Trees and Utility Line Planning & Planting, Part 6
 | Author:
Patrick Plantenberg, Tree Board Chair
Townsend Tree Board Chair, Townsend Rotary Club |
Trees and Utility Line Planning & Planting, Part 6 Patrick Plantenberg, Tree Board Chair Note: This is the sixth in a series of articles to help prepare residents for any planned tree planting or pruning in their yards this coming year.
The Townsend Tree Board is proud to provide this series of articles on tree planting and pruning considerations. A demonstration site on the northwest corner of D Street and South Walnut Street here in Townsend is being used.
In last week’s article, we learned: • Some more detailed information on where to plant trees on city property.
Locations were identified at the demonstration site where seven trees can be planted on private property as well as city property to replace the trees that were cut down under the power lines. You want trees that grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 2-4.
Three trees that grow less than 20-25 tall were planted on private property including: • Toba Hawthorn (Crataegus x mordenensis) Zone 3 Height < 20’ Width 12’ • Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) Zone 2 Height 14-16’ Width 6-12’ • Evans Bali Cherry (Prunus cerasus ‘Evans Bali’) Zone 3 Height 15-20’ Width10-15’
These trees can easily be pruned to keep them under the power line and away from the alley right-of-way over time. The information presented about the trees is easily found by searching for the plant names on your cell phone at the nursery!
There is essentially no excuse today to buy the wrong tree at the nursery or box store if you have your cell phone with you. The three trees were planted in essentially the same place as the original trees under the powerline but just further away from the 15’ alley right of way. All the work to remove the trees under the power line could have been avoided if the right trees had been selected in the first place!
Four tree planting locations were also identified on city property south of the home. The following trees were selected for planting:
• Northern Acclaim Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis ‘Havre’) o Zone 3b Height 40-45’ Width 30-35’ • Harvest Gold Linden (Tilia mongolica ‘Harvest Gold’) o Zone 3 Height 30-40’ Width 20-30’ • Lewis and Clark Prairie Expedition Elm (Ulmus americana ‘Lewis and Clark’) o Zone 3 Height 60’ Width 40’ (Dutch Elm Disease resistant) • Autumn Splendor Buckeye (Aesculus x arnoldiana ‘Autumn Splendor’) o Zone 3b-4 Height 35’ Width 30’
These trees have no conflicts with anything in this area except the street right of way as they grow taller. They will simply have to be pruned up 14 feet to avoid traffic impacts. They need to be planted at least 25-30 feet apart to give them room to grow to full size. Next week how to prepare the sites for planting.
