[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of
Lower Merion 5-17-1989 as Sec. 5 of Ord. No. 3155.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
The following plantings are recommended:
A.
General.
[Amended 11-19-2003 by Ord. No. 3694]
(1)
Street trees.
[Amended 11-21-2007 by Ord. No. 3830]
Height at Maturity
(in feet)
|
Scientific Name
|
Common Name
| |
---|---|---|---|
35
|
Carpinus caroliniana
|
Ironwood; American hornbeam
| |
50
|
Ostrya virginiana
|
Hop hornbeam (native)
| |
50
|
Oxydendrum arboreum
|
Sourwood
| |
60
|
Quercus acutissima
|
Sawtooth oak
| |
80
|
Quercus alba
|
White oak
| |
60
|
Quercus bicolor
|
Swamp white oak
| |
75
|
Quercus borealis
|
Red oak
| |
75
|
Quercus imbricaria
|
Shingle oak
| |
125
|
Quercus macrocarpa
|
Bur oak
| |
70
|
Quercus phellos
|
Willow oak
| |
90
|
Quercus prinus
|
Chestnut oak
| |
130
|
Taxodium distichum
|
Bald cypress
| |
90
|
Tilia americicana
|
American linden
| |
90
|
Tilia cordata
|
Littleleaf or European linden
| |
50
|
Ulmus parvifolia
|
Chinese elm
| |
80
|
Zelkova serrata Village Green or Green Vase
|
Zelkova
|
(2)
Shade trees.
[Amended 11-21-2007 by Ord. No. 3830]
Height at Maturity
(in feet)
|
Scientific Name
|
Common Name
| |
---|---|---|---|
75
|
Acer rubrum
|
Red maple
| |
70
|
Acer saccharum
|
Sugar maple
| |
Carya glabra
|
Pignut hickory
| ||
Carya ovata
|
Shagbark hickory
| ||
60
|
Cercidiphylium japonicum
|
Katsura tree
| |
70
|
Fagus granifolia
|
American beech
| |
60
|
Fagus sylvatica
|
European beech
| |
60
|
Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis
|
Thornless honeylocust
| |
80
|
Ginko biloba
|
Ginko/maidenhair tree
| |
75
|
Gymnocladus dioicus
|
Kentucky coffeetree
| |
100
|
Liquidambar styraciflua Rotundiloba
|
Sweetgum
| |
100
|
Larix decidua
|
European larch
| |
50
|
Nyssa sylvatica
|
Black tupelo
| |
80
|
Platanus x acerifolia
|
London planetree
| |
90
|
Platanus occidentalis
|
Sycamore
| |
45
|
Quercus acutissima
|
Sawtooth oak
| |
80
|
Quercus alba
|
White oak
| |
80
|
Quercus coccinea
|
Scarlet oak
| |
80
|
Quercus imbricaria
|
Shingle oak
| |
80
|
Quercus marcrocarpa
|
Bur oak
| |
80
|
Quercus montana
|
Chestnut oak
| |
70
|
Quercus phellos
|
Willow oak
| |
80
|
Quercus rubra
|
Red oak
| |
80
|
Quercus velutina
|
Black oak
| |
70
|
Taxodium distichum
|
Bald cypress
| |
60
|
Tilia cordata
|
Littleleaf European linden
| |
90
|
Tilia tomentosa
|
Silver linden
| |
40
|
Ulmus parvifolia
|
Chinese elm
| |
80
|
Zelkova serrata
|
Japanese zelkova
|
(3)
Ornamental trees.
Height at Maturity
(in feet)
|
Scientific Name
|
Common Name
| |
---|---|---|---|
35
|
Acer campestre
|
Hedge maple
| |
20
|
Acer ginnala
|
Amur maple
| |
30
|
Amelanchier canadensis
|
Shadbush, serviceberry juneberry
| |
75
|
Betula lenta
|
Cherry birch
| |
70
|
Betula nigra
|
River birch
| |
35
|
Carpinus caroliniana
|
Ironwood, American hornbeam
| |
Cercis canadensis
|
Eastern redbud
| ||
30
|
Cladrastis lutea
|
American yellowwood
| |
25
|
Cornus kousa
|
Japanese dogwood
| |
25
|
Cornus mas
|
Corneliancherry dogwood
| |
35
|
Cornus floridia
|
Flowering dogwood
| |
Cotinus coggygria
|
Smoke tree
| ||
30
|
Crataegus cras-galli var. inermis
|
Thornless hawthorn
| |
30
|
Koelreuteria paniculata
|
Panicled goldenrain
| |
30
|
Malus floribunda
|
Japanese flowering crab
| |
30
|
Oxydendrum arboreum
|
Sourwood
| |
20
|
Prunus serrulata cv Kwanzan
|
Kwanzan cherry
| |
30
|
Prunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis'
|
Higan cherry
| |
30
|
Pyrus calleryana cv Bradford
|
Bradford pear
| |
30
|
Pyrus calleryana cv Aristocrat
|
Aristocrat pear
| |
30
|
Pyrus calleryana cv Autumn Blaze
|
Autumn blaze
| |
30
|
Pyrus calleryana cv Chanticleer
|
Chanticleer
| |
30
|
Pyrus calleryana cv Fauriei
|
Faurier
| |
30
|
Pyrus calleryana cv Redspire
|
Redspire
| |
30
|
Pyrus calleryana cv Trinity
|
Trinity
| |
30
|
Pyrus calleryana cv Whitehouse
|
Whitehouse
|
(4)
Evergreens
Height at Maturity
(in feet)
|
Scientific Name
|
Common Name
| |
---|---|---|---|
90
|
Abies concolor
|
White fir
| |
70
|
Cupressocyparis leylandii
|
Leyland cypress
| |
45
|
Ilex opaca
|
American holly
| |
100
|
Pinus strobus
|
White pine
| |
40
|
Pinus cv. Fastigiata
|
Pyramidal white pine
| |
90
|
Pinus thunbergi
|
Japanese black pine
| |
100
|
Pseudotsuga taxifolia
|
Douglas fir
| |
50
|
Thuja occidentalis
|
American arborvitae
| |
90
|
Tsuga canadensis
|
Hemlock
|
B.
Planting materials for wet or dry conditions (recommended
for use in and around stormwater management basins and related facilities).
(1)
Wildflowers for wet meadows.
Scientific Name
|
Common Name
| |
---|---|---|
Asclepias incarnate
|
Swamp milkweed
| |
Aster novae-angliae
|
New England aster
| |
Aster puniceus
|
Purple-stemmed aster
| |
Aster laevis
|
Smooth aster
| |
Bidens aristosa
|
Bidens or tickseed sunflower
| |
Bidens polyepsis
|
Bidens or tickseed sunflower
| |
Eupatorium coelestinum
|
Mistflower
| |
Eupatorium fistulosum
|
Hollow joe-pye weed
| |
Eupatorium dubium
|
Joe-pye weed
| |
Helenium nudiflorum
|
Purple-headed sneezeweed
| |
Helianthus giganteus
|
Giant sunflower
| |
Hesperis matronalis
|
Dame's rocket
| |
Hibiscus palustris
|
Swamp rose mallow
| |
Impatiens capensis
|
Jewelweed
| |
Impatiens pallida
|
Jewelweed
| |
Iris pseudacorus
|
Yellow iris
| |
Lilium canadense
|
Canada lily
| |
Lobelia cardinalis
|
Cardinal flower
| |
Lobelia siphilitica
|
Blue lobelia
| |
Ludwigia alternifolia
|
Seedbox
| |
Monarda didyma
|
Bee balm
| |
Penstemon digitalis
|
Beardtongue
| |
Pycnanthemum virginianum
|
Mountain mint
| |
Rudbeckia laciniata
|
Green-headed coneflower
| |
Rudbeckia triloba
|
Black-eyed susan
| |
Senecio aureus
|
Golden ragwort
| |
Solidago gigantea
|
Late goldenrod
| |
Solidago graminifolia
|
Lance-leaved goldenrod
| |
Zizia aurea
|
Golden alexanders
|
(2)
Wildflowers for wet edges.
Scientific Name
|
Common Name
| |
---|---|---|
Bidens aristosa
|
Bidens or tickseed sunflower
| |
Bidens polylepis
|
Bidens or tickseed sunflower
| |
Hibiscus palustris
|
Swamp rose mallow
| |
Iris pseudacorus
|
Yellow iris
| |
Iris versicolor
|
Blue flag
| |
Lobelia cardinalis
|
Cardinal flower
| |
Lobelia siphilitica
|
Blue lobelia
| |
Monarda didyma
|
Bee balm
| |
Scirpus acutus
|
Hardstem bulrush
| |
Typha angustifolia
|
Narrow-leaf cattail
| |
Typha latifolia
|
Common cattail
|
(3)
Grasses for wet meadows.
Scientific Name
|
Common Name
| |
---|---|---|
Panicum virgatum
|
Switch grass
| |
Sorghastrum nutans
|
Indian grass
| |
Tridens flavus
|
Red top
| |
Phalaris arundinaceae
|
Reed canary grass
|
(4)
Shrubs for wet meadows.
Scientific Name
|
Common Name
| |
---|---|---|
Aronia arbutifolia
|
Red chokeberry
| |
Aronia melanocarpa
|
Black chokeberry
| |
Cornus amomum
|
Silky dogwood
| |
Ilex verticillata
|
Winterberry holly
| |
Salix spp.
|
Willow
| |
Clethra acuminata
|
Summersweet
| |
Clethra alnifolia
|
Summersweet
| |
Viburnum lentago
|
Nannyberry
| |
Viburnum trilobum
|
American cranberry bush
| |
Cephalanthus occidentalis
|
Button bush
|
(5)
Trees for wet soils.
Scientific Name
|
Common Name
| |
---|---|---|
Acer rubrum
|
Red or swamp maple
| |
Amelanchier canadensis
|
Downy shadblow or serviceberry
| |
Carpinus caroliniana
|
American hornbeam
| |
Ilex opaca
|
American holly
| |
Liquidambar styraciflua
|
Sweetgum
| |
Magnolia virginiana
|
Sweetbay magnolia
| |
Myrica cerifera
|
Southern bayberry
| |
Platanus occidentalis
|
American sycamore, buttonwood
| |
Quercus bicolor
|
Swamp white oak
| |
Taxodium distichum
|
Bald cypress
| |
Thuja occidentalis cv. nigra
|
Dark American arborvitae
| |
Tilia americana
|
American linden
| |
Betula nigra
|
River birch
|
(6)
Wildflowers and grasses for dry meadows.
Scientific Name
|
Common Name
| |
---|---|---|
Andropogon gerardi
|
Big bluestem grass
| |
Andropogon scoparius
|
Little bluestem grass
| |
Asclepias tuberosa
|
Butterfly weed
| |
Aster pilosus
|
Aster
| |
Aster simplex
|
White aster
| |
Elymus canadensis
|
Canada wild rye
| |
Monarda fistulosa
|
Wild bergamot
| |
Panicum virgatum
|
Switchgrass
| |
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
|
Slender mountain mint
| |
Rudbeckia hirta
|
Black-eyed susan
| |
Solidago nemoralis
|
Old field goldenrod
| |
Solidago speciosa
|
Showy goldenrod
| |
Sorghastrum nutans
|
Indian grass
| |
Tridens falvus
|
Red top
| |
Veronicastrum virginicum
|
Culver's root
|
(7)
Shrubs for dry meadows.
Scientific Name
|
Common Name
| |
---|---|---|
Comptonia peregrina*
|
Sweetfern
| |
Cornus racemosa
|
Gray dogwood
| |
Diervilla sessilifolia*
|
Southern bush honeysuckle
| |
Hamamelis virginiana
|
Common witch hazel
| |
Myrica pensylvanica*
|
Northern bayberry
| |
Rosa carolina*
|
Pasture rose
| |
Rhus aromatic*
|
Fragrant sumac
| |
Rhus copallina*
|
Shining sumac
| |
Rhus glabra
|
Smooth sumac
| |
Rhus typhina
|
Staghorn sumac
| |
Viburnum lentago
|
Nannyberry
| |
*NOTE: Dense, spreading shrubs appropriate for steep slopes.
|
(8)
Trees for dry soils.
[Amended 11-21-2007 by Ord. No. 3830]
Scientific Name
|
Common Name
| |
---|---|---|
Acer rubrum
|
Red or swamp maple
| |
Celtis occidentalis
|
Hackberry
| |
Gleditsia triacanthos inermis
|
Thornless honey locust
| |
Juniperus virginiana
|
Eastern red cedar
| |
Liquidambar styraciflua
|
Sweetgum
| |
Pseudotsuga taxifolia
|
Douglas fir
| |
Quercus coccinea
|
Scarlet oak
| |
Quercus macrocarpa
|
Bur oak
| |
Quercus rubra (borealis)
|
Red oak
| |
Robinia pseudo-acacia
|
Black locust
| |
Sassafras albidum
|
Sassafras
| |
Thuja occidentalis
|
Dark American arborvitae
|
C.
Footnote: For plant sources and availability, applicants
are encouraged to consult the following publications:
A.
Specifications for trees.
(1)
All trees planted within the road rights-of-way shall
be approved species and varieties and shall conform to the full requirements
of the Shade Tree Commission in size and form.
(2)
All trees shall be true to name, nursery grown, unless
otherwise approved by the Township Arborist, and free of all injurious insect
pests, plant diseases or unhealed trunk or basal scars.
(3)
All trees or, at a minimum, representative samples of
all trees shall be subject to inspection at the planting site prior to planting
(it is recommended that representative samples of all trees be inspected,
rather than all trees, in the event that any or all trees are rejected). Plantings
will be approved or rejected for cause. All plantings shall conform to the
standards of the publication American Standard for Nursery Stock, ANSI Z60.1
- 1980 of the American Association of Nurserymen, as amended.
(4)
All plants must be dug with ball and burlap and shall
conform with the ball diameter to depth ratio standards of the publication
American Standard for Nursery Stock, ANSI Z60.1 - 1980, of the American Association
of Nurserymen, as amended, i.e., one foot of ball for each inch of trunk caliper
measured one foot above ground and shall be not less in depth than 2/3 of
the ball diameter. Wire baskets which may be used to transport trees shall
be removed prior to planting.
(5)
Trees should be planted in elliptical planting holes
rather than the traditional straight-sided holes (see Figure 1[1]). Holes should be dug at least two feet wider than the greatest
width of the tree ball for trees of less than five inches' caliper and
four feet wider for trees of greater than five inches' caliper. All trees
shall be planted at the same depth as the ball. The tree shall be set on firm
soil that has not been loosened or to which soil amendments have been added
(this is to prevent future settling of the tree to below the point that the
tree was originally grown naturally or in the nursery row). Check each tree
for the start of the flair or the root system and plant at that depth. Untie
the burlap on the ball and pull it down to the bottom of the ball. Plastic
burlap, if used, shall be removed. Use good quality topsoil in planting. Firm
up soil to ensure soil contact to root mass. Water the tree until the entire
root ball is wet. Thereafter, keep the root system moist but not wet. Injured,
diseased trees and trees with broken branches or double leaders should be
pruned. With trees with double leaders, remove either one of the double leaders
totally. Do not top the central leader. Stake the tree using flat strapping
or webbing instead of wire, making sure the tree can move at least one inch
in either direction. Double bracketing is best with a support on each side
of the tree. Examine ties during growing season since trees can be girdled
if they grow too quickly. Mulch saucer of tree but do not pile mulch on tree
trunk. Leave three inches of bare soil adjacent to trunk. Maintaining a permanently
mulched area around the tree promotes growth and helps prevent mowing injuries.
[1]
Editor's Note: Figure 1 is available for inspection in the township
offices.
(6)
Take customary precautions according to the standards
of the American Association of Nurserymen in preparing plants for digging,
moving, transplanting and planting.
B.
Specifications for shrubs. Plant material should be balled
and burlapped or container grown.
(1)
Spacing. Unless a hedge is desired, give shrubs room
to grow by providing proper spacing; place planting holes on centers that
approximate the height of the shrub at maturity. If set against a building,
shrubs should not touch walls or be planted in the building's dripline,
where plants can be damaged by excessive runoff and falling ice and snow.
Do not plant in areas that will have large piles of snow from plowing of parking
lots or roadways.
(2)
Planting.
(a)
Dig a separate hole for each shrub. Add organic materials
such as peat moss, leaf mold or compost to soil. Holes should be dug at least
eight inches wider than the shrub and the same depth as the ball (see Figure
2[2]). Plants must be taken out of containers and plastic burlap must
be removed. Natural fiber burlap may be left, but loosen the top and remove
from shrub's stem.
[2]
Editor's Note: Figure 2 is available for inspection in the Township
offices.
(b)
Set the shrub at the same level as grown at the nursery;
fill with mixture of soil and organic material until the hold is 2/3 full;
water. Build saucer around shrub and finish filling, tamping to ensure good
soil to root contact. Water and cover with mulch; do not pile mulch deeper
than three or four inches. Prune out any broken branches. Maintain a watering
schedule whenever rainfall is insufficient to keep the soil moist. A slow
release fertilizer should be added early in the spring of the second year.
(c)
Azaleas and rhododendrons and other ericaceous plants
must be planted in soil with a pH value of between 4.5 and 6.5. These plants
are fibrous rooted and grow within the upper 12 inches of soil. A mulch will
keep the topsoil cool and aid in their growth.
(d)
Mulch on all shrubs should be renewed yearly to keep
down weeds, conserve water and increase soil humus.
C.
Specifications for planting under wet and dry conditions
(recommended for use in and around stormwater management basins and related
facilities). In areas prone to flooding, a plan can be designed to create
an ecosystem capable of withstanding occasional flooding, be aesthetically
pleasing, biologically diverse and need limited maintenance. As each site
is unique, each site needs an original plan based on site conditions.
(1)
Wet meadows or basin floors.
(a)
Clump-forming grass species should be selected rather
than mat-forming grasses to allow space for wildflowers. Species used should
be native or naturalized species, where possible, with a mix of annual, biennial
and perennial and with a succession of blooming time.
(b)
Soil tests of basin floors in stormwater facilities,
including tests for organic content, should be undertaken and fertilizer added
only if necessary. Where fertilizer is used, a slow-release variety should
be used as seedlings are unable to absorb large amounts of nutrients and the
possibility of nutrient-rich runoff may occur.
(2)
Planting.
(a)
In stormwater management facility construction, simply
saving the topsoil of a biologically rich site, rather than burying it during
construction, would preserve many of the rhizomes and seeds of native grasses
and wildflowers.
(b)
Seeds pressed into the soil by drills or roller seeders
have better access to soil moisture. Drop or cyclone spreaders are effective,
as is hand sowing. Lightly rake over the area or use tine harrow to ensure
proper soil-seed contact.
(c)
Seed can also be hydroseeded onto slopes, hard to reach
or wet areas. For best results, do not mix the mulch in with the seed; spray
the mulch over the seed in a separate application.
(d)
Meadow species are mostly perennials and require several
years for good establishment.
(e)
Because most soil contains dormant seeds, it is not unusual
to see weeds the first year. These can be mowed if they are in such quantities
to cause a problem. Using a rotary mower is recommended as they mulch as they
cut.
(f)
The practice of allowing native species to mature before
they are moved allows many to reproduce and survive. After the second year,
one annual mowing either in late fall or early spring before April 1 will
maintain the meadow. Woody invaders must be eliminated from the site, either
by mowing or removal.