HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-09-27 Arborist CommentsKris Danielson
From: K.D. Widin [kwidin a@mmmpcc.org]
Seat: Thursday, September 27, 2001 3:35 PM
To: kdanielsoncityofoakparkheights .com
Subject: Stillwater Ford Employee Parking - Landscape Plan
Kris -
I have reviewed the plan for the Stillwater Ford Employee Parking
and have the following comments:
I. The Planting Schedule should include the scientific names of the plants
2. The Planting Detail should also include: cutting the twine at the base
of the trunk, cutting off the top of the burlap, or folding it down into
the hole, cutting off the top two rungs of any wire basket encasing the
root ball.
3. It is preferable to not stake trees.
4. Any added backfill or "planting" soil should constitute no more than 113
of the backfill soil put into the hole, and should be mixed with existing
soil.
5. The landscape plan itself is not acceptable and should be re -done by a
professional landscape designer or landscape architect. It is not
acceptable for the following reasons:
a. The plant sizes drawn are not accurate and do not reflect the
mature size of the plants. e.g. the crabapples are drawn
smaller than dogwoods, which are shrubs.
b. The plan uses a very strange mixture of plant material. Bearberry,
for example, is a native groundcover, not a landscape plant.
c. The dogwood is listed as a tree, but the only dogwood close to a
tree size which will grow in Minnesota is a pagoda dogwood
and this is not a suitable location for it.
d. More screening is required along Neal Avenue and most of this
should consist of evergreens. If using Colorado green spruce,
also use some 'Black Hills' spruce which does better in
exposed planting sites.
e. The plan as drawn is not attractive and is inconsistent. There
should be a variety of plant material but some repetition
of design around the perimeter of the lot would be more
attractive.
Kathy Widin
Municipal Arborist
City of oak Park Heights