2024 Tree and Soil Research Fund Grant Program, Gail Langellotto, Oregon State University

Landscape trees are often damaged or sacrificed during the construction of new homes and housing developments. Large-sized trees are often removed prior to construction, particularly when landscape designs encroach on soils near tree roots. Remaining trees may be harmed due to root system damage, soil contamination, and/or soil compaction. Landscape architects and builders may be unaware of the negative impact of their design or of the construction processes on trees. Some effects will not show up until years later.

We collected baseline soil samples and took site photos at 55 new home and residential subdevelopment construction sites across the Salem, OR metropolitan region in 2006 and 2007. Some construction projects removed all or most trees, while others took efforts to preserve individual trees or stands of trees during construction.

We will return to these sites in 2025 and 2026 to assess and categorize lot-scale changes in tree presence and soil health. We will assess long-term changes in residential landscape soil characteristics, and investigate associations between tree preservation practices during landscape construction (17-18 years ago) and overall soil health. This project will provide information on changes in urban soil properties over time, and the influence of tree protection practices on urban soil health.

Year: 2024

Funding Duration: 2 years

Grant Program: Tree and Soil Research Fund Grant Program

Grant Title: Evaluating the Long-term Impact of Tree Preservation on Soil Health During Residential Subdevelopment Construction

Researcher:Dr. Petr Heděnec, Institute for Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, University Malaysia Terengganu (Malaysia)

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