HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-06-11 PACKET 08.A.City of
Cotta Grove
Minnesota
To: Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission
From: Steve Bowe, City Forester
CC: Zac Dockter, Parks and Recreation Director
Date: June 4, 2012
Subject: Community Tree Trimming Procedures
Tree Trimming
Tree trimming is conducted to improve tree shape, form, and vigor. Trimming removes dead
branches, broken branches, and crossing branches. Tree trimming also removes branches
that are growing into other trees, growing down into the street, and removal of lower suckering
branches that impede sight lines from the driveway and down the street. Without tree trimming
you would have a shorter life span of the trees, higher chance of becoming a hazard tree
based on branch attachment and more susceptible to disease and pest infestation. During the
tree trimming process the city forester monitors the job done by the contractor to make sure
they are doing what the City has requested and to stated expectations. Some trees receive a
larger amount of pruning then others based on where they are in their growth cycle. The
contractor will not remove more than one third of the overall canopy of the tree. This reduces
the amount of stress put onto a tree at one time and this limited amount of pruning will help
with reducing the chance over stressing the tree the following year.
The trees that are pruned are the ones that are in the right of way, which is usually within ten
to fifteen feet from the back to the curb. Most homeowners are allowed one boulevard tree
unless with the exception of corner lots which receive two boulevard trees. The boulevard
trees are on a rotational trimming which is every five to six years. We contract out the larger
Boulevard trees ranging nine inches and larger to outside contractors. The City prunes
boulevard trees less than nine inches in diameter.