Liberty Street Trees
Liberty’s Tree lists
Planting Guidelines
Printable version of “A Citizen’s Guide to Street Trees”
Healthy Trees
Healthy trees are a valuable asset to any community. Trees naturally enhance the aesthetics of an area while purifying the air, providing relief from the hot summer sun, and blocking the cold winter wind.
Please help Liberty take full advantage of the many benefits trees can provide to this community. Proper planting, pruning and watering techniques can go a long way in improving and maintaining the health and longevity of our trees. Treating or removing failing trees will make neighborhoods safer and more beautiful.
Plant it Properly
In general, trees should be planted in a shallow sloping hole and at a depth where the root flare is just above soil line in a hole that is 2 to 3 times the root ball diameter. Backfill with the existing native soil without amendments tamping progressively. All strings, burlap and metal cages should be removed while keeping the root ball intact. Water well and spread four inches of mulch keeping it away from the trunk. Staking, which is optional, should use stakes with flexible ties on the lower of the trunk which allows movement. Visit standard tree planting detail for additional information on how to plant a tree properly.
When it comes to street trees, or those trees planted between the street curb and the sidewalk, we hope you will help plant a diverse variety of trees. We hope this information will serve as a guide in selecting the Right Tree for the Right Place.
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Liberty first became a Tree City in 2005.
This honor recognizes the City’s concerted efforts to maintain and improve the health and beauty of its tree population.
Related Links
Liberty Tree Board
TreeLiberty
Missouri Department of Conservation
Tree City USA
Arbor Day Foundation
The Right Tree in the Right Place
University of Missouri Extension
Heartland Tree Alliance
Tree Link
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Liberty’s Tree List
Trees for areas near power lines: The following tree species typically mature to less than 30 feet in height. As a result, these are ideal choices if planting near overhead power lines.
- Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
- Hedge Maple (Acer campestre)
- 'Flame’ Amur Maple (Acer ginnala)
- Trident Maple (Acer buergerianum)
- Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa)
- Japenese Tree lilac (Syringa reticulata)
- American Smoketree (Cotonis obovatus)
- Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)
- ‘Winter King’ Green Hawthorn (Crataegus viridis)
- Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
- Flowering Crabapple (Malus)
- Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum)
- Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus)
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Trees for areas free of power lines:
Because the following tree species mature over 30 feet in height, they should be planted at least 30 feet from overhead utilities.
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- Freeman Maple (Acer x freemanii)
- Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
- Tatarian Maple (Acer tataricum)
- Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)
- Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
- Shantung Maple (Acer truncatum)
- Sawtooth Oak (Quercus acutissima)
- Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)
- Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea)
- Shingle Oak (Quercus imbricaria)
- Willow Oak (Quercus phellos)
- English Oak (Quercus robur)
- Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
- Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii)
- Black Oak (Quercus veluntina)
- Yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea)
- Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus)
- Golden Raintree (Koelreuteria paniculata)
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- American Linden (Tilia americana)
- Littleleaf Linden (Tilia cordata)
- Silver Linden (Tilia tomentosa)
- Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia)
- Lacebark Elm (Ulmus parvifolia)
- Japanese Zelkova (Zelcova serrata)
- American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
- European Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
- Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata)
- Hackberry (Celtis occidenttalis)
- Turkish Filbert (Corylus colurna)
- Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
- Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica)
- Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
- Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
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Trees NOT suitable in the City of Liberty’s rights of way:
The following trees should not be planted due to insect or disease problems, weak wood, messy droppings, or line of sight issues.
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- Lombardy Poplar
- Black Locust
- Siberian Elm
- Bradford Pear and all Callery Pear varieties
- Evergreens
- Silver Poplar
- Mimosa
- Tree-Of-Heaven
- Black Cherry
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- Willow
- Russian Olive
- Black Walnut
- Ash
- Silver Maple
- Cottonwood
- Box Elder
- River Birch
- European White Birch
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Exemption Process:
These lists are not comprehensive. If you would like to plant a tree in the City of Liberty’s right-of-way that is not currently on the recommended tree list, please contact the Parks and Open Space Manager at 816.439.4384 to determine if that tree is appropriate.
Planting Guidelines
A tree’s biological needs, its shape and size at maturity, and its function in your landscape help determine the best tree to plant in a particular location. Select trees that grow well in this climate and your soil.
Think about what the trees will look like at maturity. How tall will they grow? What shape will they be? The following guidelines are designed to ensure that the placement of street trees does not negatively affect driver or pedestrian visibility or harm structures in close proximity to the tree.
- Along arterial and collector streets, treesshould not be planted closer than 140 feet from the corner.
- Along residential collectors and local streets, trees should be planted at least 30 feet from the corner.
- Trees should be planted at least 10 feet from a driveway.
- Trees should be planted at least 10 feet from a gas valve, water valve, cable box, or any above ground utility.
- Trees with an average mature height of more than 30 feet should not be planted under overhead utility wires.
- Trees should be planted at least 10 feet from a fire hydrant.
Along with these guidelines, please contact the Parks & Open Space manager at 816.439.4384 if you are interested in planting a street tree.
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