This Master Tree Plan for the City of Southside Place, Texas, dated May 1993, has been created in connection with Chapter 19 (Tree Preservation and Enhancement) of the City of Southside Place Code of Ordinances. The following provisions of this Master Tree Plan provide guidelines for planting and maintaining trees in the City of Southside Place.

Purpose

The purpose of this Master Tree Plan (this Plan) is to establish guidelines for planting and maintaining trees, which enhance the aesthetic qualities of the city, provide shade, and increase and protect property values. This Plan provides a list of approved trees, sets guidelines for optimum tree size and spacing, defines certain trees as protected trees, and offers suggestions for maintenance.

Scope

This Plan is principally targeted to address existing and future trees located on the property owned by the city lying between a lot owner's property line and the curb of the street. These trees are typically referred to as street trees.

List of Approved Trees

The following list of approved trees provides a broad selection, promotes the use of hardy, native, and attractive trees, and represents a healthy biological mix. The list, developed by an urban forester, represents a preference for trees that are native to this area, fast-growing, hardy, pollution-tolerant, possess a single trunk, and display an appealing open-grown habit. Many of these approved trees provide fall color.

American elm - 40-80 feet. Fast-growing, long-lived, prolific seeder, small seeds. Aggressive root system, so preferable to avoid locating next to sewer line. Subject to Dutch elm disease, but such disease is generally not a problem in Texas.
American sycamore - 80-150 feet. Fast-growing, tall. Bark on younger stems peels in sheets, giving a unique appearance that some people find very attractive. Grows to be the largest-diameter tree in North America.
Bald cypress - 100-130 feet. Fast-growing. Texas' only deciduous conifer; needles turn red-orange or brown with early freeze. Tall, thin, conical crown. Attractive bark; needles have feathery appearance. Flood-tolerant, but may send up knobby roots (called pneumatophores) if planted in area that routinely holds standing water. These roots can cause lawn mower damage.
Bitternut hickory - 70-100 feet. Fast-growing, long-lived. Root system similar to that of a pecan tree. Oil extracted from nuts was thought by early pioneers to cure rheumatism.
Cedar elm - 50-90 feet. Relatively fast-growing, tough, disease-resistant. Smaller leaves, more compact crown than American elm, fewer seeds.
Cherrybark oak - 100-130 feet. Hardy, fast-growing. Suitable on a range of sites; likes clay soils. Leaves shaped like little pagodas. Very dark, tight bark.
Green ash - 40-50 feet. Fast-growing in good sun. Can handle clay soils, wet conditions. Popular as a shade tree because of its good form, wide adaptability, and disease resistance.
Laurel oak - 50-80 feet. Fast-growing, attractive leaves, good shade. Should do well in Southside Place.
Live oak - 40-50 feet. Spreading crown, reasonably fast-growing. You know all about this one if you've seen Rice University.
Loblolly pine - 60-100 feet. Fast-growing. Said to prefer sandy, well-drained soils, but seems to do well in Southside Place.
Longleaf pine - 80-100 feet. Odd growth pattern. Remains in "grass" stage for as many as seven years while building reserves and putting down prodigious tap root. Then the tree will "bolt," growing six to eight feet in one year. Beautiful tree, attractive branching pattern, largest cone of eastern pines.
Nuttall oak - 100-120 feet. Fast-growing, likes clay soils, tolerates standing water. Mature tree has tall canopy.
Overcup oak - 60-90 feet. Average growth speed, but can live up to 400 years. Broad, wide-spreading, open crown; produces large acorns popular with squirrels. Can tolerate poor drainage.
Pecan - to 150 feet. Tall, fast-growing, good shade. Some people like the pecans. Subject to tent caterpillars. Messy, drops lots of litter.
Red maple - 60-90 feet. Fast-growing, excellent fall color. Showy red flowers in spring, red samaras (seeds) in fall. Perhaps shorter-lived than some other species (mature on 50 years, but may live to 150 years).
Shumard oak - 80-120 feet. Good fall color. Moderately fast-growing. Lots of new ones currently planted as street trees in Southside Place. Attractive lobed leaves.
Southern red oak - 70-90 feet. Moderately fast-growing, good form, can have good fall color. Should do well in Southside Place.
Sweetgum - to 150 feet. Fast-growing, long-lived, excellent fall color. Many people dislike the spiky gum balls (not recommended for people who like to go barefoot in the yard in the fall), but children love to throw them. Wonderful color, attractive leaves. Not drought-tolerant, needs ample water.
Water oak - 90-115 feet. Fast-growing, long-lived, hardy. Good shade, large crown. Does exceedingly well in this area. Disease-resistant.
White ash - 40-80 feet. Fast-growing, compact crown. Similar to green ash. Leaves were thought by early settlers to repel rattlesnakes.
Willow oak - 50-60 feet. Reasonably fast-growing, good shade, tough, disease-resistant. Does well in this area.

Size of New Trees

The recommended size for a new tree ranges from five-gallon to 30-gallon, as these terms are typically applied in the nursery industry. Trees larger than 30-gallon are less likely to survive transplanting and require more resources to establish.

Spacing of Trees

Recommended spacing for most of the trees on the above list is one tree per 35-50 linear feet, depending on size at maturity and proximity to other existing trees.

Protected Trees

Any tree with a diameter equal to or greater than 40 centimeters (16 inches), possessing a healthy crown, relatively free of disease, and not missing more than 30 percent of typical open-grown condition is considered a protected asset of Southside Place.

Tree Maintenance Recommendations

All trees benefit from watering during dry periods and occasional feeding. Evergreen trees may require periodic soil acidification. A nursery can recommend appropriate products. Tree trunks should be protected from lawn maintenance equipment, such as lawn mowers and weeding/edging devices. Dead or diseased branches should be removed quickly. Minor pruning may be undertaken by the lot owner; extensive pruning requires an expert. Tree wound paint may be used following pruning; the paint excludes water, fungi, and other pathogens, and promotes healing.

Periodic Review

At least once every five years the City Council of Southside Place shall cause the Tree Review Committee to review this Plan for the purpose of determining whether the list of approved trees should be expanded or certain trees deleted therefrom and whether additional changes or supplemental provisions to this Plan are needed or desired, with the intent that this Plan provide flexibility and serve the needs of the Southside Place community in the context of a consistent, long-term plan for the preservation and enhancement of trees in Southside Place.