New Search
Tree Planting on Olive Street <br /> The December 16, 1992 Register Guard article on the planting of Sunset Red <br /> Maple trees along Olive between 8th Ave and 10th Ave is being interpreted by <br /> some that the City's Urban Forester was excluded from the review process and <br /> not in agreement with the planting practices being incorporated. These are <br /> incorrect assumptions needing clarification. While the Urban Forester was <br /> not on the design team due to workload constraints he is in agreement with <br /> the landscape design used on this project. <br /> The major issues raised in the article were the need for a greater diversity <br /> of tree species planted and the use of the root guards. There would be no <br /> disagreement with the issues aired in the article if this was a project where <br /> the planting of trees was our only concern. However, our design practices <br /> must address all aspects of the municipal infrastructure for a project of <br /> this type in which trees are a single component. <br /> Overall the City has a very diverse urban forest. Often it is desirable from <br /> the design standpoint, and is mirrored in nature, for a single species of <br /> tree to dominate a limited area. While this may open a possibility for dis- <br /> ease to impact all trees within this limited area the history with Red Maple <br /> makes this unlikely and not of sufficient weight to preclude achieving the <br /> design goals. On a city -wide basis the use of Red Maples has been reduced in <br /> city sponsored plantings. <br /> The use of the root guards is an accepted practice for use in the downtown <br /> area of Eugene and in many other parts of the country. Two primary functions <br /> of the root guards are to prevent future sidewalk damage and, through limit- <br /> ing the available root space, controlling the mature size of the tree. Trees <br /> of large stature in the downtown area are often undesirable due to their <br /> limiting visibility of commercial buildings and contributing to a higher <br /> level of building maintenance. <br /> For more information please contact Jan Staszewski, Urban Forester 687 -5359 <br /> or OA JANST <br />