Public RiGIiT -of-WAyCLEARANCE

Most towns and cities require all types ofvegetation to be kept out of streets, sidewalks, andalleys. Trees with low or intruding limbs intostreets, alleys, and sidewalks can injure pedestrians,damage vehicles, and be damaged from limbbreakage. Sight visibility obstructions caused byvegetation are a serious safety threat for motoristsand pedestrians at corner properties. Check localordinances for restrictions in your community .

./ ACME~ / MOVING

/ m I14-foot

clearance abovestreets & alleys

-¥ -V .uKeep surface widthof sidewalks, streets,and alleys clear

of growth

-~- .

.II\..~..'....;;.~

LakewoodUrban Parks/Forestry Division

720..96J..n4l. SclL\U

BAsicTREE CARE

FOR COLORAdo

Prepared byLakewood Urban Forestry

TREE AND SHRUB PLANTING

Locate trees away from sidewalks, streets,driveways, buildings, and utilities above andbelow ground. Proper distances should bedetermined by the expected mature size ofthe tree.

Remove all string, wire, burlap, and containermaterial from around the root ball, the tree'strunk, and limbs after putting it in theplanting hole.

The location where the roots are growing outof the trunk is the root crown. Plant the treewith the root crown at ground level or justabove, to allow for settling.

Prepare a planting site by spading orrototilling an area five times the diameter ofthe root ball. Mix organic soil into the entireplanting site.

Overhead view of planting siteshowing root ballsplit four waysand area oftilled soil.

ContainerizedTree or Shrub

~ Till area 5 times root ball diameter and to a depth of~ 8 inches. Mix with organic soil if desired.

IIUse same soil from hole as backfill around root ball.

IILoose layer of mulch 3 inches deep.Keep mulch 3 inches away from tree trunk.

IISoil watering ring, if desired.

Bare Root Tree Planting

Dig a hole to match the root depth& spread.

W!)m~Undisturbed II Ba~kfillSoil SOil from

planting hole

CoarseMulch

(wood chips)

WATER TREES YEAR-RoUNdMinimum Water Amounts: Apply 10 gallons of water for each I-inch of trunk diameter. A 3-inchtrunk diameter = 30 gallons of water.

Check Soil Moisture: Dig down in the soil to a depth of 4 to 6inches at the drip line of the tree. Squeeze a clump of soil in yourhand from that depth. If the soil holds together in a ball or itleaves moisture on your hand, then the soil iswet enough and nowatering is needed. Or, if you can easilypush a screwdriver intothe soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches, then the soil is probably wetenough.

Minimum Watering Frequency: Check the soil moisture whentemperatures are above 800 F and when dry or windy conditionsexist. You may need to water once every 5 to 7 days. With lowertemperatures or less wind, check soil moisture and water onceevery 7 to 14 days. Trees ·usuallydo well with an infrequent butlonger duration watering schedule.

Evergreens, such as pine, spruce, fir, and juniper, require water in the winter, atleast once a month. Water on a warm day. Apply water to the ground aroundthe tree, or use a deep root watering needle. All trees, shrubs, and grass needmoist soil year-round to maintain live roots. Trees in lawn areas must competewith grass roots for water. Grass uses most surface applied water leaving littlefor the tree. Using a deep root watering needle attached to a garden hose is animportant technique for a tree to thrive. Deep root water to a depth of 8 incheson both the inside and outside of the drip line.

MuLcJiiNGUse a coarse texture mulch; wood chips, bark chips or fist sizedrocks. Porous landscape fabric is also a mulch. One purpose ofmulch is to reduce soil surface exposure to wind and sunlight,which allows longer retention of soil water. Another mulch benefitis to moderate soil temperature extremes, prolonging warmer soiltemperatures into fall, which allows for extended root growth.Mulch also acts as a boundary between the fragile tree bark onyoung trees and lawn care equipment. Large sized organic mulchcan slowly decompose providing nutrients to the soil. Mulchreduces the compaction of soil around the tree. Compacted soilaround tree roots causes root death and tree decline or death. Keepall types of mulch from touching the tree trunk.

LAWN CAREEQuipMENT DAMAGE

Mower and weed whip damage to the baseof the trunk is one of the most commoncauses of young tree death. Do not allowmowers, weed whips, or any other type ofequipment to touch the tree trunk. The barkis fragile on young trees. Any type of barkwound can allow an entry-way for disease,decay, and insect problems. Sometimes treessurVIve mowerdamage to thetrunk, but treewounds do notheal. Wounds maybe sealed over bynew growth, butthe wound is stillthere, most likelyproviding a pointof decay.

TREE STAkiNG

Avoid staking B&B trees if possible. Stakecontainerized and bare root trees for at least ayear. Allow trunk movement when staking tobenefit root and trunk development. Theintent of staking should be to keep the tree frombeing blown over. Use one or two stakes tosecure string or wire to a canvas strap goingaround the trunk. Do not use wire, wire in ahose, or any thin or hard material around thetree trunk.