Extension Report

Baldwin County Extension Office

302A Byrne Street

Bay Minette, AL  36507

Beau Brodbeck

Regional Extension Agent

Forestry, Wildlife & Natural Resources

January 20, 2009

Learning to Build Without Damaging Trees

Over the past few years as an Extension Specialist and currently as an Extension Agent with responsibility in Urban Forestry , the issue of tree mortality as a result of construction damage has been a persistent problem for homeowners.  This problem has come to light as new homeowners have made several calls to the Alabama Cooperative Extension Office for advice on declining trees, often following the purchase of a newly constructed home.  Also, through working with municipalities over the past few years as an advisor and often assessing  the impacts of new sidewalks, buildings, and utility work near existing trees have added to my motivation to develop the workshop “Trees and Construction; Getting to the Root of the Problem” on March 6 at the Fairhope Public Library. The meeting will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and continuing education credits will be offered. The registration fee will be $35 and the deadline for registration is March 2. You may register online at

https://ssl.acesag.auburn.edu/conference/ucftrees2009/ or call the Baldwin County Extension Office at 937-7176.

The all too familiar scenarios seem to repeat every year in much the same way.  Someone builds, remodels, or expands a structure but forgets to factor the impact of construction on the surrounding trees.  In these instances, death of trees is the consistent outcome.  This issue is something that is not restricted to just Alabama but is a widely occurring problem replicating itself throughout the country.

Research over the past few decades’ has resulted in the development of new information and techniques for improving existing  knowledge on how to build and work around trees in the urban landscape.  In this age of environmental revolution that has made words like “energy efficiency” and “carbon footprint” household concepts, it makes sense  for communities, homeowners, builders, and architects to learn more about tree preservation. 

As a result of growing demand in this subject, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System in conjunction with the Weeks Bay Reserve, the City of Fairhope, and the Gulf Coast Resource Conservation & Development welcomes you to attend a full day seminar on “Trees and Construction; Getting to the Root of the Problem”. 

The goal of this workshop is to arm local communities with the information they need to:

-Understand  the benefits trees provide to buildings and communities

-Identify the trees that are worth preserving during construction

-Understand biology and structure of trees as it relates to construction

-Review the process of designing around trees

-Review techniques, materials and tools for successful tree preservation during construction

This workshop will feature experts from around the state including Dr. David Laband, a Forest Economist from Auburn University.   At this event,  Mr. James Urban - a nationally recognized landscape architect from Annapolis, Maryland and one of the premier educators and authors in the field of urban forestry will also will be speaking and sharing his knowledge .  This workshop is providing a unique opportunity not only to learn about this growing field of study, but to learn something that can be applied in most any yard, neighborhood or community in the State.  

We hope to attract not only local arborists, landscape architects and municipal foresters but builders, architects, planners and engineers to the workshop.  These are the people on the frontlines making the big decisions and who can most benefit from this workshop.  Please assist Alabama Cooperative Extension in making this a successful training session. 

For additional information, please contact Beau Brodbeck at the Baldwin County Extension Office (251-937-7176) or by email (brodbam@auburn.edu).

Lead-Safe Work Practices Training

There will be a Lead-Safe Work Practices Training on January 23 at the Mobile County Extension Office on 1070 Schillinger Road North. The meeting will be from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. To register call the Mobile County Extension Office at 251-574-8445. There is a $20 registration fee.

Many homes built before 1978 contain lead-based paint. It is important that renovation, remodeling and repair activities use methods that reduce and control dust and debris created during work.

The benefits from this meeting are:

-Attendees will learn the skills through hands-on activities to safely renovate older housing and prevent childhood lead poisoning.

-This course will help you prepare to comply with EPA’s new Renovation, Repair and Painting rule. Contractors disturbing paint in most housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978 will need to be certified by EPA after April 22, 2010 and comply with EPA’s new lead-safe work practice requirements.

-This course meets HUD requirements for interim controls/lead safe work practices training. Participants who attend the training and complete and pass a brief test will receive a certificate of course completion. With this training, you will only need to take a one-half day refresher training when the new certified renovator training is offered in late 2009.

Email address: brodbam@auburn.edu

Phone: 937-7176 or 943-5611, ext. 2222

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

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