LifestyleTREES
tree species. Furtherstudy has resulted in theBritish Standard, (updatedthisyear) BS 5837:2012 Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction – Recommendations. Trees as the cause of subsidence is a
much more infrequent occurrence than the mediawould have us believe. Thereisrisk, but it is rare and confined to soils prone to shrinkageduringperiods of drought(some clays andpeaty soils).Knowing your soil type, underlying geologyand root platesizeand shapefor individual tree species(wouldn’t it be marvellousifaverage root platedimensions were available on garden centre labelling!), wouldhelpeasealot of unnecessary anxiety. Thebest generaladviceIcan give,due to the fact that local knowledge is required in all cases, is: ‘Don’t Panic’ as the vastmajority of damage caused by treesispurelycosmeticand easily repaired. As an aside, buttoillustratethe fatuous
use of blaming subsistence on any nearby trees–Iwas once called outtosurvey(at the client’s cost)athree year oldapple tree blamed by an insurance company(theclientwas not coveredfor such damage by trees) formassive subsistencedamagetoher garage morethan 8maway fromthetreeindeeploamysoil in ruralDevon –animpossible cause.What we
theway that their cover deals with trees
didfind wasageologicalswallow hole under thegarage,whichwas clearlytoblame. Insurancecompanies differdramaticallyin
theway that theircover dealswithtrees both within andbeyond your property boundary. Whilenever an enjoyabletaskitisvitally importanttoscrutiniseyourinsurance documents to knowwhere you (and your trees) stand. It is also importantnot to consider tree
rootsseparatelyfrom thesoiltheylivein. The ‘rhizosphere’ is a single area containing a huge arrayoforganismsworkingsymbiotically. Whilewestill have alot to discover aboutthe interactionbetween thetwo (and themore we do themorefascinating it becomes), we canhelptomanipulatetreeroots forboththe tree’s longevityand forour
benefit.Treeroots naturallyseekout thebest supply of water and nutrients and in the ‘built’ environment we haven’tbeenverygood at gettingthe soil conditions right at all times. Therefore the tree will automaticallysendout long lateral rootsintorichtop soil zones(such as lawns) or seek outeasyand regular sources of wateras in thesurrounding backfillofadrain or other undergroundservices.Ifweweretoprovide favourable root zonesinthe first placewe wouldbeabletobetterregulatethe treesinour gardens and parks. One of the biggest problemsfaced by
thearboriculturalist in theUKare thetree plantingmethodsthemselves,whichare
20
Insurancecompanies differ dramatically in
CLOCKWISE, TOPRIGHT
Surgeryto LargeCedar, ChorleyWood retirement village, North London
Prunus pissardii avenue,London
Weeping willow beingpollarded, London
frequently badlycarried out; treesare either planted in soil that is far too rich, preventing roots fromestablishing in the ground itself or treesare plantedinjustaslitwithout due care to ‘soilsmear’where the spade creates an impermeable barrier.Well over 80% of the younger trees Iamcalled to inspect are suffering or dyingasaresultofbad planting.
Consult the experts Aregular tree inspection schedule byaqualified
arboriculturalist does save considerable time andmoney over longer periodsaswellas eliminatingrisk(andresponsibility)from
litigation.The cost andfrequency of inspection cannot be standardised as it is dependentonthe location of the trees and the species involved. Dobeaware that there aremany rogue traders in thelandscaping andarboriculturalworld. Always demand to seetheir insuranceand never givework to ‘cold callers’.●
To find a local tree specialist go to the Arboricultural Association’swebsite:
www.trees.org.uk or to further discusstrees andfindout aboutwhattodowithatreein your landscape go
towww.forestcomms.org PipHoward isaDirectorofEuropeanTrees&SaveOur Woods Email
info@europeantrees.com Website
http://europeantrees.wordpress.com
Autumn2012 Flat Living
AnthonyCroft,‘hAmAdryAd’
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