Right Tree, Right Place C
— By Ian Scott and Marc Leonard, of Davey Resource Group —
hoosing the right trees to grow with you and your community can be a challenging decision. A tree could live for generations
in your community with proper planning and care, or it could live for 20 years, push up your sidewalks, and damage your homes.
To make the right decision, consider where the tree is being planted, how big it could become as it matures, and make sure there is enough soil for the tree’s roots. These basic planting considerations will help you avoid future hazards and costs as the tree grows in size. In order for your trees to flourish where you live, you need to consider the right tree, for the right place.
Planting Near Your House
When planting trees around your house, you should consider the available space. Trees planted within 5 feet of buildings should be small in their growth form (size and maturity) and have root systems that won’t impact the foundation. It’s simple to check if an established tree is impacting the foundation of a building. Carefully hand dig around where the root appears to be meeting the foundation within the top two feet of the soil. Any roots you find that are smaller than 2” (thickness) can be pruned away from your buildings. Pruning any roots that are larger than 2” should be reviewed by a certified Arborist as you may be risking the structural integrity of the tree (the tree could fall over). Smaller tree species with smaller root
18 Community Associations Journal | March 2022
systems will have a canopy that is easier to manage. Choosing deciduous trees, which lose their leaves in the dormant season, will allow for more natural light to enter your home in the winter months.
Growing Near Sidewalks
Planter strips and trees next to sidewalks make for an attractive addition to a community but they pose challenges when selecting the right trees to plant because tree roots can damage hardscapes over time. If you choose to plant a tree in the planter strip near a sidewalk, paved path, or roadway, be sure to select a species that can tolerate a limited soil volume. This will help avoid the growth of surface roots that extend under pavement (pushing it up) and create tripping hazards in your community.
Deciduous trees will allow for more natural light to enter your home in the winter months.
Trees Under Powerlines
Many communities have overhead utilities on or near their properties and can limit which tree species should be planted. If planting directly under powerlines, you want to choose a tree that won’t reach a mature height greater than 30 feet. This will ensure that the tree won’t reach high-voltage wires. Most conifers are not good selections because they often
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34
