--- title: Protecting Trees During Construction url: https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/protecting-trees-during-construction/ business: Battle Born Tree Service address: 6301 US Highway 50 East, Carson City, NV 89701 phone: 775.232.8243 hours: Office Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5:00 pm; phones answered seven days a week; 24-hour emergency service credentials: ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A on staff; Nevada Business License # 20131580674; fully insured type: Tree service (removal, crane work, pruning, stump grinding, defensible space, snow removal, firewood) --- - [Home](https://battleborntreeservice.com/) - [The Field Guide](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/) - Protecting trees during construction # Protecting trees during construction Protecting trees during construction means fencing off the critical root zone, keeping equipment, fill and trenches out of it, and having an ISA Certified Arborist involved from planning to finish. Damage often shows up years later, so the protection has to be in place before work starts. Key takeaways - The critical root zone is the part of the root system a tree needs to stay healthy and stable, and it can reach well past the branch spread. - Fence the tree protection zone before the first machine arrives, with signs that say why and who to call. - Compaction, grade changes, trenching, spills and trunk wounds are the five common ways construction injures a tree. - Bring the arborist in during design, because small plan changes save more trees than fixes made later. Most trees lost to building are not cut down by the crew. They are slowly starved or crushed by it. The ISA puts it bluntly: small injuries that accumulate can start a decline that is hard to reverse. ## How does construction hurt a tree? The ISA lists the main ways. Grading, trenching, paving, changed drainage and added or removed soil within the root zone damage roots. Heavy equipment compacts the soil, which slows root growth, limits water getting in and reduces the oxygen roots need. Machinery can tear bark and wound the trunk and root collar. Heat from running machines and burning material can damage bark and leaves, and spilled fuel or concrete washout can change the soil chemistry. Removing trees can hurt the ones left behind. The ISA notes that closely spaced trees support each other, and exposing the survivors can lead to sunscald or structural failure. ## What is the critical root zone and the tree protection zone? The critical root zone is the portion of the roots essential to health and stability, and a tree's root zone can extend far past its outer branches. The ISA says an ISA Certified Arborist should define the tree protection zone early, with specific limits on construction activity inside it. Our glossary entries on the [critical root zone](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/critical-root-zone/), the [drip line](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/drip-line/) and the [structural root zone](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/structural-root-zone/) explain the terms. ## What should happen before, during and after the build? Before: the ISA says an arborist can recommend where protection fences go, with signs attached to say why people should stay out and who to contact. If machinery must come near a trunk, extra trunk protection can be recommended. Where trenching or grading will damage roots, an arborist can prune the roots out of the way or cut them cleanly before the damage is done, and may plan temporary irrigation when root loss is significant. During: the zone needs regular monitoring by an arborist. After: new plantings, irrigation, lighting and planting soil near existing trees can hurt them, and a post-construction maintenance plan helps trees recover. - Walk the site with the arborist before design is final. - Mark the protection zone and fence it before equipment arrives. - Keep parking, storage, fill and washout outside the fence. - Have the arborist visit during the build, not just at the start. - Plan watering and aftercare when roots have been lost. ## Which rules apply in our area? In Reno, the city's tree protection ordinance addresses preservation, replacement, mitigation plans, prohibited activities next to trees and permitted construction methods, and anyone working within 10 feet of a publicly owned tree must contact the City's Urban Forester before digging, according to the Truckee Meadows Water Authority. Around Lake Tahoe, trees permitted for removal as part of a development project do not need a separate TRPA removal permit, though the project itself does. See [permits in Northern Nevada](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tree-removal-permits-northern-nevada/) and [the Tahoe 14-inch rule](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tahoe-tree-removal-permits-dbh/). The agency decides. ## How can we help a build? We do lot clearing, tree removal, crane work and arborist consultation for builders and land owners. A certified arborist assesses the trees before work starts. See [lot clearing for builders and land owners](https://battleborntreeservice.com/who-we-serve/builders-and-land-owners/) and call [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243) for a free estimate. ### Sources - [International Society of Arboriculture, Trees Are Good: Avoiding Tree Damage During Construction (brochure)](https://www.treesaregood.org/Portals/0/TreesAreGood_Avoid%20Damage%20During%20Construction_0721.pdf) (read October 17, 2026) - [Truckee Meadows Water Authority: Local Tree Ordinances](https://tmwa.com/article/local-tree-ordinances/) (read October 17, 2026) - [Tahoe Regional Planning Agency: Trees and Defensible Space](https://www.trpa.gov/trees-and-defensible-space/) (read October 17, 2026) ### Talk to the office [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243) | Monday to Friday | 8:30 am - 5:00 pm | |---|---| | Saturday and Sunday | Office closed, phones answered | Phones answered seven days a week. 24-hour emergency service. [Free estimate](#quote) ### Keep reading - [Trenching and grade changes near trees](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/trenching-and-grade-changes-near-trees/) - [Tree roots, sidewalks and sewer lines](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tree-roots-sidewalks-sewer-lines/) - [Lot clearing before building in Lyon and Douglas counties](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/lot-clearing-before-building/) - [Lot clearing](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/lot-clearing/) - [Arborist consultation](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/arborist-consultation/) - [Critical root zone](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/critical-root-zone/) ### Terms on this page [Critical root zone](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/critical-root-zone/) [Arborist](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/arborist/) [Drip line](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/drip-line/) [Structural root zone](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/structural-root-zone/) [TRPA (Tahoe Regional Planning Agency)](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/trpa/) [The full glossary](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/) ## More from the blog Pruning and care October 17, 2026 5 min read ### What should you do with your trees in October in Carson City and Reno? In October, finish watering while the ground is open, look over your trees for dead or hanging limbs, and clear leaves and needles away from the house. Save most live-wood pruning for the dormant seas Pruning and care October 17, 2026 6 min read ### Young trees in new subdivisions: the first ten years A young tree in a new subdivision needs very little pruning in its first two or three years, then steady structural pruning to build one strong central trunk and well-spaced branches. The ISA says tre Removal and equipment October 17, 2026 6 min read ### Where tree debris and green waste go in Reno and Carson City Green waste has a few legitimate homes in our area: the landfill or transfer station if the load is only wood and green waste, a fire district drop-off day or curbside chipping program if you qualify, [All posts](https://battleborntreeservice.com/blog/) ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243). Phones are answered seven days a week. ### How far from the trunk should a fence go? As far out as the project allows. A tree's root zone can extend well beyond its branch spread, and the arborist defines the protection zone for the specific tree. ### Can the tree survive if the driveway goes over its roots? Sometimes, if the design bridges roots rather than burying them. The ISA lists realigned driveways, bridging footings and tunneled utilities as design options an arborist might suggest. ### Will the tree show damage right away? Not always. The ISA says construction damage may take many years to show. ### Who watches the tree during construction? The ISA recommends an ISA Certified Arborist as part of the project team, since the arborist is often the only member who speaks for the trees.