototilling, or parking heavy machinery over roots).
We understand builders’ timelines and priorities—no headaches, just results. Scott has worked alongside developers, general contractors, and multiple subs on sites large and small. He’s saved trees on projects that others thought were doomed, and he’s stepped in as landscape general contractor to finish, upgrade, or rescue landscapes right before open houses or grand openings.
Key protection basics we implement:
- Sturdy fencing at or beyond the drip line (often 1 foot of radius per inch of trunk diameter).
- Trunk and root flare armoring to prevent scrapes or nicks.
- No storage, fueling, or dumping in protected zones.
- Post-construction care like mulching, watering, and soil treatments to reduce stress.
- Safety always comes first—if a tree poses a risk, removal may be the best option. But when preservation is feasible, we make it work seamlessly with your project.
- Builders and developers: Free up your time for the big picture. Handle all your tree preservation, protection, and landscape needs with one call to Urban Tree Care of Iowa. Let’s keep those trees thriving—and your clients happy.
Contact us at the planning stage—we’re ready to help from day one.
