Tree Planting Program
The Street Tree Planting Program encourages the continued vitality of our urban forest. The Parks and Recreation Department invites residents to participate each year in this program. If you qualify, the Forestry section will plant a street tree for you the following spring free of charge.
Qualifications:
- Participants must call the forestry office between June 1 and August 31 to request a tree for the following spring.
- Participants must agree to adequately water and care for the tree.
- Participants must be planning to be long-term residents.
- City street right-of-way must be a minimum of 4 feet wide and 20 feet long.
- Property should have a curb and gutter.
- Forestry will not plant a tree(s) to fulfill any planting requirements made by the City of Boulder.
Based on right-of-way specifications, the forestry staff will select the tree and planting location that ensures proper growth, safety, and maintenance.
- Selected trees will be 1.5 to 2 inches caliper size. (Caliper size is a measurement of the tree trunk at 6 inches above the soil line.)
- In the spring, your new tree will be planted on the City street right-of-way adjoining your property.
- Tree stakes will be removed the following spring.
Cooperation between the City of Boulder and residents is essential for proper tree care. Residents are asked to monitor the general health of new trees for the first few years, maintain mulch around the base of the tree, and to water street trees regularly to keep roots moist. Tree care information is provided to residents when street trees are planted. The forestry staff inspects street trees periodically and is available for consultation.
City street right-of-way widths will determine the type, size and spacing of trees selected by the forestry staff. Trees are described as small, medium, or large based on expected mature height and spread.
Undesirable Street Trees
These trees are easily damaged by storms, prone to insect and disease infestations, or predisposed to decay. Some require more space than the tree right-of-way provides, and evergreens over 30' high can cause sight obstructions.
- Boxelder
- Poplar
- Russian Olive
- Cottonwood
- Aspen
- Tree of Heaven
- Silver Maple
- Willow
- Evergreens
- Clump or multi-stem trees
- Siberian / Chinese Elm
Trees on the following list will do well in our local environment provided the appropriate species is selected for a particular site. (see Table 3-6, “Tree Characteristics”) The trees on this list offer a wide range of varieties and cultivars which fit into local landscapes. Tree names are followed by examples of acceptable tree varieties that may be used in streetscapes. Other available varieties of each tree type may be used, subject to City approval, if they are thornless, cottonless, minimally fruiting, minimally seeding, and tree-form varieties. Trees are listed in alphabetical order and are not prioritized according to their suggested use.
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Small Maturing Trees
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Medium Maturing Trees
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Large Maturing Trees
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(Under 25' Mature Height)
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(30'-45' Mature Height)
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(Over 45' Mature Height)
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Required Planting Strip Width
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4'-5' Minimum
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6'-7' Minimum
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8' Minimum
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Spacing Between Trees
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15' Minimum,
20' Recommended
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25' Minimum,
30' Recommended
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30' Minimum,
40' Recommended
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Crabapple- Malus spp. (Fireblight resistant varieties, inc. Centurion, Red Barron)
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Cherry - Prunus sargentii (Sargent)
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Ash, Green1,2 - Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Marshalls Seedless, Newport, Patmore)
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Goldenraintree1 - Koelreuteria paniculata
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Crabapple- Malus spp. (Fireblight resistant varieties, inc. Indian Magic, Indian Summer, Radiant, Spring Snow)
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Ash, White2 - Fraxinus americana (Autumn Applause, Autumn Purple, Rosehill)
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Hawthorn - Crataegus spp. (thornless cockspur, Ohio Pioneer) Tree Form
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Hackberry, Common1 - Celtis occidentalis (Prairie Pride)
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Baldcypress - Taxodium distichum
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Lilac, Japanese tree - Syringa reticulata Tree Form
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Honeylocust1 - Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis (Imperial, Sunburst)
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Catalpa, Western1 - Catalpa speciosa
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Maple, Amur1 - Acer ginnala Tree Form
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Hop Hornbeam - Ostrya virginiana
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Coffeetree, Kentucky1 - Gymnocladus dioicus
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Maple, Norway - Acer platanoides (Crimson Sentry)
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Hornbeam, European Carpinus betulus
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Elm, American - Ulmus americana (Brandon, Valley Forge)
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Maple, Tatarian - Acer tataricum Tree Form
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Linden, Littleleaf - Tilia cordata (Corinthian)
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Hackberry, Common1 Celtis occidentalis
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Oak, Gambel Quercus gambelii Tree Form
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Maple, Norway - Acer platanoides (Cavalier, Drummondi)
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Honeylocust1 - Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis (Shademaster, Majestic)
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Pear - Pyrus calleryana (Chanticleer variety)
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Maple, Hedge - Acer campestre
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Horsechestnut, Common Aesculus hippocastanum
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Prunus - Prunus spp. (Cherries, Plums, Almonds, Apricot) Tree Form
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Maple, Wasatch1 - Acer grandidentatum Tree Form
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Linden, American - Tilia americana (Legend, Redmond)
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Redbud - Cercis canadensis Tree Form
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Ohio Buckeye1 Aesculus glabra
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Linden, Littleleaf Tilia cordata (Chancellor, Greenspire)
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Serviceberry Amelanchier spp. Tree Form
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Pear Pyrus spp. (Ussurian, Callery - avoid Bradford variety)
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Maple, Norway - Acer platanoides (Deborah, Emerald Queen)
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Turkish Filbert - Corylus colurna
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Maple, Red - Acer rubrum (Northwood, Red Sunset)
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Maple, Sugar - Acer saccharum (Green Mountain, Legacy)
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Oak - Quercus spp. (Bur1, English, Red, Shumard, Swamp White1)
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1 Indicates drought-tolerant species.
2 Green/White ash should be used sparingly and not in large rows or groupings because of major problems with brownheaded ash sawfly and lilac/ash borer.
For more information please contact the Forestry section at 303-441-4406 (Monday – Friday, 7:00AM – 3:30PM).
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 September 2012 13:13
Parks & Recreation