Street Trees

The Street Tree Exhibit is a demonstration of space and width requirements that trees need at maturity.

The pavers designate the sidewalk edge and the minimum planting width to accommodate the trees’ mature size. You can see examples of trees requiring a minimum of 5 feet planting width, 5-8 feet planting width and 8-12 feet planting width.

There are many good recommendations for street trees. Selecting a tree on the basis of its size is a good place to start. A few good recommendations are:

Trees less than 25 feet with a 5 foot planting width

  • Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata)
  • Small Magnolias (Magnolia x loebneri)
  • Crabapple (Malus spp.)

Trees 25 feet to 50 feet with a 5-8 foot planting width

  • Katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)
  • Hop Hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
  • Flowering Pear (Pyrus calleryana)

Trees greater than 50 feet with a minimum of 8 feet planting width

  • Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
  • Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
  • Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Maintaining Your Tree

Once you have chosen your tree and planted it, make maintaining your tree a top priority. Healthy trees add to the beauty of your yard, improve the quality of the environment and provide homes for mammals and birds.

The following are some routine tasks that will ensure the health and survival of your tree.

  • Water your tree (deep soil as well as surface watering).
  • Prune to remove dead, broken or crossing branches.
  • Watch for insect pests and disease symptoms.

Practices that will shorten the life span and vigor of the tree should be avoided:

  • Damaging the trunk with lawnmowers or string trimmers.
  • Using weed killers on or around the tree.
  • Snapping or breaking branches—use sharp pruners to make clean cuts.
  • Using your trees as support for other structures (signs, mailboxes, etc.).
  • Applying wound dressings to cut areas after pruning.

Trees Not Recommended for Street-side Planting

Large, spreading trees. Their aggressive root systems are notorious for damage to curbs and sidewalks.

  • Cottonwoods/Poplars (Populus spp.)
  • Willows (Salix spp.)
  • Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
  • American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
  • Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustfolia)

Trees that are easily attacked by insects or disease that defoliate branches, decrease tree vigor, and shorten life spans.

  • Box Elder (Acer negundo)
  • Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
  • Elms (Ulmus spp.)
  • Birches (Betula spp.)

Trees that produce nuts or fruit that may cause hazardous conditions for pedestrians and extra clean-up work for the landowner/resident.

  • Common Horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
  • Walnut (Juglans spp.)
  • Mountain Ash (Sorbus spp.)
  • Fruit Trees—Any edibles; apples, cherries, plums, apricots or pears.

Trees that are very large, obstruct travel ways, reduce visibility and are continuously dropping needles and/or cones. These are most of the large conifers, including:

  • Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)
  • Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
  • Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesil)
  • Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)

Project Contributors:

  • White Block Company (Bruce Corigliano)
  • Modern Electric Water Company (Joe Morgan)
  • Greenacres nursery (Jay Naccarato)
  • PlantLand Garden & Gift Center (Bill Coyle)
  • Gibson’s Nursery & Landscape Supply (Gary Gibson)
  • Farmers Market & Garden Center (Rick Naccarato) 

Donations secured by:  Sylvia Eberspecher

Why Street Trees?

Street trees give us shelter from the wind, privacy from the roads, shade from the sun and add diversity to our yards. Without them our streets and neighborhoods would be much less attractive and comfortable.

Selecting a Tree and a Site

When planting a street tree, consider the particular site where the tree will be planted. Ask these five questions before planting begins:

  1. What is the ground width between the street and the sidewalk?
  2. Are above and below ground utilities present?
  3. Will the tree growth interfere with street signs or lighting?
  4. What is the soil type of the site?
  5. Is water readily available or will it have to be brought to the tree?

Taking time to answer these questions and any others that might arise will save you time and headaches later. Trees planted in the wrong sites will uplift sidewalks, become tangled in power lines, obstruct thruways, and become unhealthy and unattractive over the years.

With these limits in mind, select a tree that will fit the situation. Matching the tree to the site is the best way to guarantee its success. Choose a tree you will care for and appreciate, and enjoy for its unique characteristics.

The Green Zone
210 & 222 N Havana St
Spokane, WA 99202
509-477-2048