Township of Lower Merion, PA Chapter A177 Planting Materials and Specifications

[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.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Natural features conservation — See Ch. 101.

Stormwater management and erosion control — See Ch. 121.

Shade trees — See Ch. 128.

§ A177-1 Recommended trees and shrubs.

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:

(1) Nursery Sources - Native Plants and Wildflowers, published by the New England Wildflower Society, Inc., Garden in the Woods, Hemenway Road, Framingham MA 01701; and

(2) The American Association of Nurserymen Plant Locator Guide.

§ A177-2 Planting specifications.

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.