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Property Owner's Guide to Trees

Property Owner's Guide to Trees

Removing grass and plants from around the trunks of trees and applying a 3-inch layer of mulch protects trees from injury by lawn mowing equipment. Adjust sprinklers so that they do not spray the trunks of trees.

The trees that line the streets of Beverly Hills are an important environmental, aesthetic and valuable asset to our community. Without our street trees, our City would just not be Beverly Hills, "The Garden City". While the City tends to the pruning of street trees, we depend on the partnership of residents and business owners to help with the health and beauty of trees in the parkways. We hope that you will take a couple of minutes to share the information below with your gardener so that we can protect and preserve our street tree resource.

  • Do not allow mowing equipment or string trimmers to damage trees. The conductive system of a tree is located just below the bark. When tree trunks are damaged, the ability of the tree to move water, nutrients and starch becomes limited. Trees with wounded trunks often experience limb die-back or whole tree decline. Wounds are often infected by tree diseases. Use care when working near trees.
  • Keep the area around tree trunks mulched. There should never be grass or flowers planted around the trunk of a tree. Planting flowers or other plants near the trunk of a tree encourages root wounding. Wounded roots are prime entry sites for tree diseases. A wood chip or bark mulch around trees protects trees while providing a nice aesthetic touch.
  • Provide a good environment for tree roots to grow. Trees growing in grass lawns are competing with the grass for water and nutrients. When trees receive water only from the sprinkler system that waters grass, the trees are prone to developing surface roots that can become a problem for sidewalks and driveways. Shallow rooted trees are less tolerant to drought. Trees need deep watering. Let the hose drip around your trees once a week during the heat of summer, once a month during the winter months. Adjust your sprinklers so that they do not spray and erode the bark of trees.
  • Aerate the lawn around trees two times per year. Grass growing under the canopy of a tree can limit the amount of oxygen available to the roots of the tree. Tree roots need air to absorb water and nutrients. Aerating your lawn is good for the grass and provides oxygen for tree roots. Use care when working near surface roots with an aerator. After aerating, top-dress the lawn with a ¼" layer of fine textured organic mulch. This topdressing will promote the healthy soil micro-flora that trees depend on to absorb water and nutrients and to fend off diseases and stress.

Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in caring for the street trees that make up our urban forest. If you have any questions about trees, need information about protecting trees during construction, or need to report a tree problem, contact Public Works at (310) 285-2467.

 

  • City of Beverly Hills Shield
  • City of Beverly Hills
  • 455 North Rexford Dr
    Beverly Hills, CA 90210
  •  
  • (310) 285-1000
  • Monday-Thursday 7:30AM-5:30PM
  • Friday 8:00AM-5:00PM

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