By Richard Wall
The development outside Chicago is named Oak Tree Estates. But now, 10 years after construction, a more appropriate name might be Ghost Tree Estates: 80% of the stately oaks are gone because the builders didn't protect them. Scott McAdam, president of McAdam Landscape in Chicago and a member of the American Nursery and Landscaping Association, saw the tragedy at Oak Tree Estates coming at the start of construction, though tree damage usually doesn't manifest itself until one to five years after the initial abuse.
McAdam routinely asks builders to keep a 40-foot diameter no-tread zone to protect large trees and their roots. Most builders won't do it, however, because it could cost up to $10,000 to move the dirt off site and bring it back. McAdam wishes builders would start giving the homeowners the option of paying extra to keep their mature trees.
"The homeowner lost the shade, lost the environmental impact, lost value on their property, and if they had four dead trees, it cost them about $8,000 to remove them," says McAdam. "Since the homeowners bought wooded lots, they would probably be glad to pay to save the trees."
More Landscaping, More Respect
With the increasing popularity outdoor living spaces among home buyers, interest in landscaping is making strides among builders. "They are realizing that what we in the landscaping industry are doing on a piece of property is going to have as much to do with how the homeowner enjoys the property as the building itself," says Danilo Maffei, design/sales manager with W.D. Wells & Associates, a design/build landscaping firm in West Grove, Pa..
In the interest of a more harmonious builder/landscaper collaboration, here are some things landscapers wish builders would consider.
Bring the landscapers in earlier rather than later. Best case is before the home is sited on the lot. "This can result in more useable spaces outside and allow for better placement of swimming pools, patios, water features, driveways, gardens and walkways," says Maffei, a member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. "Most of the time, that doesn't happen."
Even so, Mary Richardson, president of Burnett's Landscaping in Salem, Conn., and an ANLA member, wishes builders would make initial contact early. "They could tell us, 'We're going to be doing this property and when I get the foundation in, can you come and look at the grading and the lawn?' Builders should know that it's to their advantage for us to have a look-see early," says Richardson. She points out that such planning can prevent costly remedies later.
Grade the site properly. "Sometimes builders get a little narrow-minded and don't think beyond the perimeter of the house," says Richardson. She wishes builders would focus more on tying in drains as part of the site work. "They need to be aware of the relation of the driveway and decks to the finished grade. Those are things that could easily be taken care of earlier in the process."
Screen the topsoil. Builders often bypass this step and call in the landscapers to seed the lawn, even though there are bowling ball-size rocks in the soil. "Many times the homeowner doesn't realize that it's required of the contractor to get the soil to a point where you can spread it and grade it," says Richardson.
Jet the foundation. "That's where you spray in high-pressure water as you're backfilling so that the soil settles quicker," says McAdam. "Typically there's a ton of air pockets in there; landscapers cannot compact soil like water compacts it. You get your landscape in, and three or four years and several big rains later, the entire foundation could settle 18 inches. Then we have to take everything up and refill it."
Leave the planting to the pros. "Even if the homeowner buys a package with minimal plantings," says Richardson, "many times planting is not done right, and the plant selection is not always right."
Be aware of the seeding window. "To get a certificate of occupancy, a builder will sometimes want to hurry and put the lawn down in July, which is a terrible time," Richardson says.
Check the ego. "Often I advise my clients working with a builder that when it comes to patios and other outdoor construction, leave that to us," says McAdam. "Some builders get upset about it, but those are typically not the better builders. I wish builders knew that I am trying to please the client the same way they are trying to please the client. "
Stop treating the construction site like a construction site. "Builders scatter their debris all over the lot, lay down gravel roads so they don't have mud, dump paint, concrete, and everything into the soil," says McAdam. Then landscapers can't do what the homeowner wants because the soil structure is a mess. McAdam says builders should ask homeowners if they will cover the minimal costs of preventing that. "As green industry people, we need to be stewards of what we have around us, and it's paramount for builders to consider that," says McAdam.
Richard Wall writes about the building industry exclusively for HGTVPro.com.
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