The curbside-tree problem

When it comes to trees in the city, it is amazing how unaware people are. Take the tree lawn in this picture. These recently planted maple trees are wrong on so many levels: too large a species to be planted so close to a building, too small a tree-lawn to support the tree, and most importantly… they are planted UNDER A POWERLINE!

I’m sure the the City’s Forestry Department has made their share of mistakes in planting trees in the past, but in a case like this, it is pretty obvious that the property owner planted these trees themselves. The thing is, the tree lawn, which is the space between the street-curb and the sidewalk, is a public right-of-way. Only the City has a right to plant something there. Unfortunately, too many property owners fail to recognize this fact. The result is often a aesthetic hodgepodge and possibly dangerous as the tree grows.

The City of St. Louis’ Forestry Department takes care of planting, maintaining and removing trees and other plants in public areas. If you want to do anything in these areas you should contact them. Depending on the season, the response time can vary, but they are usually pretty good about getting to issues in a respectable time after you contact them. Especially when there are safety concerns. If you are curious about Forestry ordinances and programs, they actually have a really good website that is very helpful. You can also request services directly through their site.