[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6147182,"mediaKeyId","5521758-f74d0c37e05ae75cf7092c8ef92c8de1","parentId",5521758,"title","How to protect mature trees when replacing lawn with water‑wise landscaping","audioSeconds",2248,"startMs",595000,"endMs",2843000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5521758-f74d0c37e05ae75cf7092c8ef92c8de1&start=595&end=2843","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5521758-f74d0c37e05ae75cf7092c8ef92c8de1/thumbnail_595000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6147182/Utah/How-to-protect-mature-trees-when-replacing-lawn-with-waterwise-landscaping","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147182-9e2004773b4e5a80937cae05b8d5fbe0/orig.mp4?Expires=1774942406&Signature=JQKBiJQRRwUncYGAiazOwza6ByicJ4mFEbKfndH2nKmFdmGAVIM9jmbcI5Cf0NHBn2okcvskcYWx44CZ8vRcTijJ65u2SEvyO93rjSURxCNeqCg~UD-RHStIzgJvdSSgRWXcElur-ky37g6OVSOOxSlCp53iLyIGbolEvQ7FIE6pebFs1Wg5qEBbJjrLPj5Qn~HwcCrfmig5n4-wOH6ddB5X-qWMvGGphMzxVnLl37qQ4Ddkb7oVaoHiklZi0DZ5sJT9s9OZq03q6-Sa2gcFL-dlu02vCDU66HUF4WYuUI27VpsBZQqYrvFgEI92nTu~6YDxrASuuFyzappGUb0snw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-08-01T08:37:02.73Z","article","Miles, an extension educator with Utah State University Extension, told a Utah Division of Water Resources webinar that homeowners can preserve mature trees while replacing lawn with water‑wise landscaping but must plan to protect roots, avoid soil compaction and provide appropriate supplemental water. “Trees also benefit us, and ... saving them while we’re taking out the lawn is a goal,” Miles said.

Why it matters: trees provide shade that lowers local temperatures, add measurable property value and deliver other neighborhood benefits that take decades to replace. Lawn‑removal projects commonly cause tree injury by direct mechanical damage, compacting soil and changing watering patterns; any of those can shorten a tree’s lifespan.

Most important guidance from the webinar:
- Evaluate the tree first. Some problems (for example, iron chlorosis that causes yellowing leaves) are treatable; others (girdling roots or severe decline) may make replacement the pragmatic choice. Miles advised homeowners to check trees before and after landscape changes and to take photos for comparison.
- Protect roots. Much of a tree’s absorptive root mass is in the top 18–20 inches of soil and overlaps the lawn area. Miles said to avoid cutting or compacting roots over about 2 inches in diameter when removing turf, because larger structural roots are harder for the tree to replace and more likely to invite pathogens if damaged.
- Consider removal methods and supervision. Mechanical excavation can work but requires a careful operator and someone watching to prevent root damage or compaction; hand tools, solarization (plastic sheeting) and other methods are alternatives depending on scale and owner comfort.
- Replace turf irrigation by targeting the tree’s drip line. Roots typically concentrate near the crown’s edge (the drip line); place emitters or drip tubing in a ring around that area so available water follows roots outward as the tree grows.
- Water to the tree’s needs, not the lawn’s. Miles gave a practical minimum: when you water, provide roughly 5 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter per supplemental irrigation event as a baseline for survival (for example, a 7‑inch trunk ≈ 35 gallons per watering). Young trees require more frequent, smaller applications (daily for the first two weeks after planting, then tapering to twice weekly, then weekly after a few months). Mature trees use more water overall but have larger root systems and generally need less frequent supplemental irrigation; during hot, dry periods the presenter suggested a baseline of about once every two weeks in summer and once a month in cooler fall conditions if a smaller baseline supply is being supplied by other sources.
- Design irrigation for soil type and site. Soil texture changes how water spreads (sand drains fast and requires more frequent applications or closer emitters; clay absorbs slowly and holds water longer). Emitters or drip rings should be spaced so their wetting “cones” overlap across the root zone. For street trees or narrow planting strips the same ring design may not fit and a different irrigation approach and higher flow rates might be needed.
- Mulch and soil care. Organic mulches and compost help retain moisture and improve soil biology; rock or artificial turf do not provide the same benefits and can increase soil temperature. If soils become compacted, root‑invigoration (mechanical aeration of compacted soil) can help trees recover, but prevention of compaction during turf removal is preferable.

What the webinar did not do: the session was advisory; no formal votes or policy changes were made. Presenters repeatedly encouraged homeowners in cities to check local municipal rules because many cities have ordinances governing removal of trees or work in planting strips and rights‑of‑way.

Resources and next steps: presenters said they would send follow‑up links to the Division of Water Resources watering guide and USU Extension fact sheets on drip‑irrigation design and tree care. Homeowners with questions were invited to contact their county extension office and to send follow‑up photos or irrigation site details by email for individualized calculations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Waterwise Landscapes DIY Series: Tree Care During Lawn Replacement","oneSentenceSummary","Miles, an extension educator with Utah State University Extension, told a Utah Division of Water Resources webinar that homeowners can preserve mature trees while replacing lawn with water‑wise landscaping but must plan to protect roots, avoid soil compaction and provide appropriate supplemental water.","taxTitle","Utah Division of Water Rights, Utah Government Divisions, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",76713,"location","Utah","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6147171,"Late‑summer landscape maintenance: cover crops, dividing perennials and fall prep",209,118000,327000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5521758-f74d0c37e05ae75cf7092c8ef92c8de1&start=118&end=327","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5521758-f74d0c37e05ae75cf7092c8ef92c8de1/thumbnail_118000.jpg","/articles/6147171/Utah/Latesummer-landscape-maintenance-cover-crops-dividing-perennials-and-fall-prep","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147171-db7b1234ced213fe8b62271f65887068/orig.mp4?Expires=1774942406&Signature=W6sJZMJe6EuFZFk6iD3Q-3BLK9sm6hLpD~Lkm2VV1ExSjOj6Q1x-rKlMC1FyATnkxA~y8Ny7Uiw6dkFJ~xarOZ0Zl5XJx1s66cNjbBp4~xlPWINAsfw51~VgXSr6tYb6Tb7UR2shWpbR8LRksOXK3gf~nLQOhp-M0vMPPnl56ufQORryMA8SUdTKmhCjFU7yy4AYYADjyzqy7C6sZKHckFnYmy0gIhzxlfz6FreTt8JK~BUclN93v02P2jFECYuixJcI2AVljnRLs4CQ04dsdtArWHBC6Rvuc-ge9lKZqe3I2Cp6q7lRj2Mni9BlN6dpm2vPcEG5ZEblkFq0xRroBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Roe, speaking from Emery County during the Division of Water Resources webinar, provided a concise late‑summer maintenance checklist for homeowners preparing yards for fall and for those transitioning to water‑wise landscaping.

Why it matters: small, seasonal tasks can improve soil, reduce future watering needs and give transplants time to reestablish before cold weather.

Key points Roe offered:
- Consider planting cover crops to improve soil before converting a landscape or starting a new planting bed; order seeds in time for late‑August sowing.
- Collect and save seeds from summer flowers for next year; start dividing and transplanting spring/summer‑blooming perennials in late August or early September so roots reestablish before cold weather.
- Adjust watering schedules as temperatures cool; use the Division of Water Resources weekly watering guide as a starting point but reduce frequency as conditions change.
- Early September is a good time for lawn aeration and a fall fertilizer application to help turf repair and reseed.
- Plan for composting of garden waste produced during fall cleanup.

Roe and other presenters encouraged participants to use county extension offices, master gardener volunteers and extension fact sheets for diagnosis, pest and turf advisory information. The session was informational and included a promise of a follow‑up email with links.","Roe, presenting maintenance tips for cooler parts of Utah, recommended planting cover crops to improve soil, saving seeds from summer flowers, dividing spring/summer perennials in late August or September, adjusting watering schedules as temperatures cool, aerating and applying fall fertilizer to lawns, and planning for composting garden debris.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":80,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6147176,"Extension agents: read labels, use PPE and water‑in pre‑emergents when converting lawns",225,552000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5521758-f74d0c37e05ae75cf7092c8ef92c8de1&start=327&end=552","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5521758-f74d0c37e05ae75cf7092c8ef92c8de1/thumbnail_327000.jpg","/articles/6147176/Utah/Extension-agents-read-labels-use-PPE-and-waterin-preemergents-when-converting-lawns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147176-daa053f657109f36759a36d8910c1472/orig.mp4?Expires=1774942406&Signature=V~WZas8cT5NIzePkNY~QzuKgZ~bA9P47v7Vjyq3uipYJFwakFUGZoVjhA7QDW1XQL~js~3kiDuJaTOphs5YF4ojTnptRd3iYAtoId54MyvhnzZmbrSJ4EiCKRckSNQF-FKhq0RyGXN9at7a2XAUL6qE5e2QQSozjBces3kFZToo6XpLL9p1Zx8Jvp2K5NrgHojmRQpdvpeIpNjPPHkAgCwQU2LDTwVtLYOox9hzYQSSa6Rbe8qTHA~2fAYg~J77dzGbwIBBzh6lT8fGLHSr7-QcLZkcSF8L5xaMtc4Sbp2X~Cbu401UH4LhSvaLzsRwL4PrxIR-EXK61ZeFl9sL9ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ben, an extension agent joining the webinar from Washington County, said herbicide use can rise as homeowners remove lawns and install gravel or mulch because weeds become more visible. “Read the label,” he said, adding that the label answers most common questions about where and how to apply a product and what protective equipment is required.

Why it matters: improper herbicide application can harm desirable trees and shrubs, produce health risks for applicators and waste money when users overapply concentrated products.

Key takeaways from Ben:
- Read the label before applying. Labels specify allowed application sites (for example, “do not spray under trees”), personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements and application rates. Ben noted that you cannot wear less PPE than what the label requires.
- PPE and safe handling. For many herbicides the minimum PPE includes closed‑toed shoes, long pants, gloves and sometimes eye protection; respirators are usually not required for typical homeowner herbicides but labels control what’s required.
- Concentrates vs. RTU. Many herbicides are sold as concentrates to be mixed at a label rate; others are RTU (ready‑to‑use). Using the correct mixing ratio matters because more is not necessarily better and overapplication can increase plant damage and cost.
- Pre‑emergent herbicides must be watered in to activate. Ben said pre‑emergents create a barrier in the soil that prevents germination and generally last about three months depending on the product; if they are applied but not watered in, they will not work.

The webinar included no formal actions. Presenters offered contact information and extension resources for site‑specific pesticide advice and encouraged users to consult county extension offices or master gardener volunteers for diagnosis and product guidance.","Ben, an extension agent in Washington County, told a Division of Water Resources webinar that herbicide use often increases during lawn‑to‑xeriscape conversions and urged homeowners and landscape managers to read product labels, use required personal protective equipment and water‑in pre‑emergent products so they activate.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

How to protect mature trees when replacing lawn with water‑wise landscaping

Late‑summer landscape maintenance: cover crops, dividing perennials and fall prep

Extension agents: read labels, use PPE and water‑in pre‑emergents when converting lawns