Replacement of Trees Under Utility Wires Impacts Attitudes and Community Tree Programs

Abstract

Opinions of people in 54 Pennsylvania municipalities who received trees through the Municipal Tree Restoration Program (MTRP) were surveyed, and progress in their tree programs also was evaluated. All municipal tree program components, such as ordinances, tree commissions, inventories, and management plans, were stimulated by the MTRP to varying extents in one or more ways in 91% of the municipalities. Responses from residents showed high approval for removal of large trees that interfered with utility wires, though some did miss them, and for replacement with smaller-growing cultivars of Amelanchier, Crataegus, Malm, Pyrus, and Syringa. Responses across all genera indicated that 82% liked the planted trees, 77% thought they improved the neighborhood, and 69% favored removal of the large trees when they were replaced by smaller trees. Only 8% greatly regretted the removals and 3% offered negative comments about the removal of large trees or replacement with smaller species. Comments about likes and dislikes were mainly about tree characteristics and varied among genera. The most common complaints were about messy fruit, and the best-liked qualities were flowers and other aesthetic traits. There was little variation in attitudes among communities, three of which differed from the others in their opinions about Malus cultivars, which seemed to relate mainly to the nature of the trees and their fruit.