May 2007 - Volume 68, Issue 5
Search Conmag
In this issue
NextGEN Departments
Tree Killers in Our Yards
Lawn mowers and string trimmers can damage the bark of trees.
Would you let someone come in to your yard with a chain saw and cut down all your trees? Would you do it yourself? How about the trees in your city park?
Trees provide many benefits, including increased real estate values, reduced heating and cooling bills, reduced storm water flows, shady places to play and park and noise buffering. They are usually considered assets around homes and cities. Yet, many people are gradually killing their trees with their lawn care equipment.
Recently, an acquaintance of mine stopped me in the grocery store. She knew I was the urban forester for her region, and she wanted me to contact a local city government about some lawn maintenance contractors who were hitting “her” tree—one which had been planted in her honor at a nearby city park.
She knows what many people do not know: that trees can be seriously injured or killed when they are repeatedly hit with lawn mowers and string trimmers. I see this all the time in yards, city parks, commercial developments and other places that have trees and lawn.
About This Article
Author
HELENE MILLER has worked for the Department
for nearly 30 years. She has worked in Kansas
City as an urban forester for the past 10 years,
advising city governments, volunteer groups
and homeowners on tree-related issues. She
has also worked in Kirksville, Springfield, Rolla
and New Madrid. She can be found kayaking
and bicycling when not at work.
