Friday, July 4, 2008

Tree Preservation, Part 2

I've been thinking more about that old maple tree and whether we should replace it or try to save it. For the required canopy coverage, we probably need that tree to have enough points. (Although replanting new trees will get us points too.) However, we will have to dig a trench from the front of the lot to the house in order to bring the utilities from the street to the house. Given the location of the electricity connection at the street, that means the trench must pass right through the maple tree. Trenching around the tree surely will harm its root system. And given the age of the tree, the roots certainly are across the entire 40' width of our lot. So anywhere we trench will damage the roots, right?

While the "greenest" option might be saving the tree, cutting the tree down and using the wood in some way on the property and planting a new tree in that spot also would be green. It's not an easy decision to take a life. Stay tuned.

2 comments:

  1. Hi Mike and Andreas,

    While I can appreciate your desire to save the tree, it really doesn't seem practical in this case. Given that the tree is misshapen, the root system will be significantly compromised, and it will be expensive to save it, I think that weighs heavily towards removing it.

    You can plant new tree(s) when the house is finished, and it or they will have a much better chance of growing into well-shaped healthy trees.

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  2. Gentle Men,
    I agree with jazzfanatic. I see a tree that has suffered and will not respond well to the disturbances that construction will place on the lot. Give it a hug and thank it for this phase of it's life. Have it made into some gift for visitors or some mantel or door or table.

    If omnivores would think of animals the same why you think of this tree, imagine the wonderful world this would be!!

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