Evaluate Your Goals And Site When Choosing The Right Tree

Clearcutting your yard as a reaction to the November ice storms may just be an overreaction.

The key to managing the urban forest, whether it’s in your back yard or in public parks, is planting the appropriate trees and pruning when necessary.

This spring, many homeowners will be replanting trees and paying particular attention to the trees in their yards that are near power and communications lines. If you have questions about limbs that seem too near power lines, call your local power company. Under no circumstances should you climb up and attempt to prune limbs away from power lines.

“Our tree-trimming crews have special training that makes them qualified to work within 10 feet of power lines,” says Sharen Vores, WWP Vegetation Manager. The crew members are also certified arborists.

Following pruning, the crew will remove the limbs from your yard. After that, it’s important to replant the proper tree. “People don’t consider a tree will grow 60 or 80 feet and they plant it right under a power line that is 35 or 40 feet high. We encourage people to plant trees that will mature to only about 20 feet if they plant near power lines,” Vores says.

When planting consider the following:

Why are you planting the tree? For shade, flowers, fall color, as a windbreak, conservation or as wildlife habitat?

What is the mature size and shape of the tree? Many large trees do not thrive if pruned continually to dwarf size.

Will the tree block visibility in driveways or intersections?

Will the mature tree conflict with overhead power or communications lines?

Will the roots uplift sidewalks or driveways or invade sewer pipes and underground utilities? (To determine if you have underground utilities on your property or nearby, call (800) 424-5555.)

Some of the trees that are not appropriate for our area are:

Cottonwoods, aspen, poplars, willows, box elder, black locust - these trees are fast-growing and brittle, hence subject to breakage and decay. They are also notorious for damaging curbs, sidewalks and driveways.

Elms, birches, American sycamore, Russian olive - all are severely attacked by insects and diseases which shorten lifespans and decrease tree vigor.

Common horse chestnut and mountain ash - both drop large and messy fruit creating pedestrian hazards and clean-up work for the homeowner.

Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, Colorado blue spruce, white fir and western red cedar all are inappropriate along the street but may be planted in large yard areas. They will, however, continuously drop needles and cones. , DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: AGENCIES CAN ASSIST For more information about tree selection, tree damage assessment or planting, contact one of the following agencies:, Spokane Conservation District, 353-2120 Spokane Parks & Recreation, 625-6655 Washington Department of Natural Resources, (800) 523-8733 WSU Cooperative Extension, 533-2048 Washington Water Power, 489-6104. A free booklet, “The Book of Trees: Tree Selection Guide,” is available from WWP by calling the above number.