universal issues in small town urban forests. street trees the average life of a street tree in a...
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Universal issues in Universal issues in small town urban small town urban
forestsforests
Street TreesStreet Trees
The average life of a street tree in a municipality is 7 years.
Lack of Lack of AftercareAftercareThe lack of aftercare
for recently transplanted trees
leads to unnecessary tree losses and costs
incurred by the municipality and its
residents.
Canopy Canopy Cover Cover
Canopy cover, vital for shade, water infiltration and
improving the lifespan of asphalt is lost due to preventable tree
failures.
Hazard Hazard TreesTrees
Without a tree inventory or risk assessment,
hazard trees go unrecognized until they
fail.
Hazard Hazard TreesTrees
Hazard trees exist with the potential to
injure people and property.
PreventabPreventable Tree le Tree DeathsDeaths
Girdling roots have the potential to kill trees. The problem
can be remedied with occasional skilled
maintenance.
PreventabPreventable Tree le Tree FailuresFailures
Establishment pruning ensures stronger, faster
growing, longer lived trees. The tree pictured will prematurely break apart at the clustered branches, due to the lack of establishment
pruning.
PreventabPreventable Tree le Tree FailuresFailures
The predictable failure of this 7” caliper Red Oak could have been prevented by skilled
maintenance.
Tree Care Tree Care OversightOversight
“Tree care” providers have a responsibility to operate within industry accepted
Best Management Practices. Providers should be held accountable to the standards. This improper
pruning will introduce decay into the trunk of this
tree.
Professional Municipal Professional Municipal ArboricultureArboriculture
A municipal arborist need not be a full-time municipal employee.
• A professional consulting arborist can provide the services of a municipal arborist at a fraction of the cost.
Contracted ServicesContracted Services
Street tree inventory.
• Risk assessment.
• Prioritization of street tree maintenance.
Update borough street tree ordinance.
• Construction plan review.
• Citizen interaction and education.
Contracted ServicesContracted Services
Preservation of historic or significant trees.
• Contract specifications and management.
• Test and approve tree care providers.
Skilled maintenance:
• Transplant aftercare.
• Establishment pruning.
Contracted ServicesContracted Services
Staff and volunteer training.
• Tree and sidewalk conflict management.
• Species selection.
