Kim D. Coder

Professor, Silvics/Ecology
Warnell School of Forest Resources
The University of Georgia

August, 1996

Each tree species, and each unique individual, will respond to the stress and strain of construction activities in different ways. Some species vary widely in their response to mechanical injury, pest attack, soil modifications, and micro-climatic changes associated with construction. As more tree tissues, physical space and essential resources are disrupted, the more a tree must effectively react to these changes to insure survival.

The variability of general tree reactions to construction damage represents a range of tolerances. Some trees tolerate damage well — others tolerate damage poorly. The relative tolerance differences between native species are given in this table as are the primary limiting factors. This list represents only broad expectations of tree reactions and cannot show specific reactions to specific sites changes and circumstances. It is assumed each species is being evaluated within their home range.

The key to symbols in the third column of this table, entitled “tolerance” are the relative value of “g” for good, “m” for medium, and “p” for poor. These are broad recognitions of species’ reactions to activities around construction sites within one-and-one-half times the drip line distance from the tree. For example, a poor tolerance rating signifies a tree which will have difficulty reacting well to construction damage.

The forth column of this table, entitled “limitations,” symbolizes critical constraints governing species tolerances on construction sites. The key to symbols of poor tree reactions includes: physical injury (compartmentalization and decay) “I”; pest complications (chronic and acute attacks) “P”; soil constraints (aeration and water availability attributes) “S”; limited climatic tolerances (native range, hardiness, and micro-climatic change) “C”; and, all of these reactions combined “A.”