82 Appleton: Designing and Implementing Utility Line Arboreta Table 1. Steps, components, estimated basic costs, and potential funding sources for development of utility line arboreta. Steps and components Obtain a site where planting, maintenance, and pruning for height restriction are under your control, if possible (many street tree situations mean someone else controls tree maintenance, which may be counter to your objectives). Possible locations: city and county parks, school and university grounds, botanical gardens and arboreta, community centers, etc. A utility line arboretum can also be developed along a street, but be aware of energized overhead utility lines that may limit your activities. Install one or more spans of lines. Lay out planting design. Leave 6.1 to 7.6 m (20 to 25 ft) between each tree. Prepare planting sites either as individual planting holes or entire planting rows. Purchase trees, 1.2 to 2.4 m (4 to 8 ft) if available. Work with local nurseries to obtain acclimated trees. Install trees. Mulch trees. Install informational signage (project name, cooperators, funding sources, etc.). Tag individual trees with common and Latin names. Seek funds for tree maintenance, removal, and replacement. problems, growth rate) have been removed. As of August 2005, there were 170 trees and shrub species and cultivars planted in the HRAREC Utility Line Arboretum. An addi- tional 45 species and cultivars are being grown to planting size at the HRAREC container nursery facility. Each arbore- tum plant is labeled with a sign bearing both Latin and com- mon names, and a sign listing all plants in the row was placed at the start of each row. A large sign in the middle of the arboretum bears both the arboretum’s name and a list of all financial supporters. Funding for plant purchases and maintenance for the HRAREC Utility Line Arboretum has thus far been provided by the Virginia Agricultural Council, the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association, and the Virginia Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Grant program. Similar pos- sible funding sources exist in most states. J. Frank Schmidt & Sons Company Nursery continues to donate any trees re- quested if shipping costs are paid. Such tree donations can serve as a match for grants that require monetary or in-kind matches. In 2004, a utility line arboretum similar in design to the HRAREC Utility Line Arboretum was started in Veteran’s ©2006 International Society of Arboriculture Estimated basic costs and potential funding sources or sponsors $0, or fill in your cost if land must be purchased, leased, etc. $0. Work with your local utility so that it provides this free or as a grant match. $Minimal (tape measure, flags). $0 for soil preparation. Work with site owner or sponsor for donated preparation. $50–$100 for herbicide (and sprayer) to kill existing vegetation. Largest overall cost of project; average of $50–$100 per tree (wholesale). Consult the directory or website of your state nursery association for in-state availability. Ask for donations as a grant match. $0. Use city employees and equipment, or students, Master Gardeners, or other volunteers. $0. Recycle line-clearance chips or similar material. Ask commercial tree removal and line-clearance companies to dump on site. $0–$300. Ask for a donation from your city park department, a local technical school, etc. $1 to $5 per tree, depending on tagging method. See suggested sources in text. Park in Abingdon, Virginia (USDA Hardiness Zone 6b), and another one is currently (2005) under development on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia (USDA Har- diness Zone 6a). In the future the two Virginia Tech utility line arboreta will become not only single tree demonstration sites but also, similar to the tree selection research program in Pennsylvania (Gerhold 1985), sites for replicated species plantings to obtain more accurate information about tree adaptability in multiple Virginia climatic zones. The HRAREC Utility Line Arboretum is a good model to follow in areas where no overhead utility lines already exist, or where uncharged lines are desired so that pruning and other demonstrations or activities can be safely conducted. It was decided, however, that other types of utility line arboreta were needed, and to date two additional models have been developed. One involves using existing charged overhead distribution lines along frequently traveled streets. Existing trees that have overgrown the lines and require frequent line- clearance pruning, or that have been determined to be hazard trees, are removed and replaced with trees compatible with overhead utility lines. The first utility line arboretum of this type was started in 2002 in Abingdon, Virginia (USDA Har-
March 2006
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