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ci.galesburg.il.us
City of Galesburg
55 W. Tompkins Street
P.O. Box 1387
Galesburg, IL 61402-1387
309/343-4181
Galesburg Tree Replacement Program
Before planting on the City Street terrace in Galesburg, a no-cost permit is required.
Please call the City Arborist
Phone 345-3621
Call JULIE before digging
1-800-892-0123
(Ordinance
25-46)
City Arborist Policy
All work on public trees shall comply with the Tree Ordinance (see Municipal Code link to the left) of the City of Galesburg, Illinois and the Arboricultural Specifications Manual.
Species, Cultivars or Varieties
The following Table I contains a list of tree species or their varieties acceptable for planting on City property.
Unacceptable tree species or their varieties contained in the following Table II shall not be planted on City-owned property, except in special locations because of characteristics of adaptability or landscape effect they can be used to public advantage.
Other tree species or their varieties not listed in the foregoing Table I may be planted on City-owned property, but only desirable trees of good appearance, beauty and adaptability that are generally free from injurious insects, diseases or other limitations may be planted.
Where certain planting sites have been assigned a particular species or variety, only designated species or variety shall be planted on such sites, unless the plan is revised by the City Arborist with the advice and assistance of the Galesburg Tree commission.
Planting Stock Requirements
1. Size
Unless otherwise specified by the city Arborist all medium to large deciduous trees and their cultivars or varieties shall conform to American Association of Nurseryman Standards, shall be free of branches to a point not more nor less than (60) percent of their height, and be at least six (6') to eight (8') feet in height when planted.
All small deciduous trees and their cultivars or varieties shall be at least five (5) feet in height and have at least six (6) branches on the upper half of the trunk.
2. Grade
Unless otherwise allowed for specific reasons, all trees shall have comparatively straight trunks, well developed leaders and tops, and the roots shall not only by characteristic of the species, cultivar or variety, but also shall exhibit evidence of proper nursery pruning practices. They shall have acceptable balance between top and root. At the time of planting, all trees must be free of mechanical injuries, and other objectionable features that tend to affect the future form and beauty of the plant.
3. Location and Spacing
Based on a 40-year cycle, no tree which will attain a trunk diameter greater than fifteen (15) inches shall be planted in a tree lawn less than five (5) feet in width. In tree lawns less than five (5) feet in width, or where overhead lines or building setback presents a special problem, the selection of planting site and species shall be determined by the city Arborist.
Where there is a tree lawn less than five (5) feet in width, it is recommended that legal steps be taken to obtain easement rights to plant beyond the sidewalk on private property.
Trees shall be planted at least fifteen (15) feet from driveways and alleys, and at street intersections the distance shall be that specified in City Ordinance 92-1462 (Visibility Triangle)
No street tree planting is to be made closer to the street than thirty (30) inches back from the face of the curb. The face of the curb is the street side of the curb.
Tree plantings made in a sidewalk must have a minimum of thirty-six (36) square feet cutout area. The tree must be set back from the street a minimum of thirty (30) inches from the face of the curb.
No tree shall be planted closer than ten (10) feet to a utility pole to allow room for line maintenance. Any tree planted under utilities shall not be planted in such a manner that it’s eventual height interferes with said utility lines. Selection of planting site and species will be determined by the City Arborist.
No street tree planting is to be made over J.U.L.I.E. locates. The Arborist shall help to determine a suitable distance from these J.U.L.I.E. Locates
Spacing of trees shall be determined by the City Arborist in accordance with local conditions; the species, cultivars or varieties used, and their mature height, spread and form. Generally, all large trees, at maturity, shall be spaced forty (40) to sixty (60) feet, center-to-center; all medium sized trees shall be spaced a minimum of thirty-five (35) feet, center-to-center; and all small trees shall be spaced a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet, center-to-center.
All planting on unpaved streets without curbs or sidewalks must have approval of the City Arborist, who shall determine the location of the tree, so that it will not be injured or destroyed when the street is curbed and paved, or when sidewalks are constructed.
4. Methods of Planting and Support
Most small, deciduous trees and shrubs may be moved bare-rooted unless otherwise indicated. Roots of bare-rooted trees and shrubs must be protected against drying out.
All coniferous trees shall be moved balled and burlap. Balled roots should be prevented from drying out at the surface of the ball and they should be protected against freezing.
Pits for the planting of bare-root plants shall be at least twelve (12) inches larger in diameter than the diameter of the root system in order to accommodate the roots without crowding. For balled trees, the pits should be minimum twelve (12) inches larger than the diameter of the ball of soil to allow proper backfill.
Plants shall be planted no deeper than previously grown, with due allowance for setting.
In poorly drained soil, artificial drainage shall be provided the root system of any species intolerant of wet sites, or a species tolerant of wet sites shall be used.
When the planting is completed, the entire root area shall be thoroughly saturated with water and burlap wrappings shall be cut.
Although pruning should be done to develop a balance with the root system, excessive pruning at the time of transplanting should be avoided..
Tree trunks shall be suitably wrapped and guyed, or supported in an upright position, according to accepted arboricultural practices. The guys or supports shall be installed so that they will neither girdle or cause serious injury to the tree nor endanger public safety.
Early Maintenance
1. General
Newly planted trees, shrubs and other plants require special maintenance for one or two growing seasons following planting. All maintenance practices shall follow approved arboricultural standards.
2. Watering
Ample soil moisture shall be maintained following planting. A thorough watering once in five (5) to ten (10) days, depending on soil type and drainage provisions, is usually adequate during the growing season. A soil auger can be used to check the adequacy of moisture in the soil ball and/or backfill.
3. Fertilization
Adequate quantities of the essential nutrient elements should be available after new root growth starts. However, provision of good drainage and adequate moisture of the backfill, or the soil ball on balled plants, is more important than fertilization immediately following planting.
4. Insect and Disease Control
Infrequent and thorough inspections shall be made to determine when measures for the control of insects and diseases shall be taken. Plants are in a weakened condition following transplanting and they are more susceptible to insects, especially borers, and disease than are vigorously growing trees. Where it is necessary to spray, insecticides or fungicides shall be used that are labeled for the purpose intended.
5. Pruning
Pruning newly planted trees shall consist of removing dead, broken or injured branches; the suppression of rank, uneven growth that affects form. Water sprouts shall be removed when they reach the diameter of a pencil.
Pruning shall be practiced as often thereafter as needed to assure sturdy crotch development.
Tree crowns should be elevated as growth characteristics and location dictate. Newly planted trees need not have lower branches removed until they are well established.
General Maintenance
1. Pruning and Removal
No topping or dehorning of trees shall be permitted, except by written permission of the City Arborist. Proper cabling and bracing shall be substituted for this practice wherever possible.
It shall be the policy of the City Arborist to cooperate with the municipal or utility lighting engineer, and vice versa, in the placement and selection of lighting standards.
All cuts shall be made with a saw or pruner and only at the nodes or crotches. No stubs shall be left. No spurs or climbing irons shall be used in the trees, except when trees are to be removed.
All dead branches shall be removed; branches that cross or rub should be pruned to eliminate the problem.
In the event of infectious diseases, all pruning tools must be disinfected before used on a new tree.
Whenever streets are to be blocked off to public service, all police and fire departments shall be notified of the location and length of time the street will be blocked. Notifications shall be given these departments upon the removal of such barriers or if such barriers are to remain longer than originally expected.
To protect the public from danger, suitable street and sidewalk barriers, highway cones, or signs shall be used when pruning a tree. Signals or flasher lights shall be placed on all barriers or obstructions remaining in the street after dark. The stumps of all removed trees shall be cut to at least six (6) inches below the ground level, the soil cavity shall be filled with soil and the area leveled. This shall be the responsibility of the City of Galesburg.
2. Spraying
Suitable precautions shall be taken to protect and warn the public that spraying is being done.
Spraying shall be done only for the control of specific diseases, regrowth or insects, with the proper materials in the necessary strength, and applied at the proper time, to obtain the desired control. All spraying practices shall conform to federal and state regulations.
Dormant oil sprays shall not be applied to Sugar Maple, Japanese Maple, Beech, Flowering Dogwood, Hickory, Walnut, and most crabapple trees. Dormant oil sprays shall be applied only when the air temperature is at least 40 degrees for a period of twenty-four (24) hours after spraying.
3. Fertilization
Fertilization of public trees shall follow the recommendations of the Natural History Survey or other accepted arboricultural standards.
Methods of application of fertilizers shall be specified by the City Arborist.
4. Cavities
Extensive cavity work should be performed on trees only if they are of sufficiently high value to justify the cost. All cavity work shall conform to the National Arborist Association or other acceptable arboricultural standards.
5. Cabling and Bracing
As a general rule, cables should be located above the crotch at a point approximately two-thirds (2/3) of the distance between the crotch and tops of the branch ends. Rust-resistant cables, thimbles, and lags should be used. The ends of a cable should be attached to hooks or eyes of lags or bolts inserted near the ends of the branches; thimbles must be used in the eye splice in each end of the cable. In no instance shall cable be wrapped around a branch.
All cabling and bracing practices with screw rods shall follow National Arborist Association or other accepted arboricultural standards.