Trenching and grading near a tree can kill it years after the project is finished, a pattern seen often in Piedmont Triad neighborhoods.
Most of a tree's feeding roots live in the top 12 to 18 inches of soil and spread well past the edge of the canopy. Utility trenches cut those roots, heavy equipment compacts clay soil so roots can't get air, and even a few inches of fill over the root zone can smother them. The tree often keeps leafing out for a season or two before the top thins and dead limbs appear.
Before a driveway, patio, addition, or trench goes in near a mature tree, fencing off the root zone, routing digging around the tree, and keeping equipment off the ground under the canopy all help protect it. After construction, dieback that starts at the top of the crown is the key sign of a struggling tree.
Spartan Tree Service & Landscaping provides tree trimming, removal, and stump grinding for homeowners in Kernersville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and surrounding communities.
#TreeCare #WinstonSalem #KernersvilleNC #PiedmontTriad
A real photo of a mature tree near a recent driveway, patio, or utility trench on a local property, ideally showing thinning or dead limbs at the top of the canopy. A simple graphic showing roots spreading wider than the canopy also works for this educational post. Authentic photos strongly preferred over stock.
Canva text suggestion: "Most tree roots live in the top 18 inches" or "Protect the roots before you dig"