Why does our HOA (who says the city requires it) make us plant a tree between the sidewalk and the street so that in the next 10-20 years the sidewalk is all fucked from the roots, and low branches make it annoying for anyone over 5ft to use the sidewalk?
The idea is that the trees planted will provide benefits that far exceed the costs of pruning or sidewalk repair. These costs can also be minimized with proper species selection, though in my experience HOAs typically lack the expertise to make good decisions on that topic.
Unfortunately, the benefits of trees are often intangible and dispersed across the community, while the costs can be more immediately felt in some cases. Ideally, your town’s urban forestry program should bear these costs so that they can be more evenly distributed like the benefits, but the political environment in some areas does not always allow for enough budget.
How does one determine a good species to plant between the road and the sidewalk? I assume slow growing, do some trees tend to root deep down more than “out” and on the surface which is what damages sidewalks faster?
I hope that someday there will be real data on this issue but right now it’s just anecdotal experience from arborists. There are databases that try to summarize this information. https://selectree.calpoly.edu/ is one I use a lot. California-centric but we have diverse climates so it should be fairly broadly useful. It has a recommended planter width, and ranks trees as high medium or low potential for root damage. Most small trees rarely cause damage, but also provide much less benefit than larger trees. Some bigger species I have noticed rarely lift sidewalks are Chinese pistache (note: invasive in some areas) and bald cypress.
That said, soil is also a large factor here–loose, oxygen rich soils promote deeper rooting and there is a lower likelihood of concrete damage. So proper soil management and protection can have an impact here as well.
This is really interesting, thanks! I had no idea. Our HOA does have a list of approved and disallowed trees but I don’t know the extent of it. Luckily we were able to plant a tree that is local to the area and is a small tree when fully grown. And I do really love that there are lots of trees in the neighborhood.
It’s funny you mention sidewalk repair because I feel like I’ve ever only seen that in one place I’ve lived. Highly anecdotal, I know. Hopefully in several years when the trees are more mature and the sidewalk has issues, the city will fix it.
Unfortunately, that sounds like more of an issue of bad governance than a tree problem per se. Sidewalks and other infrastructure can be damaged various ways, not just by trees, so if the local government is not repairing it then it will become a problem eventually. Keep in mind that many municipalities operate more based off of complaints than providing an even level of service everywhere. So if you are having a problem you may need to complain to get it fixed.
You do have to be careful about pruning young trees. And also yes… I will keep the branches trimmed. I’m not the problem I’m annoyed with, it’s the others (HOA included) who do not keep their trees trimmed. I typically go for runs on the sidewalk and it’s very annoying but also great limbo practice
General bio in college but if you are looking to get into the field there are specific arboriculture programs. I was just enough of a tree nerd that I learned a lot on my own.
I have a dogwood in my front yard that needs a proper trim. I’m quite handy but I wonder what you think I should do hire an arborist or just research myself and try to use a light touch while trimming branches?
Worthwhile to learn for yourself even if you hire someone—bad pruning is ubiquitous in the tree care industry, even by so-called professionals. Keep in mind that trees don’t need pruning for their own sake. So before doing any pruning you want to have a clear goal in mind. A young tree that you can reach from the ground is easy enough for a layman to prune if you do your research. If it’s bigger I might hire someone but ask questions and ensure they have the proper certifications: ISA in the US.
Hi I study forestry and I’d like to know if there’s a species of tree you don’t like. The only species I have negative feelings for is Ailanthus altissima.
I don’t think there are any I hate universally— every tree is great in its right habitat. For my local area I think silver birch, Betula pendula would be my least favorite. Everyone loves planting them but they’re so poorly suited for our climate they just die.
What’s it about your area that it’s not doing well? I like that it’s basically the cow of trees. It has a white rind with dark spots and it provides you with a refreshing beverage in spring.
I don’t have direct experience with clumping bamboo (it’s not really a tree exactly) but for most perennials plants, fall is the best time to transplant.
Great question! There is a lot of research going into this right now so it’s not a solved issue yet but the easiest strategy is to identify a future climate analog—an area that today closely resembles your future climate, and learn what trees do well in that area.
Make sure to take note of cold hardiness. Since young trees are most sensitive to cold and the future climate isn’t quite here yet, you don’t want to lose your trees to an unusually cold winter, which can still happen at this point.
Another approach is to look at native tree ranges and focus on those that grow in your area but also in hotter and drier climates. Avoid species where you are at or close to the southern extent of their range. This might require more experimentation since not all wild species are suitable for urban environments.
I also expect some great data driven tools to come out on this topic soon—I know Cal Poly is working on one for California but it’s not ready yet.
Thanks for the detailed answer! I’ll have a look. Hard to predict the future here as I’m in the north of the Alps and currently warmed by the gulf stream. But I guess oaks are native here as well as in Italy so they would be a fit. A slow growing one, but beautiful as well.
Gulf stream is a tough issue because of the uncertainty around when it may happen and what its effects will be. Some research I’ve seen suggests the biggest temperature effects will be confined to coastal northern Europe but I’m not sure how certain that is. Hopefully research over the coming years will clarify that issue. In the meantime, two approaches may have merit. Species that tolerate a wide range of environments will be useful. And then on a broader scale, diversity will be important in case some species become unsuitable, others will endure.
Plant things that are right in your zone instead of stuff from a more Northern zone, this way when zones shift they’ll survive longer as they’ll be one zone off.
PS: I’m an arborist who creates tree planting plans for a living, let me know if you need advice!
Why does our HOA (who says the city requires it) make us plant a tree between the sidewalk and the street so that in the next 10-20 years the sidewalk is all fucked from the roots, and low branches make it annoying for anyone over 5ft to use the sidewalk?
The idea is that the trees planted will provide benefits that far exceed the costs of pruning or sidewalk repair. These costs can also be minimized with proper species selection, though in my experience HOAs typically lack the expertise to make good decisions on that topic.
This study found that for every dollar spent on tree installation, maintenance, repairs, etc, $5 of public value was returned. Seems like a good investment! https://www.fs.usda.gov/psw/publications/mcpherson/psw_2016_mcpherson004.pdf
Unfortunately, the benefits of trees are often intangible and dispersed across the community, while the costs can be more immediately felt in some cases. Ideally, your town’s urban forestry program should bear these costs so that they can be more evenly distributed like the benefits, but the political environment in some areas does not always allow for enough budget.
How does one determine a good species to plant between the road and the sidewalk? I assume slow growing, do some trees tend to root deep down more than “out” and on the surface which is what damages sidewalks faster?
I hope that someday there will be real data on this issue but right now it’s just anecdotal experience from arborists. There are databases that try to summarize this information. https://selectree.calpoly.edu/ is one I use a lot. California-centric but we have diverse climates so it should be fairly broadly useful. It has a recommended planter width, and ranks trees as high medium or low potential for root damage. Most small trees rarely cause damage, but also provide much less benefit than larger trees. Some bigger species I have noticed rarely lift sidewalks are Chinese pistache (note: invasive in some areas) and bald cypress.
That said, soil is also a large factor here–loose, oxygen rich soils promote deeper rooting and there is a lower likelihood of concrete damage. So proper soil management and protection can have an impact here as well.
Great, thank you!
This is really interesting, thanks! I had no idea. Our HOA does have a list of approved and disallowed trees but I don’t know the extent of it. Luckily we were able to plant a tree that is local to the area and is a small tree when fully grown. And I do really love that there are lots of trees in the neighborhood.
It’s funny you mention sidewalk repair because I feel like I’ve ever only seen that in one place I’ve lived. Highly anecdotal, I know. Hopefully in several years when the trees are more mature and the sidewalk has issues, the city will fix it.
Unfortunately, that sounds like more of an issue of bad governance than a tree problem per se. Sidewalks and other infrastructure can be damaged various ways, not just by trees, so if the local government is not repairing it then it will become a problem eventually. Keep in mind that many municipalities operate more based off of complaints than providing an even level of service everywhere. So if you are having a problem you may need to complain to get it fixed.
You cut off the low branches. But yeah the roots can mess things up.
You do have to be careful about pruning young trees. And also yes… I will keep the branches trimmed. I’m not the problem I’m annoyed with, it’s the others (HOA included) who do not keep their trees trimmed. I typically go for runs on the sidewalk and it’s very annoying but also great limbo practice
Because the city requires it? 🤔
That’s a dream job, what did you study?
Trees
General bio in college but if you are looking to get into the field there are specific arboriculture programs. I was just enough of a tree nerd that I learned a lot on my own.
I have a dogwood in my front yard that needs a proper trim. I’m quite handy but I wonder what you think I should do hire an arborist or just research myself and try to use a light touch while trimming branches?
Worthwhile to learn for yourself even if you hire someone—bad pruning is ubiquitous in the tree care industry, even by so-called professionals. Keep in mind that trees don’t need pruning for their own sake. So before doing any pruning you want to have a clear goal in mind. A young tree that you can reach from the ground is easy enough for a layman to prune if you do your research. If it’s bigger I might hire someone but ask questions and ensure they have the proper certifications: ISA in the US.
Thanks!
Hi I study forestry and I’d like to know if there’s a species of tree you don’t like. The only species I have negative feelings for is Ailanthus altissima.
I don’t think there are any I hate universally— every tree is great in its right habitat. For my local area I think silver birch, Betula pendula would be my least favorite. Everyone loves planting them but they’re so poorly suited for our climate they just die.
What’s it about your area that it’s not doing well? I like that it’s basically the cow of trees. It has a white rind with dark spots and it provides you with a refreshing beverage in spring.
What beverage?
Birch sap. It’s sugary water that you can harvest similar to maple syrup.
This is a beverage?
Way too hot and dry. We also have a pest insect that attacks and kills them and there’s no effective treatment for it.
When’s the next time of year to transplant clumping bamboo?
I don’t have direct experience with clumping bamboo (it’s not really a tree exactly) but for most perennials plants, fall is the best time to transplant.
Yeah, bamboo isn’t exactly on the ISA cert test, cheers!
How do I pick species that can handle the current climate in my region and the predicted one if shit really hits the fan?
Great question! There is a lot of research going into this right now so it’s not a solved issue yet but the easiest strategy is to identify a future climate analog—an area that today closely resembles your future climate, and learn what trees do well in that area.
Make sure to take note of cold hardiness. Since young trees are most sensitive to cold and the future climate isn’t quite here yet, you don’t want to lose your trees to an unusually cold winter, which can still happen at this point.
Another approach is to look at native tree ranges and focus on those that grow in your area but also in hotter and drier climates. Avoid species where you are at or close to the southern extent of their range. This might require more experimentation since not all wild species are suitable for urban environments.
I also expect some great data driven tools to come out on this topic soon—I know Cal Poly is working on one for California but it’s not ready yet.
Thanks for the detailed answer! I’ll have a look. Hard to predict the future here as I’m in the north of the Alps and currently warmed by the gulf stream. But I guess oaks are native here as well as in Italy so they would be a fit. A slow growing one, but beautiful as well.
Gulf stream is a tough issue because of the uncertainty around when it may happen and what its effects will be. Some research I’ve seen suggests the biggest temperature effects will be confined to coastal northern Europe but I’m not sure how certain that is. Hopefully research over the coming years will clarify that issue. In the meantime, two approaches may have merit. Species that tolerate a wide range of environments will be useful. And then on a broader scale, diversity will be important in case some species become unsuitable, others will endure.
Yeah, we’ll see once it happens. I’m not too keen on the outcome of this to be honest.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardiness_zone
Plant things that are right in your zone instead of stuff from a more Northern zone, this way when zones shift they’ll survive longer as they’ll be one zone off.
That’s a good idea, thank you!