Tree Planting
The City of Lancaster offers an affordable Street Tree Planting Program to all residents and businesses. This program is great for filling empty tree wells, replacing stumps in a tree well, or adding a NEW tree well. All trees planted outside of this program require a permit from the City prior to planting. Refer to the Tree Permitting page for the forms required, the Tree Manual for planting standards, and refer to PPL for recommendations on planting near/under power lines.
Program Steps
For just the cost of the tree ($250) this program covers all steps, from site inspection to planting.
STEP 1
To begin the process, first download our ‘Siting Guidelines’ and measure to see if your tree planting spot meets our Right-of-Way requirements. Even an existing tree well may not meet current siting requirements! Download and fill out the Planting Release Form. Then email it to [email protected] or contact Rick Anderer, City Arborist, (717-291-4846) or Mike Meyer, Urban Forester, (717-517-0864) about setting up a site evaluation. Only the landowner can sign this form and the species choice must be approved by the City Arborist or Urban Forester.
STEP 2
Setup a site evaluation. We will inspect the proposed planting site and assess its suitability for planting, checking for any infrastructure like sewer, gas, or powerlines that may restrict tree plantings. Tree species recommendations will be made at this time from the City’s list of approved trees (see below). These include trees that CAN BE PLANTED UNDER POWER LINES.
STEP 3
Site Preparation: This includes griding/removing any pre-existing stumps or ripping out sidewalk to create a new Street Tree Well planting site. There is no additional charge.
STEP 4
Tree installation: The City will plant the tree, provide all of the necessary supplies for successful establishment, AND water it for the first year.
STEP 5
It’s now up to you to properly maintain your tree. In its first two years of life, it will require weekly watering; the Arborist will provide instructions on filling the watering bag. You should also remove litter from the tree bed and occasionally consult an arborist about pruning. Landowners are responsible for maintaining their street tree, including removal, trimming, and replacement.
Available Trees
Below is a list of trees that can be purchased through the City’s Street Tree Planting Program. With a Tree Work Permit a resident can choose to plant another tree as long as it is permitted by the City’s ordinance. For a complete list of permitted trees see the City’s Tree Manual.
LARGE TREES
Good for sites WITHOUT overhead power lines, constrictive sidewalks, and nearby underground utilities.
Native Recommended:
- Kentucky Coffee Tree (male) Gymnocladus dioicus
- London Plane Tree Platanus x acerifolia
- Shumard Oak Quercus shumardii
- Swamp White Oak Quercus bicolor
- Bald Cypress Taxodium distichum
- Lacebark Elm Ulmus parviflora
- Morton Elm Ulmus japonica x Ulmus wilsoniana
- Prairie Pride Hackberry Celtis occidentalis
- Tulip Tree Liriodendron tulipifera
- Cucumbertree Magnolia Magnolia acuminate
- Willow Oak Quercus phellos
- American Linden (Basswood) Tilia americana
- Small-leaved Linden Tilia cordata
- Sterling Silver Linden Tilia tomentosa
- Sweetbay magnolia Magnolia virginiana
- Umbrella magnolia Magnolia tripetala
- Pignut Hickory Carya glabra
Non-Native, Non-Invasive Recommended:
- Princeton Sentry Ginkgo (male) Ginkgo biloba
- Autumn Gold Ginkgo (male) Ginkgo biloba
- Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides
- Green Vase Zelkova Zelkova serrata
- Sawtooth Oak Quercus acutissima
Limited Plantings: These trees require special conditions or have planting concerns; contact [email protected] for more information on planting these trees.
- American Chestnut Castanea dentata
- Maple trees (all species)
- Shagbark Hickory Carya ovata
- Red Hickory Carya ovalis
- Bitternut Hickory Carya cordiformis
- Shellbark Hickory Carya laciniosa
- Mockernut Hickory Carya tomentosa
- Pecan Carya illinoinensis
- Red Oak Quercus rubra
- Pin Oak Quercus palustris
- Hill’s Oak Quercus ellipsoidalis
MEDIUM TREES
In areas where overhead communication and secondary utility lines are present, medium-sized trees may be more suitable.
Native Recommended:
- Shademaster Honey Locust Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis
- Skyline Honey Locust Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis
- Black Gum Nyssa sylvatica
- American Hophornbeam/Ironwood Ostrya virginiana
- Muhlenberg Oak Quercus muehlenbergii
- American Hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana
- Yellowwood Cladastris kentuckea
- Sweet Birch Betula lenta
- Paper Birch Betula papyrifera
- River Birch Betula nigra
- Black Birch Betula lenta
Non-Native, Non-Invasive Recommended:
- Fort McNair Red Horsechestnut Aesculus x carnea
- Fastigate European Hornbeam Carpinus betulus
- Katsura Tree Cercidiphyllum japonicum
- Hardy Rubber Tree Eucommia ulmoides
Limited Plantings: These trees require special conditions or have planting concerns; contact [email protected] for more information on planting these trees. *= Non-Native
- Hedge Maple* Acer campestre
- Belle Tower Sugar Maple Acer saccharum
SMALL TREES
Wherever there may be primary power lines present, or extremely limited site space, small trees are most appropriate.
Native Recommended:
- Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis
- Western Redbud Cercis occidentalis
- Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida
- Constellation Dogwood Cornus florida x Cornus kousa
- Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn Cratageus crusgalli var. inermis
- Ohio Pioneer Hawthorn Cratageus crusgalli var. inermis
- Alternate-leaved/Pagoda Dogwood Cornus alternifolia
- Allegheny Serviceberry Amelanchier laevis
- Apple Serviceberry Amelanchier × grandiflora
- Downy Serviceberry Amelanchier arborea
- Canada Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis
- Gray Birch Betula populifolia
Non-Native, Non-Invasive Recommended:
- Centurion Crabapple Malus x zumi x Almey
- Columnar Sargent Cherry Prunus sargentii
- Okame Flowering Cherry Prunus campanulata x Prunus incisa
- Autumnalis Flowering Cherry Prunus subhirtella
- Ivory Silk Tree Lilac Syringa reticulate
- Paperbark Maple Acer griseum
- Yoshino Cherry Prunus × yedoensis
- Cornelian-Cherry Dogwood Cornus mas
- Kousa Dogwood Cornus kousa
Limited Plantings: These trees require special conditions or have planting concerns; contact [email protected] for more information on planting these trees. *= Non-Native
- Persian Ironwood* Parrotia persica
- Rough-leaved Dogwood Cornus drummondii
