Lancaster City Tree Inventory: Summary Report - Save It!

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanLancaster City Tree Inventory:Summary ReportBrian Wolyniak and Bill ElmendorfPenn State School of Forest ResourcesAugust 2011, revised November 20111

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanTable of ContentsList of Abbreviations…………………………………………………………………………….... 2Acknowledgments…………………………………………………………………………………. 3Scope of Study…………………………………………………………………………………….. 3Tree Benefits and Costs…………………………………………………………………………... 4Importance of Tree Inventory and Municipal Tree Plan ...…………………………………….. 4The City of Lancaster……………………………………………………………………………… 5Community Tree Plan: Vision, Goals, and Objectives...………………………………………. 62011 Street and Park Tree Inventory……………………………………………………….……. 7Overview…………………………..……………………………………………………… 7Methods……………………………………………………………………………...…… 7Site Attributes…………………….……………………………………...…..…. 8Tree Attributes…………………………………………………………...…..…. 9Maintenance Descriptions……….…………………………………...…….… 10Locating Trees and Planting Sites……………………………………………. 11Results with Recommendations………………………………………………...…...… 12Street and Park Tree Condition……………………………………………….. 12Tree Species and Age Distribution……………………………..…………….. 13Tree Defects……………………………………………………………………. 19Maintenance………………………………………………………………..…… 20Hardscape Damage……….…………………………………………………… 21Lancaster City Municipal Tree Program: General Recommendations and Policies……... 22Administration and Management……………………………………………………….. 22Liability Issues……………………………………………………………………………. 23Landscape Design……………………………………………………………………….. 23Tree Evaluation and Removal………………………………………………………….. 24Site Analysis and Species Selection…………………………………………………… 24Tree Planting……………………………………………………………………………… 25Tree Maintenance………………………………………………………………………... 25Public Education and Support………………………………………………………….. 26Conclusions and Summary of Recommendations……………………………………………... 27List of AbbreviationsADAANSIDBHspp.Americans with Disabilities ActAmerican National Standards InstituteDiameter at breast height (4.5 ft. above ground)Species2

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanAcknowledgmentsThis tree inventory and municipal treemanagement plan was formulated by BrianWolyniak and Bill Elmendorf. The 2011 treeinventory was performed by MatthewPuchalsky and Karl Quimby, graduates fromthe Pennsylvania State University School ofForest Resources. Brianna Hensel andNanette Raczka, environmental studiesstudents at Millersville University assistedwith collecting field data. The inventory wasconducted under the guidance of Dr. BillElmendorf, Associate Professor andExtension Specialist, Community and UrbanForestry, Penn State School of ForestResources. Assistance with the inventorywas also provided by Brian Wolyniak, adoctoral student at the Pennsylvania StateUniversity School of Forest Resources.We would like to thank Dr. Carl Pike and allthe members of the Lancaster Shade TreeCommission, along with Jim Bower,Lancaster City Arborist, and the LancasterCity Department of Public Works, Parks andPublic Property Bureau. Thanks to GlennMohler, GIS Manager, and the LancasterCounty IT/GIS department for providing GISdata for this inventory.Scope of Study and PlanTrees offer many benefits to communitiesbut with these benefits there is also a certaindegree of risk from breakage, failure, orother causes and conditions.Recommendations that are made by ourinventory crew and in the municipal treemanagement plan are intended to minimizeor reduce hazardous conditions that may beassociated with trees. However, there isand there can be no guarantee or certaintythat efforts to identify and correct unsafeconditions will prevent breakage or failure ofa tree. Our recommendations shouldreduce the risk of tree failure, but theycannot eliminate such risk, especially in theevent of a storm or any Act of God. Whilean inventory should result in the detection ofpotentially risky trees, there can be noguarantee or certainty that all risk trees willbe detected. Some hazardous conditions inlandscapes are apparent, while othersrequire detailed inspection and evaluation.This type of detailed inspection was notwithin the scope of the inventory ormunicipal tree management plan completedby the Penn State School of ForestResources.We would like to acknowledge FritzSchroeder, Director of Programs, and theLIVE Green organization for their support ofthe inventory. Thanks also to James StreetHousing and Franklin & Marshall College forassistance with housing for the duration ofthe inventory.Photo CreditsCover: Steve Eng, accessed online:http://www.flickr.com/photos/seng1011/3534947852Pg 5: Lauren Krady, accessed online:http://localism.com/blog/pa/lancaster/lancaster_city/posts/1040140/Lancaster-City-Spring-Art3

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanTree Benefits and CostsStreet and park trees provide a vast array ofbenefits and values to the City of Lancaster.Well-maintained trees in residentialneighborhoods can significantly increase thevalue of homes and property by creating asense of privacy and adding to the beauty ofthe landscape. Commercial areas benefitalso, as studies have shown how tree linedstorefronts increase the likelihood ofshoppers, increase the length of time peopleshop, and increase the amount shoppersare willing to pay for goods. Theseeconomic values increase the amount ofproperty and other taxes available to theCity.Cooling and heating costs can be reducedby strategically placing trees aroundbuildings and roads. This shading andcooling provided by community trees helpsto reduce energy needs and bills. Treecanopies reduce the amount and rate atwhich rain water strikes the ground, therebyreducing erosion and stormwatermanagement costs.Importance of TreeInventory and MunicipalTree PlanIn order to formulate and implement aneffective municipal tree plan, it is necessaryto have a complete set of quality information.An accurate street tree inventory providesthe foundation for which annual work plansand budgets are based. Knowledge of thecommunity forest species composition,condition, and age helps to create aprioritized maintenance plan for annual treepruning, removal, and planting.Implementing and designing a communitytree program requires a tree inventory, amunicipal tree plan, a Shade TreeCommission, support from the City, andannual funding and work. This report willhelp move this work forward by discussingthe responsibilities of the City and residents,providing tree removal guidelines, pruningand planting guidelines, and providingrecommendations thoughts for the future.Trees are known to provide many healthbenefits to people. They help filterparticulates out of the air, absorb carbondioxide, and emit oxygen. Street and parktrees offer mental and emotional restorativeproperties to people by helping to mitigatenoise, providing a contrast to hard concretesurfaces, by establishing a connection to thenatural world, and importantly, by reducingstress. All these benefits not only makepeople healthier, but also reduce health carecosts.4

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanThe City of LancasterStreets lined with large, majestic, greencanopies conjure up images of beautifulcommunities and neighborhoods foundthroughout Pennsylvania. This is a visionthat many people desire and work towardsfor their communities, including the City ofLancaster. Lancaster City is located inLancaster County in southeasternPennsylvania. It is home to approximately60,000 people and encompasses 7.4 squaremiles.Each of the landscapes found within theCity’s neighborhoods presents a unique setof challenges of how to best manage thepublic tree resource. This inventory, inconjunction with a municipal tree planimplemented by annual work and funding,will help Lancaster enjoy the many benefitsof a safe and healthy community forest inthe future.5

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanCommunity Tree Plan:Vision, Goals, and ObjectivesBuilding on the information and recommendations provided in this inventory report, a moredetailed municipal tree plan should be completed to accomplish the vision and goals for thecommunity forest in Lancaster. Objectives should provide specific strategies and action items forachieving the broader vision and goals. This will help the community maximize return oninvestment in the City’s public landscapes. Below are examples of common vision, goals, andobjective statements which could be applied to Lancaster’s community forest.VisionTo improve and maintain a healthy andsustainable community forest that providesecosystem benefits for all Lancaster Cityresidents and visitors.Goals• Improve the aesthetic beauty andquality of life in the City.• Make the City and its trees safer.• Promote public awareness andinvolve people in civic environmentalprojects.• Increase budgets through annual workand fundraising.• Minimize hardscape damage andother tree problems.Objectives• Provide effective administration.• Manage tree risk for public safety.• Provide qualified annual treeevaluation and removal.• Promote aesthetically pleasinglandscape design.• Provide proper site analysis, sitepreparation, and tree selection.• Increase canopy coverage andecosystem services through properannual tree planting.• Provide proper tree maintenance.• Increase public education,involvement, and support.6

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree Plan2011 Street Tree InventoryOverviewAn inventory of Lancaster’s public streettrees was performed May through July 2011by Matthew Puchalsky and Karl Quimby,graduates from the Pennsylvania StateUniversity School of Forest Resources.Brianna Hensel and Nanette Raczka,environmental studies students at MillersvilleUniversity, also assisted with collecting fielddata. The inventory crew was under theguidance of Brian Wolyniak, Ph.D. candidateand Dr. Bill Elmendorf, Associate Professorand Extension Specialist, Community andUrban Forestry, Penn State School of ForestResources.The purpose of the inventory was to assessthe condition (health and structure) of streettrees in the City of Lancaster and indicatetrees that may: 1) be potentially hazardous;2) require removal; 3) be in need ofmaintenance, such as pruning. Theinventory also indicates possible treeplanting sites and information for immediateand future work. The Lancaster Shade TreeCommission should use this inventoryinformation in conjunction with annual fieldevaluations to plan for the completion of treeremoval and other workThe total number of trees inventoried was5483. Also inventoried were 1276 potentialplanting sites.MethodsA walking inventory of trees and sitecharacteristics was completed usingportable field computers with GPS receiversand diameter tapes. Working in pairs, thefield assistants measured and evaluatedeach tree or planting site and entered theinformation into a georeferenced databaseusing customized data entry forms withinESRI ArcPad software. Tree and plantingsite locations were positioned using GPS inconjunction with an aerial photo of the City.In addition to GPS coordinates, tree andplanting site locations were recorded bystreet, address number, and cell (see“Locating Trees and Planting Sites,” pg. 11).Throughout the data collection process, datawas downloaded from the handheldcomputers, corrected, and compiled, into acommon georeferenced database usingESRI ArcMap and Microsoft Accesssoftware.Data can be exported from the database forimport into i-Tree Streets software. This freesoftware from USDA Forest Service allowsinventory data to be used to calculateecosystem costs and benefits. Informationabout i-Tree can be found online atwww.itreetools.org.A number of attributes were recorded foreach tree and planting site inventoried. Inthe case of planting sites, tree attributeswere left empty and only site attributes wererecorded. The following pages provide a listof the attributes included in this inventory.7

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanSite AttributesID number – An automatically generatedunique number assigned to each tree orplanting site.Inventory date – The date the tree orplanting site was recorded in the inventory.Address – The numerical street address ofthe land parcel where sites are located.Unmarked Address – When checked, theaddress was not present on-site and theaddress was estimated based on adjoiningparcel addresses and city/county parcel data.Half Address – When checked, the parcelhas a half address. Add ½ to the numericalstreet address listed.Street – The street name to which the landparcel containing the site is addressed.Cell – The location of a tree or planting sitewithin a particular address. See sectionbelow “Locating Trees and Planting Sites.”Sidewalk damage – Cracks, breaks, orlifting of sidewalk to an extent which violatesADA standards. Damage is indicated to beeither tree caused or non-tree caused.Median – This site is similar to a treelawn, but is used to describe tree siteslocated in an island median of a road.Yard – Site is unbounded within 8 feeton at least 3 sides. This type is usedwhen a sidewalk is not present, or asidewalk is located immediatelyadjacent to a road, with trees (subject tocity ownership/management) plantedbehind the sidewalk.Undefined – Site is unbounded within 8feet. This type is typically used for treesnot adjacent to roads or sidewalks, suchas in parks.Site size – The width of a site as measuredperpendicularly to the adjacent road.Site condition – Rating of the suitability of asite as a planting site based on potentialconflicts.Notes – An open text field for any additionalinformation deemed important about a siteor a tree.Utilities – Presence of primary or secondaryoverhead utility lines above a site.Site type – The category of site type intowhich a site falls. Site type categories:Tree pit – A planting pit cut out of asidewalk, or otherwise surrounded byimpervious hardscape. These aregenerally small and hold only one tree.Tree lawn – A continuous planting striplocated between a street and sidewalk.Multiple trees can be planted along thelength of a tree lawn.Trench – A large tree pit (extendinggreater than 10 ft.) or continuousplanting strip typically located withinsidewalks. Pervious hardscape surfacebetween trees allows water to infiltratewhile maintaining sidewalk space.8

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanTree AttributesSpecies code – Standard USDA ForestService codes, usually derived as the firsttwo letters of the genus and the first twoletters of the species epithet.Scientific name – Latin/botanical name.Common nameDBH – Diameter at breast height. Treediameter measured at a height of 4.5 feetfrom the ground using a diameter tape.Light conflict – Tree parts are growing inthe way of a street light, blocking lightdispersion.Sign conflict – Tree parts are blockingvisibility of nearby signage.Traffic conflict – Tree parts extend into thespace extending from the roadway to aheight of 16 feet.Walkway conflict – Tree parts are locatedwithin the space between a walkway and aheight of eight feet above the walkway.Building conflict – Tree parts are in conflictwith a nearby building.Maintenance – recommended maintenancebased on evaluation of tree at time ofinventory. See descriptions on next page.Defects – Issues which contribute todetermining tree condition rating and ofimportance for recommended and ongoingmaintenance.Wound – Tearing of bark, crushing ofinner bark/cambium from physicalcontact by equipment, vandalism, orlightning.Decay – Decomposition of wood bymicroorganisms.Cavity – Void caused by completedecay of wood.Disease/Insects – Signs/symptoms ofdisease pathogens or damaging insects.Codominant trunk – Multiple uprightstems of similar height and diameter.Deadwood – Significant accumulationof dead branches.Large deadwood – Presence of deadlimbs greater than 4” in diameter.Decline – Overall thinning of foliage andlive branches due to stress.Object – Any object physically attachedor situated close to the trunk orbranches and causing injury to the tree.Necrosis – Death of foliageChlorosis – Yellowing of foliageGirdling roots – Roots at the base of atree, which grow across or encircle theroot flare, restricting the flow of waterand nutrients.Storm damage – Tree exhibits brokenlimbs, wounds with ripped or torn bark,or other signs of storm damage. Anyneeded repairs are noted in themaintenance section.Condition rating – Rating of tree conditionbased on the health and structure of the treeand its parts. Categorical ratings areexcellent, good, fair, poor, and dead.Ratings are assigned based on a visualassessment of tree condition, relative toratings applied to other trees of the sameand similar species found at similar sites.Ratings are also based on the training andexperience of the personnel conducting theinventory. Visible defects and other treeattribute data provide detail for the assignedcondition ratings. Structural and healthfactors that could not be seen could not beconsidered (e.g., root rot) in the context ofthis inventory. In general, the greater thenumber and extent of individual defects orproblems within a tree, the lesser thecondition rating assigned.9

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanMaintenance DescriptionsCrown cleaning – The selective removal ofdead, dying, diseased, and broken branchesfrom the tree crown.Crown raising – Selective pruning toprovide vertical clearance over roads andsidewalks.Crown restoration – Pruning to improve thestructure and form of trees which have beenstorm damaged or vandalized.Crown thinning – The selective removal oflive branches to allow light and airpenetration or to lighten remaining branchweight.Horticultural train prune – Pruning ofyoung trees (less than 10 years old) to helpestablish good form and structure.Priority reinspect – A more thoroughinspection by an experienced/certifiedarborist should be conducted to investigatepotential health and structural deficiencies.Removal – Trees which should be removedbecause they are dead or in severe decline.Planting – No tree is currently planted andthe site is available to be planted with a newtree based on the site type, size, andcondition. When listed as “Planting site –new” in the common name field, no tree hadbeen previously planted in this location;removal of paving materials (e.g., concrete,bricks) to create a tree pit is likely.Stump removal – An old stump is presentand should be removed prior to replanting.10

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanLocating Trees and Planting Sites *In addition to geographic coordinates, thelocation of a tree is recorded in reference tothe address of the property to which the treeis adjacent. Thus, trees in the right of waywhich are located along streets to the sideor rear of a property are given a locationbased on the address of that property, ratherthan a location based on the street alongwhich the trees are physically located. Todesignate the relative location of a tree at aparticular address, a cell number is assigned.Following from ACRT’s cell number concept,an imaginary 7x7 cell grid is applied acrossa particular parcel. A number is assigned toeach cell around the perimeter of the grid,starting with 1 in the front left corner andcounting upward to 24, moving in acounterclockwise direction around theperimeter. Cell sizes vary with lot size andthere may be zero, one, or more trees ineach cell. The cell numbers are meant to berelative to the other trees and cell numbers.Occasionally, trees may fall outside thenormal perimeter location, such as treesplanted in medians. For these locations, aset of optional cell numbers, ranging from 25to 31, are used. A numerical street addressis also assigned to these tree sites using theclosest actual street address on either sideof the road.In the example here, there are four trees onthe property perimeter and two trees in themedian. The address for each tree is 805Vine Street. Within the property, three cells(2, 20, and 23) contain one tree each. Twotrees are located in cell 6, thus both treesare assigned 6 as the cell number. Themedian, here labeled “Optional Cells,”contains two trees. Based on the treelocations, these trees would be assigned cellnumbers of 27 and 30.*Adapted from State College Borough, PA MunicipalTree Plan, and originally attributed to ACRT, Inc.11

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanResults with RecommendationsResults of the street tree inventorypresented below provide an overview of allCity street trees. The total number of treesinventoried was 5483. Also inventoriedwere 1276 potential planting sites.Street Tree Condition• 832 – Excellent• 3239 – Good• 1032 – Fair• 345 – Poor• 35– DeadRecommendation. Dead trees and trees inpoor condition should be prioritized andconsidered for immediate removal. Trees infair condition will most likely continue todeteriorate in condition over time. Thesetrees should be reviewed more frequently asthey will have increasing need formaintenance or removal.Recommendation: Using the information inthis report, the Lancaster Shade TreeCommission should complete annualevaluations of all street trees; especiallythose in fair or poor conditios. Thisevaluation can be done by car, but a walkingevaluation is more accurate. The objectivesof this annual evaluation are to: 1) identifytrees that are in need of removal andmaintenance that year; 2) update theinventory completed in 2011; 3) identifyareas where trees should be planted thatyear; and 4) develop an annual work planand budget for the next year.12

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanTree Species and Age DistributionOf the trees inventoried, 33% were maplespecies. Of these, almost two thirds werered maple (1129 trees, 21% of totalpopulation), making this the most commonspecies. Other maple species were lessprevalent. Norway maple was the fifth mostcommon species (396 trees, 7% of totalpopulation), while sugar maple ranked adistant twelfth (128 trees, 2% of totalpopulation. Ranking between red andNorway maples, cherry, Callery pear, andlittleleaf linden were the second, third, andfourth most common species, respectively.Oak species made up 8% of the inventory,with the majority being northern red oak(312 trees, 5.7% of total population), rankingsixth most common overall. Pin oak was theonly other frequently occurring oak species,ranking thirteenth overall (109 trees, 2% oftotal population).Japaneese zelkova, sycamore, crabapple,ginkgo, and honey locust were foundsomewhat frequently, while a variety of otherspecies were found less commonly. A totalof 77 different tree species were identified.Species Count Rank Species Count Rank Species Count RankRed maple 1129 1 Elm spp. 22 26 English walnut 2 53Cherry/plum spp. 516 2 Tatarian maple 18 28 Black maple 2 53Callery pear 478 3 American basswood 17 29 Eastern hophornbeam 2 53Littleleaf linden 477 4 Parrotia (Persian Ironwood) 15 30 Chestnut oak 2 53Norway maple 396 5 Horse chestnut 14 31 Juniper spp. 2 53Northern red oak 312 6 Sycamore maple 13 32 Kentucky coffeetree 2 53Japanese zelkova 230 7 Willow oak 13 32 White oak 2 53Sycamore 198 8 Pear spp. 13 32 Leyland cypress 2 53Crabapple spp. 189 9 White ash 9 35 Norway spruce 2 53Ginkgo 184 10 Tulip poplar 8 36 Katsura tree 2 53Honey locust 165 11 Bigleaf linden 8 36 Sawtooth oak 2 53Sugar maple 128 12 Eastern redbud 8 36 Persimmon 1 64Pin oak 109 13 Catalpa tree 7 39 American beech 1 64Ash spp. 102 14 Kousa dogwood 7 39 Tree of heaven 1 64Hawthorn 101 15 Hedge maple 6 41 Sumac 1 64Serviceberry spp. 67 16 American yellowwood 5 42 Sourwood 1 64Japanese pagoda tree 64 17 Amur maple 5 42 Silver linden 1 64European hornbeam 62 18 Unknown 5 42 Privet 1 64Silver maple 59 19 Shingle oak 4 45 Green ash 1 64Flowering dogwood 50 20 Japanese maple 3 46 Northern white cedar 1 64Japanese Tree lilac 50 20 Paper birch 3 46 Magnolia spp. 1 64Golden raintree 43 22 Apple spp. 3 46 Yew spp. 1 64Sweetgum 42 23 Birch spp. 3 46 Crape myrtle 1 64London planetree 30 24 American hornbeam 3 46 Dawn redwood 1 64Paperbark maple 26 25 European beech 3 46 Rose of Sharon 1 64Blackgum 22 26 Boxwood spp. 3 4613

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanTrees with a DBH of 10 inches or less madeup 44% of the total population, with anotherthird having a DBH of 11-20 inches. Theoverall age/size distribution of trees wasindicative of the patterns of attrition with agetypically seen in urban forests. Thisdistribution also reflects regular, ongoingplanting to replace trees which are removed.14

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Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanTree Species and Age Distribution(continued)Recommendation: There is anoverabundance of maple trees, and redmaples in particular. Tree species diversityis a key to health and stability. Do not plantmore than 15% of any tree species withinthe community forest as a whole. Have aminimum of three tree species on any streetand in any tree planting project. Also try todiversify at the genus and family level, butavoid disease or pest prone species. As aresult (1) do not plant Norway maple orsugar maple on any street; (2) do not plantash as a street tree; (3) do not plant little leaflinden in areas where heat or drought arefactors (4) reduce the planting of Callerypear and red maple. In place of thesespecies, consider planting more Londonplanetree/sycamore, honey locust, andginkgo, as well as any of the less commonspecies that are acceptable, such asbasswood and tulip poplar. Reservecrabapple, cherry, and plum trees forplanting at sites where a small stature tree isnecessary. Because of concerns with Dutchelm disease and elm yellows, considerplanting small numbers of the diseaseresistantelm cultivars Triumph, NativeCharm, and Accolade.mixed-species tree population and canopy.An uneven aged forest structure will improvelandscape beauty while regulating stormdamage, tree removal, and maintenanceefforts and costs in the long run. Unevenage structure also provides for canopyreplacement as larger trees are removed. Asan example, if two percent of the total streettree population is removed each year a 50year separation in age classes would bedeveloped over time on the city streets. Thiscoupled with species diversity is the beststrategy for a healthy and well-structuredlandscape.Recommendation: The Lancaster ShadeTree Commission should work to developand use a tree planting selection list basedon the size of tree planting areas (e.g., large,medium, small, and sidewalk cutout). Thislist should provide the best quality speciesand cultivars of trees that can be planted inthe variety of landscapes found in Lancaster.Recommendation: Tree age diversity is akey to forest health and stability. Thecurrent tree inventory indicates a healthyage distribution and reflects ongoingplanting of new trees. With time andcontinued planting and maintenance, thenumber of larger, older trees will benormalized to create an even healthier agedistribution. To maintain and improve agediversity, the Lancaster Shade TreeCommission should work to prioritize andremove all risk trees annually. They shouldalso work to remove trees that are not a risk,but are of poor health, having served theiruseful life. A certain number of trees shouldbe removed each year, a certain numberplanted, and a certain number maintained.This removal and planting strategy will helpkeep the community forest safe and providea diversity of age and species for the publicforest. Age and species diversity will helpprovide a more sustainable mixed-age and18

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanTree Defects• Wound – 2699 trees• Cavity – 790 trees• Decay – 949 trees• Disease/Insect – 275 trees• Codominant trunk – 2426 trees• Deadwood – 1673 trees• Large deadwood – 847 trees• Decline – 496 trees• Object – 171 trees• Necrosis – 107 trees• Chlorosis – 130 trees• Girdling roots – 1149 treesOf the trees inventoried, almost half weremarked as having wounds. Codominanttrunks were also common, being foundamong 44% of trees. Deadwood (smallerthan 4 in. diameter) was found in 30% oftrees. Girdling roots were observed in justover one-fifth of the population. Variousother defects were observed in smallernumbers across the population.Recommendation: Tree defects should benoted and reinspected when consideringmaintenance and assessing tree risk. Thisinventory only notes presence of defects; itdoes not provide any rating of defectseverity. Further, the extent of the impact ofdefects on a tree will vary based on treespecies, planting site, and otherenvironmental factors.Recommendation: The occurrence ofsome defects can be reduced by followingbest practices for planting of new trees andpruning of young trees. Selecting goodnursery stock, proper planting, andoccasional pruning and assessment ofyoung trees can help reduce thedevelopment of codominant trunks, girdlingroots, and other future defects.19

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanMaintenance and Planting• Crown Cleaning – 481 trees• Crown Raising – 795 trees• Crown Restoration – 10 trees• Crown Thinning – 2 trees• Horticultural Train Prune – 70 trees• Priority Reinspect – 22 trees• Removal – 268 treesOf the trees inventoried, 30% (1648 trees)were marked for maintenance. Almost halfof this maintenance is crown raising, whichreflects conflicts between tree branches andvehicular and pedestrian traffic identified inthis inventory.• Planting – 1126 trees• Stump Removal/Planting – 150 treesThis inventory identified a total of 1276planting sites. Of these potential plantingsites, 150 contain a stump from an old tree.Another 85 sites were marked as “Plantingsite – new” (indicated in the common namefield). These “new” sites are not plantingready,but require the creation of a tree pit ortrench within a sidewalk or otherwise pavedarea.Recommendation: All tree work identifiedin this section should be evaluated in thefield by the City Arborist and members of theLancaster Shade Tree Commission,prioritized, and completed in a timely fashion.If the City is not responsible for removal ormaintenance of a tree impacting publicsafety, or the public right-of-way, then lettersshould be sent to those responsible advisingthem of the condition of their tree and thework which must be completed on that tree.At the very minimum, tree removals, reinspection,and pruning of branches over 4inches in diameter (large deadwood or limbswith structural problems) should becompleted.Recommendation: All trees listed forpriority re-inspection should be identified inthe field by the City Arborist and LancasterShade Tree Commission. These treesshould be evaluated by a Certified Arboristto determine if removal, monitoring, ormaintenance is appropriate. Trees markedfor priority re-inspection, but not immediatelyreceiving maintenance, should be inspectedby the City Arborist, the Commission or theirdelegate twice a year to determinemaintenance. It is very likely that thesetrees will require removal or maintenancewithin the next few years.20

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanHardscape DamageHardscape damage was observed primarilyamong sidewalk panels. An inventory ofdamaged sidewalks adjacent to inventoriedtrees was conducted concurrently with thetree inventory. Locations of tree-adjacentand planting site-adjacent sidewalk damagewere recorded along with an indication if thedamage was tree related. Observationsrevealed the majority of trees and plantingsites inventoried (4602), did not showsidewalk damage. Sidewalk damage wasnoted at the remaining 2157 sites, of whichall but 41 were likely the result of tree roots.• 2116 (31.3%) – Sidewalk damaged bytrees• 41 (0.6%) – Sidewalk damaged forother reasons• 4602 (68.1%) – No sidewalk damageRecommendation: All sites identified ashaving damage to sidewalks should beevaluated by the Lancaster Shade TreeCommission, the City Arborist, and/or otherappropriate municipal staff. Hardscapesposing a threat to safety should be repairedfollowing the standards and procedures ofLancaster City for this type of repair.Recommendation: Alternative materialsshould be considered along with concretewhen replacing sidewalks. Materials suchas asphalt, brick, and rubber may providesuitable alternatives to concrete. Potentialdamage by tree roots to these alternativematerials appears to occur over a smallerarea of the sidewalk surface, potentiallyreducing future repair or replacement costs.Recommendation: When sidewalks arereplaced, trees and the size of their plantingsite should be considered. Where spaceallows, rerouting of sidewalks around streettrees to provide a larger planting pit or treelawn may help reduce future lifting anddamage to sidewalk panels by tree roots. Ifsidewalks are not damaged, existing treepits should be enlarged as much as spaceallows. A minimum pit size of 5 ft. by 5 ft.,with a depth of 3 ft. with careful speciesselection is recommended. Plastic rootbarriers installed between sidewalks andnewly planted trees will help reduce futurehardscape damage. When working indowntown or other areas where planting pitsize is limited, the use of structural or otherengineered soils should be considered.Recommendation: Besides replacement,alternatives to repairing minor sidewalkdamage should be used by the City. Thesealternatives could include correct grinding oflifted portions of sidewalks and the use ofasphalt or concrete to provide interim rampsfor lifted sidewalk portions.21

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanLancaster City Municipal Tree Program:General Recommendations and PoliciesAdministration and ManagementAnnual work plans and budgets are toolsthat should be included in a tree program.Annual work plans will enable the ShadeTree Commission to become proactiverather than reactionary. Communicationbetween residents and the Shade TreeCommission regarding tree removal andplanting, and setting clear and fairmanagement guidelines will help make iteasier for the residents and businesses tobuy into the tree program.Recommendation: As required, aCertified Arborist shall be consulted forperiodic review and advice.Recommendation: The City shouldconsider using both non-traffic summaryoffense and restitution in theenforcement of street tree and parkordinances.Recommendation: Lancaster shouldmaintain and build upon the treeinventory which was completed in 2011.Tree planting, pruning, removal, and riskinformation should be added to theinventory as it becomes available.Recommendation: Lancaster shouldconsider the use of managementcompartments for the maintenance ofCity trees. These areas are createdgiven distinct landscape conditions andrequirements (e.g., downtown, park,residential) in conjunction withneighborhood and geographicconsiderations. They are used to helporganize and schedule maintenance tomaximize efficiency of time and moneyspent.Recommendation: Tree protectionstandards shall be provided in allconstruction contracts/plans that impactexisting public trees.Recommendation: All utility pruningshould be completed with thenotification of the Shade TreeCommission. All utility pruning shouldbe done under the supervision of aCertified Arborist using directionalpruning and reduction and thinningpruning cuts. Where appropriate, largerinferior trees will be removed frombeneath utility lines and replaced withappropriate smaller growing trees.22

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanLiability IssuesTrees can present a serious safety concern,especially large, old ones. In Pennsylvania,municipalities assume responsibility for asafe public right-of-way. Any negligence forthe care of trees impacting the safety of theright-of-way may fall on the municipality.However, by implementing a comprehensivetree risk management program, the City cantake steps to limit their liability and keep asafe public forest.Recommendation: An annualevaluation of street and park tree healthand structure shall be completed by theCity Arborist and Shade TreeCommission. Consideration should begiven to trees marked fair or poor in theinventory.Recommendation: All tree inventoriesand maintenance records shall berecorded and kept on file. The treeinventory will be updated on a yearlybasis.Recommendation: Tree maintenanceand removals will be prioritized by riskand be carried out in a timely fashion.Recommendation: Inspections andmaintenance will be performed by aCertified Arborist.Recommendation: The City shouldconsider notifying property owners oftree nuisances that may impact thesafety of the public right-of-way (e.g.,branches blocking traffic signs, trees onprivate property that could fall into thestreet) and the health of other privateand public trees in the City (e.g., oak wilt,Dutch elm disease).Landscape DesignTrees provide numerous benefits to peopleand the places they live including positivecontributions to property value, shade andweather protection, aesthetics, a connectionto nature, and better human health. Thedesign and incorporation of street and parktrees into Lancaster City provides manysuch benefits.Recommendation: Neighborhooddistinctions can be maintained andachieved by repeating a particularplanting design.Recommendation: Trees properlyplanted in the business districts willprovide patrons relief from summer heat,beautify store fronts, and increase thenumber of shoppers. Shoppers havebeen found to spend more time andmoney when shopping on tree-linedstreets. As part of a morecomprehensive tree species selectionlist, a small list of trees that aresuccessful in downtown sidewalkplantings should be developed (e.g.,honey locust, gingko, hardy rubber tree).Recommendation: Parking lots will bemade more attractive and less hot bycorrectly incorporating trees into theirdesign and landscaping. Through theuse of porous pavement, engineeredsoils, grading, and bioretention basins,trees can also be incorporated intostormwater management strategies.Recommendation: The location andtype of trees planted should take intoconsideration their contribution toenergy conservation, views, noisereduction, and screening of undesirableobjects.Recommendation: Major entry ways tothe City should be beautified by usingdistinct and proper tree plantings.Recommendation: If not already done,the City should consider adding alandscape design section to theirsubdivision and land developmentordinance.23

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanTree Evaluation and RemovalEvaluating trees on an annual basis willincrease safety, lower maintenance costs inthe long run, and prolong the life of the trees.It will also help to predict future health andstructure problems, and indicate potentialrisk to property or pedestrians.Recommendation: An annual review ofCity trees will be conducted by aCertified Arborist. Tree condition andthe degree of risk will be identified andrecorded.Recommendation: An annual workplan for tree removal and pruning will bedeveloped based on the annual treecondition and risk review. This work willbe prioritized based on the degree oftree risk and completed in a timelyfashion. Critical risk trees will be treatedas soon as possible.Recommendation: Property andbusiness owners impacted by treeremoval should be notified of that treeremoval by the Shade Tree Commission.The Shade Tree Commission shouldconsider holding a public hearing toprovide public testimony on treeremovals and plantings.Site Analysis and SpeciesSelectionIt is very important to match the proper treespecies to each particular planting site.Taking this into consideration will helpminimize future hardscape damage andmaintenance problems and costs. This willensure that the size and look of the tree fitsinto its surroundings.Recommendation: Proper site analysis,species selection, and site modificationwill take place for every tree plantingsite. The proper tree will be planted inthe proper site in a correct fashion.Recommendation: Design/engineeringsolutions shall be used to increase soilvolume and tree growing area and tominimize potential concrete and otherdamage from trees planted in confinedareas. Adequate space and siteconditions for healthy tree growth will beprovided for all tree plantings.Recommendation: Trees planted in theCity will be chosen from an approvedtree planting list.Recommendation: Trees native toPennsylvania shall be used for plantingwhen their use provides the best choicefor the particular project and site beingconsidered.24

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanTree PlantingTree planting guidelines and standardsshould be established and adhered to inorder to ensure a healthy and beautifulcommunity forest.Recommendation: Every tree removedwill be considered for replacement withan appropriate new tree not likely tocause any problems for which theoriginal tree was removed.Recommendation: Correct treeplanting standards and young treemaintenance standards will be providedin all tree plantings. These standardsmust be followed by landscapearchitects, contractors, and othersperforming tree plantings.Recommendation: PA-One-Call will beused before all tree plantings.Recommendation: Both tree age andspecies diversity will be promotedthrough annual tree planting andremoval. A variety of species will beplanted within each tree planting areawithin the City as a whole.Recommendation: The LancasterShade Tree Commission should work todevelop and use a tree plantingselection list based on managementcompartments and the size of treeplanting areas.Recommendation. For sidewalkplantings, a minimum pit size of 5 ft. by5 ft., with a depth of 3 ft. should be usedalong with careful species selection.Recommendation. Plastic root barriersinstalled between sidewalks and newlyplanted trees will help reduce futurehardscape damage.Recommendation. When working indowntown or other areas where plantingpit size is limited, the use of structural orother engineered soils should beconsidered.Tree MaintenanceIt is critical that a comprehensive treeprogram use proper standards andguidelines for arboriculture work includingthose for young, mature, and declining trees.Newly planted trees should be provided withirrigation and proper pruning to ensureproper establishment and form. Routinemaintenance decreases the risk of branchand tree failure due to inclement weatherand increases the beauty and life of the tree.Recommendation: All City street andpark trees will be pruned by qualifiedarborists using safety and pruningstandards found within the ANSI A300:Standards for Tree Care Operations –Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody PlantMaintenance Standard Practices, theANSI Z133.1: Safety Requirements forTree Care Operations, and theInternational Society of ArboricultureTree Pruning and Maintenance BestManagement Standards.Recommendation: Only thinning andreduction pruning cuts will be used toprune street and park trees. No headingor stub cuts will be used on live treesremaining in the landscape.Recommendation: All tree pruningshall be approved and administered bythe Shade Tree Commission and CityArborist.Recommendation: The Shade TreeCommission will consider implementingmanagement compartments and apruning cycle for each managementcompartment. A pruning cycle can helpnormalize yearly budgets by planningand scheduling pruning work to becompleted each year. A number ofaspects of each managementcompartment will need to be consideredin order to plan for pruning cycles.These aspects include number of trees,number of landscapes or managementcompartments, age of trees, condition oftrees, species, and amount of fundingavailable.25

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanPublic Education and SupportThe understanding and support of residentsand business owners for a community treeprogram is important. It is helpful to involvethe public in planting projects, as well asdecision making. These opportunities forinvolvement will go a long way in garneringthe public’s support, helping to raise funds,and reducing conflicts.Recommendation: Offer Arbor Day andEarth Day activities where the publiccan participate.Recommendation: Provide educationalmaterials about community trees andforests to schools and the public.Recommendation: Utilize the media topromote tree activities and programs atleast once a year.Recommendation: Promote memorialand dedication tree programs and trees.Recommendation: Provide theresidents with an approved list of treesto choose from to plant in front of theirhomes.Recommendation: Provide for publicnotice and hearing in tree removal andplanting decisions.26

Lancaster City – Tree Inventory and Municipal Street Tree PlanConclusions and Summary of RecommendationsConclusions• Maple species, red and Norway inparticular, are overabundant. The Cityshould increase both tree species andage diversity by limiting the planting ofthese tree species.• While there is an overabundance ofsome species, there is good overalldiversity of species. New plantingsshould focus on including a variety ofspecies, especially those occurringless commonly in the current inventory.• The overall age/size distribution oftrees was indicative of the patterns ofattrition with age typically seen inhealthy urban forests and reflectsongoing replacement of street trees.• A majority (74%) of the trees are inexcellent or good condition. Of these,the majority are in good condition(59% of total population).• 7% of the trees are in poor or deadcondition and should be removed.• About one-third of evaluatedsidewalks showed damage, mostlythought to be caused by trees.• The southeastern section of the City isparticularly under-stocked. Considerdirecting extra resources and attentionto this area.• Many residents encountered duringthe inventory were unaware of who isresponsible for maintenance of theCity street trees.Recommendations• Inspect all trees and update the treeinventory annually.• Address risk trees through removalor pruning in a timely manner.• Choose the proper species for eachplanting location.• Develop a cycle of annual treeremovals and plantings to achieveand maintain species and agediversity.• Monitor mature trees in decline,especially those in fair or poorcondition.• Use structural soils, plastic rootbarriers, and other tools along withproper tree selection and planting toreduce hardscape damage.• Consider developing tree plantingstandards for sidewalk and parkinglot plantings.• Through the use of porous concrete,curb cuts, grading, engineered soils,and bioretention basins, tie treeplantings into stormwatermanagement.• Increase public education andparticipation through tree-plantingand other related activities.• Consider adding a landscape designsection to the existing subdivisionand land development ordinancesand “Rules of Arbor Work” to thestreet and park tree ordinance.27