You’ve spent time and money making your lawn look great – and now a crew is about to roll in with a crane, chipper, and a couple of trucks weighing several tons. It’s fair to wonder, “Is this going to wreck my lawn?”
Your lawn isn’t just grass – it’s part of your home’s curb appeal. The last thing anyone wants is to spend more money fixing it up after tree work is done. While we can’t promise nothing will happen, we can promise that we’ll do everything in our power to avoid damage. And that starts with a plan before we even arrive.
Key Takeaways:
- Being present for your estimate helps us plan around hidden risks like sprinkler heads, soft spots, or septic systems.
- Every job starts with a detailed walkthrough to make sure the entire crew understands how to avoid lawn and property damage.
- We use heavy-duty mats, plywood, and outrigger pads to prevent ruts, compaction, or cracks in driveways and lawns.
- Our team avoids walkways, patios, and sensitive landscaping areas whenever possible to minimize the chance of damage.
- While tree work always carries some risk, we’re upfront about it and take every precaution to protect your yard.
The More We Know, the Better We Can Avoid Accidental Damage
Before any work begins, we start with a site visit to walk the property, talk through the scope of the job, and spot anything that could impact how we access the trees or protect your lawn.
While it’s possible to provide an estimate without the homeowner present, being there for that first visit makes a big difference. This is your chance to point out anything we might not notice right away – like sprinkler heads near the trees, soft or soggy spots in the yard, a buried septic lid, or areas of the yard we should avoid entirely.
These kinds of details help us plan smarter and avoid surprises. They also give us a chance to explain how we’ll be protecting your lawn, whether we’ll need to lay mats, and how the equipment will be moved in and out of the space.
If you’re not able to be there in person, no problem – just let us know about any concerns ahead of time. A few photos or a quick phone call can go a long way in making sure we’re all on the same page.
How We Protect Your Lawn During Tree Work
By the time we arrive on the day of your project, we’ve already done the planning. Now it’s time to put that plan into action – with the right tools, the right crew, and the right process. Here’s a closer look at what we do to protect your lawn and property while the work is underway.
1. We Do a Pre-Job Walkthrough with the Full Crew
Once we’re on site, we start the day with a full walkthrough of the job with the entire crew. This makes sure that everything discussed during the estimate is clearly understood by everyone on the team.
During this walkthrough, we go over every detail:
- Where we’ll be working
- Where we’ll park and place equipment
- What areas to avoid
- Special instructions you’ve given us during your initial estimate
2. We Us Industrial-Grade Ground Mats
If we need to drive equipment onto your lawn, we don’t take chances. We use heavy-duty composite mats (often referred to as AlturnaMATS) to spread out the weight of our trucks and cranes. These mats reduce soil compaction, prevent deep ruts, and protect your turf from getting torn up. In wet conditions of on softer lawns, we add a layer or ¾-inch plywood underneath for even more protection.
3. We Protect Driveways and Edges
The edges of your driveway are more fragile than they look. When heavy equipment moves on or off a hard surface, the pressure can cause cracking or break off a chunk of the concrete or asphalt. We use additional mats to bridge the transition from driveway to lawn, reducing the impact and protecting those vulnerable edges.
If we need to cross over any decorative stonework or newer surfaces, we’ll assess the risk and discuss options with you in advance.
4. We Avoid Walkways and Patios Whenever Possible
Walkways, patios, and steppingstones may look solid, but they’re typically built for foot traffic – not for 10,000-pound equipment. We plan our routes to avoid these areas altogether whenever we can. If that’s not possible, we’ll reinforce them with matting or plywood or explore alternate ways to access the work area that reduce the risk of damage.
We’d rather take a few extra minutes to find a safer route than cause a problem that could’ve been avoided.
5. We Mark and Avoid Sprinkler Heads and Septic Systems
Sprinkler heads, underground irrigation lines, and septic systems are among the most common things that get unintentionally damaged during outdoor work, and they’re also some of the easiest to avoid if we know about them ahead of time.
We’ll ask about these during your estimate, but the more specific you can be, the better. If you know where they’re located, we’ll mark them. If you’re not sure, we’ll help you figure it out or advise on how to proceed. A little extra communication goes a long way in avoiding costly repairs.
A layered setup of AlturnaMATS, plywood, and a DICA pad to help prevent the crane outrigger from sinking into the lawn or damaging soft ground.
6. We Use Outrigger Pads to Prevent Sinking
Cranes rely on outriggers – stabilizing legs that extend from the vehicle to keep it balanced during operation. These apply a lot of pressure to a small area and can leave dents or divots in your yard if placed directly on the grass.
To prevent this, we place large outrigger pads underneath. These pads help distribute the weight evenly and minimize the risk of sink spots or damage.
No Surprises, Just a Job Done Right
We know how much your lawn, landscaping, and outdoor space matter to you – because they matter to us, too. That’s why we take every precaution we can, from the first estimate to the final cleanup, to avoid damage and leave your property looking its best.
Yes, tree work involves big equipment. And yes, sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned. But when you hire Top Notch Tree, you get a team that’s honest about the risks, proactive about the solutions, and committed to doing the job right.
Because at the end of the day, you shouldn’t be left with torn-up turf and unanswered questions. You should be able to walk outside, look at the finished job, and feel like it was handled with care.
Your Property Deserves Better – Choose Top Notch Tree
We believe homeowners shouldn’t have to choose between getting the job done and protecting their property. At Top Notch Tree, you get both. We’ve built our process around transparency, planning, and respect – for your time, your space, and your expectations.
For tree work that’s thoughtful, respectful, and built around what matters most to you, call Top Notch Tree at 781-871-8008 or request an estimate today.
