Spring has sprung and we’ve got everything you need to know about maintaining, removing, replacing and planting trees in Lowry. Lowry homeowners are required to prune their trees regularly, especially the trees in the tree lawn, to promote an attractive and shady street and sidewalk canopy, and to replace dead trees in their yards and tree lawns. Did you know that there are species of trees that the City of Denver doesn’t allow to be planted? It’s that time of year for tree pruning / replacement letters to go out to homeowners, so read on for instructions…
General Tree Information
Removing, planting or replacing any tree on your property (front, side or back yards) or in your tree lawn normally requires the submission of a Design Review Request. To streamline the tree replacement process, the LCMA’s Buildings and Grounds Committee has suspended this requirement for the summer for tree replacements (same location) with an approved species (see list below) if an email is sent to mary.carr.lowry@gmail.com notifying the LCMA of the replacement.
All new trees shall be a minimum of 2.5 inch caliper at the time of installation; evergreen trees, which are permitted in yards, but not in the tree lawn, should be a minimum of six (6) feet tall. Trees shall not be planted within a utility easement.
The following tree species are prohibited in the Lowry Community and by the city of Denver in tree lawns OR private yards:
- Any species of poplar (Populus) (exception: Aspens are permitted)
- Any species of willow (Salix)
- Box Elder (Acer Negundo)
- Siberian Elm (Ulmus Pumila)
- Silver Maple (Acer Saccharinum)
- Freeman Maple (Acer X Freemanni)
- Ash (Fraxinus)
- Walnut (Juglans)
- Sunburst Honeylocust (Gleditsia Triicanthos Inermis)
- Bradford Pear (Pyrus Calleryana ‘Bradford’)
- Mulberry (Morus)
- Russian Olive (Elaeagnus Angustifolia)
- Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus Altissima)
Tree Maintenance
Trees must be maintained and regularly pruned so as not to obstruct pedestrian traffic, sidewalks, alleys or the street. The city of Denver requires tree lawn canopies to be at least 8’ in height when branches extend over streets, sidewalks or alleys.
Generally, deciduous trees need pruning every three to four years. Regular pruning helps create a beautiful street canopy throughout Lowry and keeps trees healthy. Trees should also be sprayed for infestation of boring insects or the like if necessary.
You can get more information about trees and tree care by contacting a certified arborist, your local nursery or the following websites:
- www.ext.colostate.edu
- www.cmg.colostate.edu
- www.extension.org/ask
- www.planttalk.org
- www.saver.denverwater.org
- www.arapahoeextension.org
- www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/treereclist.pdf
- www.csfs.colostate.edu/pdfs/trees_for_frontrange.pdf
Trees in the Tree Lawn
The tree lawn is the area between the sidewalk and the street, usually landscaped with grass. Although the city of Denver owns most of Lowry’s tree lawns, they are the responsibility of the adjacent property owner to maintain. There are also special rules related to tree lawn trees, including what kind of tree you can plant there. Please make sure that your tree lawn trees are pruned to promote an attractive shade canopy AND that they are pruned so that there is eight feet of clearance from the sidewalk and street. Both the LCMA and the City of Denver Forestry Division inspect area tree lawn trees to make sure they are being maintained properly.
Removing, planting or replacing a tree in the tree lawn (area between the sidewalk and the street) requires the advance approval of the City of Denver Forester who can be reached at (720) 913-0651 or forestry@denvergov.org. Planting a tree in the tree lawn also usually requires utility locates which can be requested by calling the City of Denver at 311. Tree lawn trees that have died must be replaced as soon as the weather permits replanting. Generally, the removal of healthy tree lawn trees is prohibited by the City of Denver Forester.
In the tree lawn, there must be thirty-five feet between trees and trees must be thirty feet from the curb at intersections, ten feet from alleys, driveways and fire hydrants and five feet from water meters and pits. The city of Denver does not permit conifer species (e.g., spruce, pines, juniper, redcedar, fir) to be planted in the tree lawn.
The following are acceptable species of trees for planting in tree lawns:
Oak
- Chinkapin Oak
- Swamp White Oak
- English Oak
- Burr Oak
- Shumard Oak
- Texas Red Oak
- English Oak
- Shingle Oak
- Crimson Spire Oak
- White Oak
Maple
- Sugar Maple
- Autumn Blaze Maple
- Tartarian ‘Hotwings’ Maple
- Sycamore Maple
- Black Maple
- Red Maple
- Trident Maple
- Pacific Sunset Maple
- Miyabe Maple
- Rocky Mountain Maple
- Hedge Maple
- Bigtooth Maple
- Shangtung Maple
Linden
- American Linden
- Lincoln Linden
- Redmond Linden
- Shamrock Linden
- Chancellor Linden
- Corinthian Linden
- Littleleaf Linden
- Summer Sprite Linden
- Mongolian Linden
- Silver Linden
Elm
- American Elm
- Japanese Elm
- Allee Lacebark Elm
- Prospector Elm
- Elm hybrids (i.e., Accolade, Cathedral, Danada Charm, Frontier, Homestead, New Horizon, Patriot, Pioneer, Regal, Triumph, Vanguard)
Honeylocust
- Skyline Honeylocust
- Imperial Honeylocust
- Shademaster Honeylocust
Cherry/Pear:
- Sargent Cherry
- Black Cherry
- Callery Pear
- Chanticleer Pear
Other Tree Species:
- American Sycamore
- Western Hackberry
- Goldenraintree
- Amur Corktree
- Kentucky Coffeetree
- Northern Catalpa