Description of requirements for this commission

Any questions about Township Shade Trees please contact the Lower Merion Township Arborist at 610-726-7141

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The Lower Merion Shade Tree Commission is composed of residents of the Township who are appointed by the Board of Commissioners and the Township Arborist. The Commission meets once a month in the Lower Merion Township Building. The meetings are open to the public. The dates and times of the Shade Tree Commission meetings are posted on the Township website.

Our logo, representing the joyful connection between people and trees, was created from a wood cut designed by Lower Merion High School art student Joanna Odorisio, and was chosen through a competitive selection process to celebrate Arbor Day 2012. The Lower Merion Shade Tree Commission hopes the use of this logo throughout our website will inspire people to know their trees, understand their value, and strive to protect our community forest.

Benefits of Trees

Trees have a positive effect on many aspects of people’s lives, including their health, homes, drinking water and air quality.  Trees help to improve air quality and provide oxygen which contributes to our overall health.  Trees have been documented to help clean our drinking water, provide cooling benefits, and help reduce the effects of climate change.  Furthermore, trees benefits include helping to save on energy costs and increase property values all while benefitting our neighborhood wildlife.

Source:  Tree Facts prepared by The Arbor Day Foundation and listed at arborday.org

Township Recommended List of Trees

A list of recommended tree species for Lower Merion Township can be found within Chapter A177 of the Township Ordinances lined here: Chapter A177 Planting Materials and Specifications

Management of Trees in Lower Merion Township

Chapter 128 of the Lower Merion Township Code establishes the Shade Tree Commission.  The powers of the Shade Tree Commission are defined in Chapter 128 as having "custody and control of all shade trees on Township property and is authorized to plant, remove, maintain and protect all shade trees on public streets and highways in accordance with the published rules and regulations of the Township."  

As outlined in Chapter 128, any property owner who wishes to have a shade tree in the Township right of way planted, pruned, sprayed, or removed shall submit a written request to the Director of Public Works.  Typically, as a first step, a property owner should reach out to the Township Arborist to discuss the tree or desired planting location in question.  In most cases, the Township Arborist will make a site visit and advise the property owner accordingly.  If the inquiry involves an existing Township shade tree, the Township Arborist will assess the tree, and communicate if there will be Township action moving forward.  If the Township Arborist determines that the tree does not require maintenance or removal, the property owner is prohibited from pruning or removing the tree.  If a property owner moves forward with unauthorized work on a Township shade tree without permission from the Director of Public Works or his designee, the property owner shall be liable to a fine or penalty not exceeding the legal limits for each offense.  The Township Arborist can be reached at 610-726-7141.

If the Shade Tree Commission determines that a tree in the public right-of-way should be pruned or removed and the Township is not in a position to perform the work, the owner, with the permission of the Township Arborist may engage a private contractor to perform the work. It is strongly recommended that the resident hire a Certified Arborist to perform all work on Township trees. Before proceeding, the contractor shall contact the Public Works Department to determine applicable permits required. 

If a Township tree is damaged or is believed to be a hazard, residents should immediately call the Department of Public Works, Shade Tree Division, at 610-726-7141 for assistance.

For further information regarding the planting, maintenance, and removal of Township shade trees, please refer to Chapter 128 of the Code of the Township of Lower Merion.

Alerts

Destructive Insect Alert 

Emerald Ash Borer

• Since 2002, the Emerald Ash Borer has killed millions of American Ash trees in the Upper Midwest and Northeast. Adult beetles leave distinctive D-shaped exit holes in the outer bark of branches and the trunk. Adults are roughly 3/8 to 5/8 inch long with metallic green wing covers and a coppery red or purple abdomen. They may be present from late May through early September but are most common in June and July. Once trees are infested with the beetles, symptoms of the disease will appear in 2-3 years and the trees will die within 4-6 years.

  Various chemical treatments have been developed to combat the Emerald Ash Borer. Lower Merion residents who have Ash trees on their property should contact an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist to determine if their trees should be treated and the method of treatment that will be the most effective.

Spotted Lanternfly

• The spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive insect from Southeast Asia. It was first found in the United States in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014. Since then, the population has exploded and SLF are now found throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania.
  
  SLF nymphs emerge in May and adults appear in July and are active until the first hard frost. The SLF is not a fly but is a planthopper with piercing-sucking mouthparts that enable it to feed on the sap of plants. The nymphs of SLF feed on about 70 species of tree as well as many other shrubs and perennial plants, though they strongly prefer Ailanthus trees.  Ailanthus is an invasive tree species from Asia and is also known as tree-of-heaven.
  
  Feeding damage can stress plants which can lead to decreased health, though tree mortality has mostly been restricted to Ailanthus. As SLF feed, they suck large quantities of sap out of the plant, filter out the needed nitrogen and proteins, and excrete excess levels of sugars and water as waste products (much like aphids, scales, and other sucking insects). This excrement, called honeydew, accumulates around areas where SLF are feeding.  As the honeydew builds up, it is often colonized by sooty mold fungi. Sooty mold doesn’t directly harm plants or the surfaces it grows on, but it does act as a barrier on the leaf to block photosynthesis. Under high numbers of SLF, understory plants may die back because of sooty mold buildup.  SLF do not bite or sting, but the honey dew they excrete can attract stinging insects.
  
  SLF treatment is difficult and there are no large-scale effective treatments.  Currently Lower Merion has no plan to treat for SLF, except for removing Ailanthus trees from some parks.  Because SLF feed on so many species, treatment of all affected species is not feasible.  Lower Merion residents who believes they have detected spotted lanternfly on their property should contact an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist to determine if their trees should be treated and the method of treatment that will be the most effective.

Resources

• Go for the Green Awards Program
• Tree Planting and Care
• Local Arboretums to Visit
• Philly Tree Map
• Shade Tree Commission Annual Reports