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street tree regulations

Since two people have written me privately so far to urge me to call the
city of Oakland to find out what restrictions there are for planting my
sidewalk strip, I thought I would post my answer.  Normally I would have
mentioned this but I dealt with it so long ago and I just posted on this
topic to rec.gardens, so it slipped my mind.

Shortly after I moved in to my house last June I called the city office
responsible for sidewalk strips and they said I can plant anything I want,
no restrictions.  But I am responsible for any damage to the sidewalk, etc.
I was surprised but that's their policy...anything I want to put there is
fine.   If I want the city to plant the trees for me, I can go on a (year
or so long) waiting list and then I'll be given a choice of 2 trees and the
city will take responsibility for damage.

Of course I have to research the trees I want very very througholy.  I've
been reading everything I can get my hands on.  Almost no sources tell you
if a tree is appropriate in a sidewalk strip.  Even the Sunset listing
tells you about good patio plants only so they have some that can't take
the additional root restriction of a sidewalk strip and take out some that
have say more leaf drop than you'd want on a patio but okay for the
sidewalk strip.  The only trees I am sure will be okay as a street tree are
almonds and (fruitless) olives.

As someone wrote me, line of sight is an important consideration which is
why I want trees, not hedges so people will see us in the driveway (the
line of sight is clear everywhere else so it will be fine when the trees
are young).  I'm on a straight flat street that's fairly low traffic.
Across the street and one house over is the rear exit for a school so I
will be careful not to plant anything that will comprimise the safety of
the grade schoolers or their rides.

This is why I posted.  Several of the trees I want to plant aren't popular
enough as ornementals for me to figure out issues like watering and roots.
I was hoping others would know the answers.  After months of scouring the
library and the net, I am at the point where I need to make decisions and
get the info I'm lacking.

Then of course I have to *find* the trees I decide upon.  I still can't
find a nursery within 30 miles that carries Almonds.  I think there's one
up near Fairfield though.

Thanks again,
Cyndi

_______________________________________________________________________________
Oakland, California            Zone 9 USDA; Zone 16 Sunset Western Garden Guide
Disabled, chemically sensitive, wheelchair user          Organic Gardening only
_______________________________________________________________________________
"There's nothing wrong with me.  Maybe there's                     Cyndi Norman
something wrong with the universe." (ST:TNG)                   cnorman@best.com
__________________________________________________ http://www.best.com/~cnorman
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