Twenty Great Ways To Damage, Maim, and Kill Trees On Your Property While Building Your Dream House

1. Take out the most vigorous and healthy trees
2. Leave damaged trees with serious defects
3. Leave suppressed trees
4. Wound the trees you leave
5. Compact the soil
6. Change the grade
7. Change the drainage patterns
8. Kill the roots while trenching for utilities
9. Excavate test pits near trees for septic drainfield "soil logs"
10. Pave around the trees
11. Store excavated soil around trees
12. Stockpile construction materials around trees
13. Dispose of chemicals and paint near trees
14. Install extensive lawns and sprinkler systems
15. Use the trees as fence posts
16. Top the trees
17. Clear and grade entire property (make sure all topsoil is hauled off)
18. Pile and burn brush, limbs and stumps close to trees
19. Plant English Ivy at base of trees
20. Use herbicides generously

Written by Elliott Menashe of Greenbelt Consulting, an environmental education, assessment, and management service in the Pacific Northwest.

This material is available for use by non-profit organizations and public education. All other uses or repurposing requires the permission of the author. This information is protected by Copyright © Law 2004.