Tech Question: ROW PLANTING

In general YES, it is allowed, and most of the time it is a very good idea. However as you suspected, this can be really different from place to place.

In some municipal districts in Middle Tennessee we have had to fight to have street trees allowed in the public right of way (these are usually planted in 5′-10′ grass strips between the back of curb and sidewalk – the ROW usually ends at the back of the sidewalk). Those districts that are not open to the idea tend to be more rural in character and see the trees as a maintenance problem. In contrast, other areas have strict codes that require each developer to plant a certain number of street trees per linear foot of street frontage and they must be of a minimum caliper size (usually 3-4 inch minimum). There are also all kinds of crazy point systems for meeting code-minimum landscape requirements along street frontages. There may be a short list of what species of street trees are allowed to be planted in the ROW.

Get an up to date copy of the latest zoning ordinance of the city/municipality where you are working and read it very carefully. Even if you think you understand the requirements it is always worth your effort to call and speak with a city planner or horticulturalist to confirm that you have correctly interpreted the requirements.

Different cities work out different deals for how this plant material will be maintained. In some areas the developers are responsible for installing it and the city then takes over maintenance of the material in the ROW (in my experience this is rare). In other areas the developer/owner must keep up the maintenance on all material, including the installation of irrigation systems. Sometimes there are absolutely no ordinances on the books and you just have to convince a few people down at City Hall that what you want to do is in the City’s best interest.

100_0076.jpgOh dear this is a real can of worms. 13 agencies can dig my town’s roads and pavements and verges with council permission and each agency could employ loads of different contractors. No-one talks to anyone else and get them to work in a hole while it is open and the council does not correlate activities. Roads are invariably patchwork quilts even when road surfaces are not being tried out in sections or there are traffic statistic facilities, e.g. pressure pads stapled across roads at certain points. Watercourses, natural or otherwise, are constantly subject to breaking, flooding, leaking, etc. and most need replacing. Soil types can affect this as, for example, clay dessicates in a drought. Overall, this affects possible tree survival as well as root attack on utility installations and homes. Other problems to consider include line of sight for CCTV cameras and road users as well as safety, e.g. acorns can be fired like bullets by a car tyre clipping it – so you have to plant wisely. All that said, remember that huge trees can be planted/moved to false beds and containers, e.g. over an underground car park. (We also have a road bridge here with a tree filled park on top.) Roots need not leak but irrigation, where appropriate, is easy to arrange. On that basis you can plant an oak tree between a fire hydrant, manhole cover and electricity sub station. You need to have a plan, some intentions, lots of site visits with authority people and a firm planting schedule and accurate activity record in spreadsheet diary form. (Excel?). Authorities and/or their contractors when outsourced usually have their own version to begin with that will need extending. You need a copy and/or access to their system. Ground radar and resistivity equipment can be useful where authorities do not know what is under an area, which is often. Actual excavation should also be in association with local archeologists and local amateur groups (history, archeology, wildlife, metal detectorists) may also be involved and perform survey services free to ensure nothing bad is done.

I wish to add that it has become de rigeur for tv cabling activity to spend ages working round tree roots, down an avenue for example, at enormous expense, to avoid protestors’ wrath. It can be cheaper to prop the tree, add a lightning conductor even, cut a root (which can be as thick as a man) then feed the trees and water them until recovered. Such companies may also pay to add more trees when they are finished according to the plan for the area. Digging can then be faster and mechanical.

Luv n Lite

Les Ballard

To the left of the attached picture is the main road and, to the right of the river, a footpath. The central building straddling the river had a family living in it once but is now a souvenir shop. Though “busy” for planting local residents, expecially, in houses to the right, can add to their front gardens to make it a prettier view and soften features. The picture above, however, is the backs of the houses nearby where the river flows and nature has taken over to some extent. With space at a premium tourist money is so imprtant that a little could be spent actually planting flowers along the banks to look pretty from the bridge the photo as taken from. Residents have little or no access and so will have less interest in beautification here.