MARCH 2022
COUNCIL CORNER By Council Member Matt Durham, District 2 Holladay is Tree City. In fact, it has been designated by the Arbor Day Foundation as a “Tree City USA.” Holladay is blessed with an abundant and healthy canopy of mature trees that provide shade, character and beauty to our community. The City takes active steps to protect its trees and to encourage tree maintenance and replacement. Most city residents know that Holladay is a tree friendly place, but may not fully understand the specific provisions of the City’s Tree Preservation Ordinance (the “Ordinance”). Under the Ordinance, certain trees are protected and may only be removed after obtaining a permit. These protected trees include: • Trees listed as Community Trees or Heritage Trees. • Trees with a trunk over 2” in width [caliper] which are intended for removal as part of a contemplated construction project (including remodeling) on a property
Congratulations to the Holladay City Tree Committee Congratulations to the Holladay City Tree Committee on their 2021 Citizen Foresters of the Year award presented by the Utah Community Forest Council. This award recognized the many volunteer hours Tree Committee members worked to help protect our urban forest!
• Trees on City property or in a public right-of-way, including o Trees in a city park o “Street Trees”, located adjacent public and private streets o Waterway Trees located within specified distances of streams, canals or ditches. The Ordinance requires a permit for the removal of any protected tree, unless the tree is damaged, certifiably dead or dying, is essential in order to allow for property development, or presents a public safety risk. To obtain a permit to remove a protected tree, a resident would submit an application and fee to the Holladay Community and Economic Development Department. The permit application requires a description of which trees the property owner intends to remove and certification of the reason for removal (i.e., the tree is dying or poses a safety hazard). The applications also requires submission of a “Tree Canopy Sustainability Plan.” This Plan calls for an inventory of the tree canopy in the proposed removal area, including photographs or other depictions of the tree canopy within the last year. It will also contain a list of replacement trees, with an estimate of canopy coverage at tree maturity. Finally, if applicable, the Plan should describe the anticipated earth disturbance around the proposed removal area and include notes about proposed permanent or temporary fencing, excavation, grading, or other construction activities. The Plan is designed to protect the existing tree canopy and replace canopy where removal is appropriate. Under certain circumstances, replacement of protected trees can be done through replacement at another location or property or through other pre-approved mitigation efforts. If you have questions about protection of trees in the city or about obtaining a tree removal permit, you can contact the Holladay Community and Economic Development Department at 801-527-3890. If you are concerned about violations of the city’s tree preservation ordinance, you can contact Holladay’s Code enforcement at the same number or at wdallof@updsl. org. You can also report issues through the City’s community engagement portal: https://talktomycity.com/complaint-form.
Early Winter Heat and Late Spring Frost By Travis Jones, Holladay Tree Committee Chair It is becoming more common to leave the snow blower in the shed all winter and not have to scrape frost off the windshield every morning while the vehicle warms up. But what does this warmer winter temperature do to our trees? Any significant change in temperature or weather can cause stress to trees. When early spring temperatures warm up beyond normal, buds on trees begin to swell and new blooms or shoots arrive early. This new growth is exposed and can be easily damaged if temperatures quickly drop back down below freezing. After the damage occurs most trees will bounce back and resprout new leaf buds later in the season, but flowering and fruit trees are most vulnerable as they may not produce buds again until next year. Frost damage will typically turn new growth brown a few days after the freeze. This can lead to increased stress making a tree more susceptible to future infestations from insects, fungus, and other pests. TIPS: 1. Select appropriate trees for our hardiness zone. Trees on the fringe of their temperature range are typically more susceptible to late frost. Always plant the right tree in the right place. 2. After the freeze risk is gone, ensure your trees are getting sufficient water and remember trees prefer infrequent deep soakings. 3. Mulch around your trees to store moisture, provide nutrients, and prevent damage. 4. Prune out any dead, diseased, or damaged branches in early spring to assist with new growth. 5. Consult with a local ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) certified arborist. In Utah we can bank on some spring snow and a return of the cold just when we are finally ready to break out the flip flops and head to the desert. When spring temperatures suddenly become frigid again, many trees will experience frost damage. Frost damage impacts all trees in some way, but fortunately most trees can fully recover with a little help from their friends.