It will probably not be practical, or even desirable, to save every tree. The decision must consider the species, size and maturity, location, and the condition of each tree. Only healthy, structurally sound trees should be preserved. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the trees' tolerance for construction processes. The largest, most mature trees are not always the best choices to preserve. Younger, more vigorous trees can usually survive and better adapt to the stresses of construction.

Many levels of planning and development are involved with building a residential home or commercial development. Standards and specifications exist for design and construction of buildings, installation of utilities, building roads and other paved surfaces. Few professionals in these areas of specialization have any appreciation for the requirements of trees.