The root of the problem

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Just like we take care of our bodies with essential nutrients, trees do as well.

But sometimes they can’t do it on their own.

They have arborists who step in and help them stay healthy along the way.

Matthew Copley, being one of them.

“A lot of people plan to build their homes around these big beautiful trees and they want their home to sit in the middle of them,” said Copley. “But a lot of people don’t realize that the root system on these trees is so shallow and it’s very easy to disturb it or possibly kill the tree by construction.”

Copley helps people make this dream a reality.

“We come in and we work with the client, we work with the contractors, the developers, and the architects and we come up with a game plan to set up fencing like you see,” said Copley.

This fencing keeps heavy machinery off of the root system and helps eliminate any possible damage.

“If machinery or any activity gets inside this fencing it’s very easy to damage the trees,” said Copley. “You’re compacting the soil and it’s making it hard for the root system to be productive and stay active in the tree.”

Copley doesn’t usually have to worry about damage though.

Fulgham’s Inc., the company he manages, has a 95 percent success rate, partly due to the injection process they go through with the trees.

“We aerate the soil around the trees and we also inject our proprietary liquid injection around the trees to keep them healthy and make sure that the trees are functioning and taking up as much water and nutrients as they can through during these stressful times,” said Copley.

These taxing times don’t just affect the trees though.

Home builders who have to follow specific parameters are tested as well.

“It’s my first time to be exposed to this,” said Stuart Davis. “It’s a little different situation. The placement of the house is real tricky working around these 200-year-old live oaks.”

“I’m definitely going to have to take a lot of TLC and extra precaution to make sure that I don’t do anything to damage those trees,” said Davis.

But the detailed guidelines don’t stop their vision from making a house, a beautiful home.

“I think that’s the most exciting part, the final product,” said Davis. “That’s what makes my life worth while. I really enjoyed that part of it you know building the home, having the setting, it’s going to be one of a kind.”

Copley said his preservation services continue three to five years post construction.

This allows him and his team to further their inspections as well as maintain essential nutrients within the tree roots.