CITY OF TROY, OHIO
ARBORICULTURAL SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS OF PRACTICE

The City shall have the authority to enforce the rules and regulations of the Arboricultural Specifications and Standards of Practice, which governs the selection for planting, maintenance, protection and removal of public trees.

A. POLICY
1. The Arboricultural Specifications and Standards of Practice shall be adhered to at all times.
All work performed on public trees shall be in compliance with the Tree Ordinance of the City of Troy.
3. The policy of the City shall be one of cooperation with the public.
4. No trees shall be removed from public places unless they constitute a hazard, a public nuisance, or due to revisions of the specifications and standards of practice.

B. SPECIES, CULTIVARS, OR VARIETIES
1. The Tree Board shall prepare a list of trees acceptable for planting in public places of the City.
2. Only trees of good appearance, beauty, adaptability, and trees free of injurious insects or disease shall be planted in public places.
3. The Tree Board shall review at least every two (2) years; the approved tree species, cultivars, and varieties for any revision.
4. If under the master shade tree plan street blocks have been assigned a particular tree species, or variety, only these trees shall be planted. This is subject to revision by the Tree Board.
5. The Tree Board shall consider recommendations from the City Forester in the selection of shrub species, cultivars or varieties for planting in public places.

C. PLANTING
1. Size
A. Definitions of size:
1. Small Trees are designated as those attaining a height of twenty (20) to thirty (30) feet.
2. Medium Trees are designated as those attaining a height of thirty (30) to forty-five (45) feet.
3. Large Trees are designated as those attaining a height of forty-five (45) feet or more.
B. Unless otherwise specified by the Tree Board, all deciduous tree species, cultivars and varieties, shall be at least 1.5 inches in diameter. The tree canopy shall be in good balance with the trunk. When planting, the root
ball shall be level with existing grade, or in heavy clay soils not exceeding six (6) inches above existing grade.

2. Tree Grade
All trees shall have comparatively straight trunks, well developed leaders, canopies, and roots characteristic of the species, cultivars, and exhibit evidence of proper nursery pruning. All trees must be free of insects, disease, mechanical injury, and other objectionable features at the time of planting.

3. Location and Spacing
A. Only small or medium trees shall be planted where overhead primary power lines or building setbacks are present.
B. Only small trees shall be planted in a tree-lawn less than three (3) feet in width.
C. Trees shall be planted:
(25) twenty-five feet from street intersections,
(15) fifteen feet from driveways and alleys,
(10) ten feet from a utility pole,
(6) six feet from any underground water lines, sewer lines, shut-off valves, meter pit, distribution lines or other utility.
D. Spacing of trees shall be determined according to local conditions, species, cultivars, or varieties, mature height, spread, and form. All large trees shall be planted forty (40) to sixty (60) feet on center; medium
trees shall be planted a minimum of thirty-five (35) feet on center; and small trees shall be planted a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet on center.
E. Minimum planting distance and spacing may be slightly modified at the discretion of the Tree Board and/or City Forester. All planting on unpaved streets without curbs or sidewalks, shall require permission of the City to determine the tree planting location.
F. All planting on unpaved streets without curbs or sidewalks, shall require permission of the City to determine the tree planting location.

D. GENERAL MAINTENANCE
1. Pruning And Removal
A. Topping of any tree species in the public right of way, is strictly prohibited except by written consent by the City Forester.
B. All pruning cuts shall be made with a saw or pruner and only at nodes and crotches. No stubs shall be left. No climbing spurs shall be used in trees, except when trees are to be removed.
C. All dead, crossed, and rubbing branches shall be removed.
D. All tools being used on a tree suspected of being infected with a contagious disease shall be disinfected with alcohol after each cut and between trees.
E. Stumps of all public trees shall be removed. Stumps shall be cut at a minimum of six (6) inches below the ground, soil placed and leveled. If the area where the stump is removed is to be paved, the stump shall be cut at least nine (9) inches below the ground and back filled with gravel.

2. Pruning of Young Trees
A. Pruning of only broken branches is recommended during the transplanting of a tree.
B. Pruning practices to be followed the first year following planting shall consist of removing dead, broken, or injured branches, uneven growth, and the removal of water sprouts. Excessive pruning at the
time of transplanting will add additional stress to the tree.
C. Tree canopies shall be raised as growth characteristics and location dictates. Newly planted trees need not have lower branches removed until they are well established.

3. Traffic Control
A. Whenever streets are to be blocked or limited in public service, (911), and the office of the City Engineer shall be notified forty-eight (48) hours in advance giving the location and the length of time the street will be blocked. Notification shall be given those agencies upon the removal of such barriers, or when such barriers are to remain longer than originally requested.
B. For the protection of the public while pruning or removing trees in the tree lawn or any public tree, only approved highway cones, signs, street and sidewalk barriers, shall be used in accordance with the Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (OMUTCD). Contact may be made with the office of the City Engineer to confirm the proper barrier locations are adequate to ensure public safety.
Flashing signals or reflective devices shall be placed on all obstructions remaining in the street after dusk.

4. Fertilization
Fertilization of trees is not recommended until after 1 year from planting.
Fertilization by a tree/landscape contractor is encouraged.

5. Cavities
Extensive cavity work should be performed on trees only if trees are sufficiently high in value.

6. Cabling
A. Cables shall be placed approximately two thirds (2/3) of the distance between the crotch and the top branch ends. Rust resistant cables, thimbles, and lags should be used. The ends of a cable shall be attached to hooks or eyes of lags or bolts, and thimbles must be used in the end of each cable. In no instance shall a cable be wrapped around a branch.
B. All cabling and bracing practices with screw rods shall follow the Tree Care Industry Association standards for guying of shade trees.
Website: www.natlarb.com

E. APPROVED ARBORICULTURAL PRACTICES
Where mention is made to acceptable arboricultural practices, work shall conform to practices established by the Tree Care Industry Association Standards, or various tree care publications published by the Cooperative Extension Service of Ohio Sate University.

F. AMEND
The Park Board reserves the right to modify, amend, or extend Arboricultural Specifications and Standards of Practice.

RECOMMENDED TREES
The following list constitutes the approved street tree species for the City of Troy, Ohio.
 

PROHIBITED TREES
The following list constitutes prohibited trees in the treelawn and public places for the City of Troy, Ohio.

Catalpa	Horsechestnut	Mulberry
Box Elder	Locust, Black	Poplar
Willow	Crabapple	Maple, Silver
Tree of Heaven	Tulip Tree	Chinese Elm

Troy is a member of TREE CITY USA. The goal of Tree City USA is to  improve tree planting and tree care throughout America. The organization provides direction, technical assistance and public recognition for urban and community forestry programs. Tree City USA is sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service.

ADOPTED BY: The Board of Park Commissioners
8 day of May , 2007