Click here to view the City of Austin technical manual for tree preservation. In the green box to the left, click on the folder labeled “Texas”. Next click on the folder labeled “Environmental Criteria Manual”. Now click on “Section 3”, this will take you to the chapter that covers all the details for tree preservation.

The basic requirement by the city for tree preservation on construction sites is that you fence off the entire area underneath the extremities of the branches (aka “drip-line”). If you must work inside this area, the city requires that you adopt a tree protection plan that can be a combination of tree pruning, fertilization, or other tree-friendly solutions. Your tree protection plan must be prepared by a Certified Arborist. Any trees that must be remove will require planting replacement trees. You are also required to provide a Tree Ordinance Review Application for your job.

All conflicts are negotiated through the City Arborist, a member of the Development Review Department. If you hire Austin Tree Experts to perform your tree services we will handle this communication for you.

There are three basic parts to a tree; these are the parts subject to damage: roots, trunk and leaves.

Roots receive the most damage due to activity on a construction site. Everywhere there is traffic the roots are going to be damaged or destroyed. The roots perform two basic functions: absorption of water and nutrients and anchoring the tree. It is important to understand that root damage will require assessment of both of these topics. If the tree is left with little anchorage it will be a huge safety risk. If the tree is not able to absorb enough water and nutrients it will die.

Trunk damage is the second worse injury to a tree. The trunk transports water and nutrients to the leaves and conducts sugars from the leaves to the roots. One unique fact about the trunk is that it does not heal completely after injury on larger trees. Like injured roots, and injured trunk leaves the tree with the same two risks: tree safety and tree health are compromised.

Foliage damage usually means excessive pruning. If you prune away more that a 1/3 of the canopy of a tree, the tree is going to have a negative response. Each leaf is an energy making factory, and if you remove too many the tree will not be able to produce the energy it needs to survive. Excessive canopy loss alone does not show effects right away like root and trunk injury. Instead it starts a down-ward spiral that can take many years to kill a tree. However, excessive canopy loss coupled with trunk or root damage can have very negative impacts and often leads to tree death within a few years.

Step 1: Prepare. Fence off rooting areas to minimize traffic. The best treatment is prevention. This should be done prior to ground breaking. This is also the time to do any necessary pruning and start your tree care program.

Step 2: maintain. A tree care program should consist of several visits per year, especially during the spring and early summer months. Timely fertilizations will get the healing process started early and regular visits will help ensure tree protection fencing isn't breeched.

Step 3: monitor. Most tree stress doesn't become apparent for several years. At a minimum the tree care program should continue for three years following construction. Tree pruning following construction should be limited to deadwood removal only when possible. It is likely that the tree suffered canopy loss due to the construction project. At this point every leaf counts.

Why am I having problems with the city now, they didn’t say anything on my last project?
There is only one city Arborist who is responsible for processing the paperwork for all projects in Austin. It is possible that your project went undetected and slipped through the cracks. It is your responsibility to provide a Tree Ordinance Review Application for your project. If you run into problems and there is no application on file the City is not going to be lenient with you.

Who can I pay to make this problem go away?
There is a fund that you are allowed to pay into as mitigation for your tree protection short-falls. However, contribution to this fund is at the discretion of the city arborist and he may require you to provide tree care service to help heal the trees. Typically it is cheaper to perform service toward you tree than to pay toward the fund.

What happens if I get caught breaking a rule?
If you are caught without an application or if you are not in compliance with your application the city has the right to stop work on your project until your application is turned in and you are in compliance with the application.

How can I keep the city from looking over my shoulder?
The best way to avoid the spot light is to turn in an application before you break ground and to retain the services of a Certified Arborist.

Who is responsible, the perspective property owner or the contractor?
Ultimately it is the property owner's problem. If you have a good contractor he will have a working relationship with a Certified Arborist and the city arborist. But, if the project gets shut down you are the one who suffers. This is a subject that should be addressed during the planning process.

Is my contractor obligated to provide tree protection services?
Every contractor works differently. Your contractor is not obligated to do anything that is not in your contract.