www.urban-forestry.com 29
A Missoula, Montana neighborhood just after a major wind-
storm of 70 mph (113 kph) wind gusts knocked over several
spruce and pine trees into utility lines and across the road.
Photo by Jamie Kirby
Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) in Kalispell, Montana.
Photo by Fred Bicha
Some Positives
• Serve as a windbreak
• Provide color during a brown-and-white winter
• Add different textures to the landscape
• Require less pruning
• Are high performers in terms of environmental
and economic benefits
• Offer pleasant aromas
Some Negatives
• Are often forgotten about on the urban fringe
• May have shallow roots (as with spruces)
• Do not allow for wind to pass through / more sub-
ject to snow loads
• Have needles year-round, making visual inspection
somewhat problematic
• On boulevards can create vision issues
• In parks can be a nuisance for public safety
• Tend to need more insect and disease treatment /
not always as resilient in harsh urban environments
• Icy conditions are heightened in areas shaded by
conifers
Evergreens: A Blessing and a Challenge
With Kalispell, Montana Parks Superintendent Fred Bicha
