Purdue extension

FNR-FAQ-11-W

Why Is My Tree Dying?

Author “Why is my tree starting to die just after I built my Soil and Root System Changes
Lindsey Purcell, house?” Oftentimes, the below ground damage to trees is the
most significant and most difficult to diagnose and
Urban Forestry Specialist, This is a common question following new remedy. Even minor changes to the soil grade or soil
Purdue University construction. Typically, trees don’t die immediately profile can produce negative responses from trees.
Department of Forestry & from construction damage. It often takes several years Whether removing or adding soil around the roots of
Natural Resources for the symptoms to develop. Connecting today’s trees, extreme caution is advised.
dying tree to the damage of a few years ago is difficult
for homeowners to recognize and diagnose. So what Undisturbed soils, such as those found in a forested
actually kills trees in a formerly wooded lot turned area, are composed of layers, or horizons. The
into a subdivision or home lot? The words “formerly top layer occupies the upper 6 inches to 12 inches
wooded” should be a clue. and is rich in nutrients and organic matter. This is
the soil component usually missing in new home
After selectively clearing all but the best trees on the construction because of the grading and leveling
building site, landscape equipment such as bulldozers, process. The topsoil is typically removed, stockpiled
skid steer loaders and excavators begin to grade the or used elsewhere in random areas around the site.
lot surface into a level, compacted plane. Building
infrastructure, such as the foundation, utilities, walks Important chemical processes take place in this
and driveways, is cut into place for the site. As the topsoil/root layer that enable trees to absorb essential
building process occurs, several things may happen, nutrients and water. If a tree is unable to obtain
none of which is good for trees. these in sufficient quantities, decline and, eventually,
death will occur. This is typical on construction
sites because disturbed soils lack good structure and
composition.

www.fnr.purdue.edu
Why Is My Tree Dying? • FNR-FAQ-11-W

Soil consists of various sized particles depending upon type

and composition: sand, silt and clay. In addition to the solid
parts of the soil, plants need open spaces between the particles.
It is recommended that soils should contain at least 12 percent
oxygen for good root growth.

The compaction from equipment running over the soil in the

leveling process forces these spaces together, leaving as little as
2 to 4 percent of the necessary oxygen in the soil. Unfortunately,
once the soil is ready for the home, sidewalk and driveway, it’s no
longer suitable for root growth or tree survival.

Soil Grade Changes

One of the most common causes of decline in trees on the
construction site is raising the grade or soil level around
existing trees. “Filling” graded areas on the site raises the level
of soil and covers the original soil. This causes damage to tree
root systems by cutting off the oxygen supply, preventing gas
exchange between soil and air. In addition, an existing tree grows
A relatively flat, compacted surface is required to build a accustomed to a certain amount of water it receives. Cutting or
home. This is achieved by grading the existing soil surface. filling soil around a tree disrupts normal water flow and either
Large equipment is used to level and compact the soil to get deprives the tree of water or creates excessive soil moisture. Trees
the bulk density necessary to support the home or structure. can decline and die with as little as 1 inch of clay-type soils added
Soil conditions required to support a house and the necessary to the existing grade. So changing the level of soils around a tree
infrastructure are different from, and in sharp contrast to, the and allowing these fill soils to touch the tree can be fatal!
soils of the formerly wooded lot. Undisturbed soils, such as those
in a forest, are pliable and easily penetrated by the roots because Studies have shown that fill soil over the root system greatly
needed open spaces or pores in the soil are filled with life- reduces the root system. In a short time, roots begin to decay
supporting oxygen and water. and die back, causing overall decline in the tree and significantly
increasing the risk of tree failure. Often this type of root damage
The excavation and grading processes create a “hard pan” and doesn’t reveal itself for several years. Symptoms may be observed,
remove the valuable topsoil, leaving the remaining topsoil to such as untimely fall color or declining and dying branches in the
be used for leveling and covering the lot. This subsoil usually is upper and outermost parts of the tree canopy.
compacted, nutrient-poor and lacking pore space for water and
oxygen, and not suitable for long-lasting, healthy trees.

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Why Is My Tree Dying? • FNR-FAQ-11-W

Physical Damage
Careless operation of equipment around trees can cause severe
damage to trees and compromise their future health. Any
damage to the tree trunk can create conditions that affect health
and safety.

Construction equipment can injure the aboveground and below

ground parts of a tree by breaking branches, tearing the bark,
wounding the trunk or cutting trunk flares and roots. These
injuries are permanent and can kill a tree.

root cutting
Excavating for foundations and other structures on the site severs
the roots of those chosen trees remaining on the site. Since a
majority of a tree’s root system is found in the topsoil area, these
building processes can be devastating.

Research indicates that a large portion of most tree roots grow

in the upper 12 inches of the soil profile and can spread laterally
up to 2 to 3 times the height of the tree. For example, the root
system of a 50-foot shade tree can be found in a 150-foot circle
around the trunk. Therefore, digging foundations, sidewalks or
driveways drastically reduces important root structures of these
carefully selected trees. Reducing the root system lessens a tree’s
ability to absorb the water and nutrients that are essential for
growth. This root loss also places additional stress on the tree as
it tries to recover by using stored carbohydrate reserves, further
weakening the tree and making it more susceptible to insects and
disease.

Root cutting near a tree also reduces stability and increases

risk to the owner. Research indicates if 40 percent of the roots
are cut, the tree becomes 40 percent less stable, making it more
susceptible to windthrow.

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Why Is My Tree Dying? • FNR-FAQ-11-W

trunk and crown damage For more information contact:

The vascular system of a tree lies just beneath the bark in an
area called the cambium layer. This includes the water and food- Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
conducting tissue known as the xylem and phloem. Any injury Extension, 765-494-3583, http://www.ag.purdue.edu/fnr
to the cambium layer on the trunk and branches creates a wound
disrupting the flow of the conducting tissue. If the damage is International Society of Arboriculture, 217-355-9411, http://
severe enough, the tree can die. The affected area on the trunk www.isa-arbor.com/
or branches takes months to years to heal. In some tree species
which don’t heal well, the wound may never close. In this time,
fungi and other wood-decaying organisms can enter the tree.
This decay can begin spreading to other parts of the tree, causing
more health issues for the tree and risk for the owner.

Construction damage causes health and survival issues for trees

and creates risk issues for people and the property around them.
Tree damage above and below ground creates weaknesses in the
tree structure and reduces its ability to withstand storms and
other weather-related events.

So, why does the tree seem to decline and die within a few years
of construction?

The answer is reduced health and inability to perform critical

plant functions because of direct or indirect damage to the tree
or its soil environment.

For example, as normal photosynthesis occurs, trees store

carbohydrates for next year’s growth. If a tree was healthy and
growing before construction, functions such as processing food
for energy storage were in effect for the coming year. When
that process and any other critical function is interrupted by
root damage and soil changes, the tree begins to use up its food
reserves and becomes unable to replace them. This drastically
weakens the tree and predisposes it to other issues such as insect
and disease infestations. Trees unable to continue their basic
processes won’t function well and the result is gradual decline,
dieback and death. Protecting trees now prevents problems in the
future. Preservation is critical for those who would save existing
trees on a construction site.

To prevent this type of tree damage during construction also

refer to Purdue Extension publication FNR-463-W, Construction
and Trees: Guidelines for Protection.

Purdue Agriculture 03/12

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