32 CityTREES
sprouts, and minor corrective or training prun-
ing. Only 21% of trees are identified as needing
more than the basic level of training prun-
ing to produce a structurally sound tree. The
final 6% of trees were considered cull trees,
and training pruning would not be enough to
ensure the structural quality of the tree that
is conducive to the safety of residents, pedes-
trians, and roadway users. Most of these cull
trees are already identified for removal in the
2016 tree inventory, showcasing the ability of
the City of Des Moines to successfully recog-
nize and manage roadway safety concerns.
The sample analyzed here is evidence that the
current condition of young trees in Des Moines is
on track to foster a healthy mature canopy. The
2016 tree inventory provides City managers with
details for future maintenance needs that were
consistent with those found in this analysis—fur-
ther evidence that the City has a firm handle on
current and future needs of their urban forest.
With success in managing a structurally sound
system, trees will be safer and more productive
in the future. This only becomes more critical
as trees grow in their size and potential for
environmental, social, and economic benefits
as well as in their potential for safety risks.
research
acumen
ROOT AND SOIL
MANAGEMENT TOOLS
ROOTS
AND SOIL
ROOTS
AND SOIL
ROOTS AND
SOIL
URBAN
FORESTRY
EXPERTISE
URBAN FORESTRY
EXPERTISE
URBAN FORESTRY EXPERTISE
SCIENTIFIC
DISCOVERY
INTELLIGENCE
SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY
INTELLIGENCE
DISSEMINATION
OF NEW
KNOWLEDGE
PROPAGATION,
PLANTING AND
ESTABLISHMENT
KNOW-HOW
URBAN TREE
CARE ISSUE
INSIGHTS
science-based data
science-based data
technology
transfer
wisdom
technology transfer wisdom
planting process
best-practices
ARBORICULTURE
EDUCATION
ROOTS
AND SOIL
THANK YOU TO OUR
CROWN AND DIAMOND PARTNERS:
Visit treefund.org/partners to see all of our Partners
What does
ONE FREE
CEU
credit
really get you?
Knowledge gained from TREE Fund
webinars directly impacts tree care
practices, arborists' techniques
and people's lives every day. Get
research-driven insight direct from
industry-renowned scientists while
gaining CEU credit from ISA, SAF,
or NALP.
FOR A LIST OF WEBINAR SPEAKERS
AND DATES, VISIT:
treefund.org/webinars
Maggie Harthoorn works as the Urban Forest
Coordinator for Friends of Grand Rapids Parks.
