How to Protect Trees and Landscaping During Demolition

It is typical to worry with demolition work whether you are planning a tear-down, or even if you are remodeling. With the right preparation, you can protect the green parts of your site while the noisy work is going on nearby. This article provides you with some of the practical steps you can use and what to talk about with your demolition contractor to protect your yard during the job, so it approaches construction healthy and ready to thrive.

Fencing Off Landscaping

The most basic step you can take is to create temporary barriers. Good fencing will keep feet, tires, and other stray materials off of vulnerable areas. Easy-to-see fencing can also clarify the work zone for equipment and crews to stage and turn the work zone without second-guessing how to protect the trees or fragile areas at the side of the house, yard, or both.

Use bright-colored construction fencing (or rigid panels- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigid_panel) to create a no-go buffer zone around tree clusters, garden beds, and irrigation heads.
When possible, place the buffer fencing at the drip line of the tree(s)—this is the edge of the trees’ largest reach of branches where they have their roots most active.
Label the locations with signage and tape to remind deliveries and site clean-up crews that these are intentional protected buffer zones.
Place foam or plywood guards over nearby trunks, mailboxes, or masonry that could also suffer rot or wear while demolition is going on.

Walk the fence line in the morning each day and reset any fallen fence panels before crews arrive on site to work.

Root Protection Methods

Most of the damage is subtle and occurs below the surface. Root and soil systems require sufficient air, water, and space to provide overall support to the tree’s infrastructure. Compaction and trenching reduce and eliminate air, water, and space as it compresses the soil. Prior to commencing any work, conduct a walkthrough of the property with your contractor and mark all utilities, as well as areas that you will not be able to dig. If it is feasible, place the trenches outside of the drip line, and use a hand-digging technique when the lines must pass near a tree.

It is recommended that you lay down a 3–4 inch layer of wood chips over the root zones to allow for cushioning and dispersal of loading within the soil. If it is anticipated that there will be multiple trips from wheelbarrows or carts, place ground protection mats above the mulch. It is best to keep bulky materials and dumpsters off the root areas of existing trees; instead, use driveways or temporary pads above soil that is already compacted as a staging area. For valuable tree species, coordinate with a certified arborist to authorize pruning of any root zones, as well as flagging areas in which hand tools should not be used.

Heavy Equipment Awareness

Loaders, excavators, and trucks can also create inadvertent damage quickly. Plan out travel routes prior to starting any of the engines. Always locate turning/staging areas as far away from the root zones as possible, and schedule workflow to minimize pass-through.

If you are coordinating construction debris removal Post Falls project, please see the local service area and staging access on the map below to avoid tree root zones when planning a route or drop zone:

Establish and use fixed equipment routes. Mark those routes with cones or flags to limit wandering traffic and soil compaction.
Utilize crane mats or plywood roads when machines need to cross a lawn, and remove them every day to allow the soil to breathe.

Designate a spotter for the operator/crew when working near trees, fences, and irrigation heads, especially when hauling debris or staging materials. Keep stockpiles, fuel, and concrete wash-out areas away from root zones and low areas where water collects.

Watering and Soil Health

Demolition disturbs the micro-environment. Dust collects on leaves, compaction lowers oxygen levels in soil, and disturbed grades alter drainage paths. A little water goes a long way, along with biology.

At the end of the workday, when work has raised fine dust particles, rinse dusty foliage with a gentle spray of water. Deep watering should be done infrequently and target the top 8–12 inches of soil to get the moisture down to the feeder roots. After heavy activity, use a lawn garden fork or manual aerator to alleviate compaction, then top-dress with compost.

Mycorrhizae (see here for details) or compost tea can aid in recovery for the roots by adding beneficial microbes to the area. Hold off on fertilizers until stress has passed and focus on organic material and mulch layers to rebuild soil structure. If you have a drip system, shorten run times on compacted areas until aeration has occurred to avoid puddling.

Post-Demo Yard Recovery

As the last truck pulls away, you will need to reset your landscape. Now is the time, while small injuries are small, to address them before they potentially become issues, and an opportunity to plan for the next season’s growth.

Prune any branch torn or broken, with sharp, clean cuts when possible, and avoid “flush cuts,” preserving the branch collar for natural healing.
Fill ruts with a mix of 50/50 topsoil and compost and re-seed or re-sod when ready, watering continuously and keeping new seed evenly moist until established.
Aerate compacted areas, and in tree areas add a mulch ring, 3 inches deep and pulled back a few inches from the trunk.
Schedule a professional junk removal service for leftover random odd items, and finish with a cleanup of the site with a careful focus to make all irrigation heads, drains, and valve boxes visible and working.
If grades changed, watch the first rain, and reroute for drainage to flow away from trunks and foundations.

Protecting your yard during a tear-down isn’t about getting it perfect; it’s about planning. With clear fences, smart routing, and diligent aftercare, you can accomplish the work you wanted to have done without sacrificing shade, privacy, or curb appeal for your property. Work with the demolition contractor you hired for aftercare services, stay in good communication with crews on site, and your property will come through the project in good health and ready for what is next.