Bonnycastle Homestead Association

2006 BHA Tree Survey

Report

To: Bonnycastle Homestead Association Board
From: Carolyn Cromer
Date: February 21, 2006
Re: Bonnycastle Neighborhood Tree Survey

In the summer of 2004, Polly Adler and I spent time working on a tree survey for BHA. We surveyed the canopy and understory trees in the front and side yards of houses in the Bonnycastle Neighborhood in order to try and predict what the future of BHA’s tree canopy is. The following is a summary of what we accomplished and recommendations to BHA for what next steps you may want to take.

The Highlands neighborhoods are known for their mature hardwood tree canopy. The canopy provides shade, a feeling of permanence and history, a sense of identity for the Highlands, and contributes positively to the area’s real estate values. However, many of the mature hardwood trees in the Highlands are in decline; we are losing our urban tree canopy. When mature trees fall or are cut down, they are often replaced by understory or ornamental trees that do not provide canopy. Hardwood trees that are planted today in narrow tree easements will rarely achieve the height and longevity of the canopy trees we currently enjoy. This is due to a modern urban environment that includes utility company trimming, asphalt and concrete pavement, salt, carbon monoxide exhaust, and damage from collisions.

In order to ensure the future of the tree canopy and a healthy urban forest in the Bonnycastle neighborhood, my recommendation is to finish the tree survey that Polly and I began to more accurately determine how many canopy trees are currently in people’s yards and easements. Identify the streets or blocks that are deficient of trees. Create a plan for where trees need to be planted and recommend species to ensure a diverse and thus healthier urban forest. Encourage people to plant hardwood trees in their front and side yards to eliminate the damage from utility company trimmings and salt from winter roads. Create a list of recommended understory species to plant under wires and in narrow tree easements to provide color and additional shade. The neighborhood could partner with a nursery to purchase trees at a lower cost and then provide them to homeowners. In order to ensure that the trees get planted property, train volunteers how to plant and then offer their services to help neighbors with plantings.

Accompany these efforts with an education program to inform people as to why trees are a positive addition to the neighborhood. Provide information about how to maintain trees so that they are kept in a healthy condition and are a low risk of falling. Also include information about the savings a shade tree can provide when summer air conditioning bills come due.

The information that Polly and I collected is a start. We completed a survey of Alta Avenue, Bonnycastle, and part of Speed Avenue. The data we collected includes species, diameter of trunk at breast height, and general health of the tree. There are many excellent arborists in Louisville who could help you complete the survey and tree plan. If you want to talk to someone who has successfully implemented a similar tree plan, I recommend contacting Mike Hayman of Seneca Gardens. He has been featured in the Courier-Journal for making Seneca Gardens into what is practically an arboretum and is very knowledgeable and experienced..

The hardwood tree canopy is an issue that is crucial to maintaining the character of Bonnycastle and the Highlands. I hope that you will continue this effort and invest in what will pay off for generations.

Data

** Trees were measured at diameter breast height unless 2215 2 hollies healthy
2 japanese maples healthy
2213 holly healthy 12" Norway Maple healthy
48" big leaf linden healthy
2211 6" dogwood dead 30" big leaf linden healthy
2207 20" Norway maple healthy
2205 6" dogwood healthy 12" ornamental pear healthy
2203 holly healthy 16" maple healthy
8" ornamental cherry healthy
2157
2155 2 hollies healthy
2151
2147 36" silver maple healthy
2143 4" dogwood healthy
6" dogwood healthy
8" dogwood healthy
2 30" magnolias healthy
14" sugar maple dead
2137 2133 3" locust healthy
2119 30" sugar maple dead 2 5" ornamental pears healthy
6" dogwood healthy
2117 2 12" sugar maples healthy 12" pin oak healthy
12" evergreen healthy
4" ornamental maple dead
10" dogwood healthy
2109 14" white pine healthy
2 blue spruce healthy
2107 48" elm healthy
24" maple healthy
30" pin oak healthy
24" pin oak healthy
2 3" holly healthy
redbud healthy
2105 36" maple healthy
2" redbud healthy
2 4" dogwoods healthy
32" tulip poplar healthy
2101 32" maple healthy
8" dogwood healthy
3" ornamental healthy
2067 16" sugar maple healthy
12" maple healthy
2065 24" tulip poplar healthy
3" redbud healthy
4 4" dogwood healthy
2059 22" white pine healthy
3 4" dogwood dead
30" pin oak healthy
2057 2 6" maple healthy
2055 22" sweet gum healthy
2053 12" plum healthy 10" maple healthy
2051 2x 5" plum healthy
2049 2x 12" elm healthy
2047 6" ornamental healthy
2045 2x 14" silver maples healthy
2043 spruce healthy 16" ornamental pear healthy
2037 2x 6" ornamental maple healthy
2033
2031 4" mulberry healthy
14" elm dead
24" mimosa healthy
2x 5" maple healthy
2x 3" mulberry healthy
12" maple healthy
2029 holly healthy
2027 spruce healthy 2x 5" redbud healthy
2023
2021 pine healthy 8" ornamental healthy
2017 20" sugar maple healthy
2011 (apt. bld.) 6" white pine healthy 10" maple healthy
16" confier healthy
6" ornamental cherry healthy
8" dogwood healthy
conifer healthy
2006
2014
2016 10" mulberry healthy 4" dogwood healthy
6" mulberry healthy
6" mulbery healthy
2x 10" tulip magnolia healthy
10" cherry dead
2020
2024 6" redbud healthy
20" ash healthy
14" ash healthy
4" box elder healthy
2x 2" elm healthy
multiple 2026 8" dogwood healthy 24" sugar maple healthy
2028 36" silver maple dead
4" dogwood healthy
15" redbud dead
2030 10" holly healthy
2032 3" redbud healthy
2036
2038 6" dogwood healthy 30" silver maple healthy
50" elm healthy
2040 2x 4x 2042 2x 4" dogwood healthy 24" silver maple healthy
2x 8" dogwood healthy
2044 18" ash healthy
2046 8" blue spruce healthy 6" unknown ornamental healthy
12" conifer healthy
2048 14" sugar maple dead
2060 4x 6" dogwood 3 healthy, 1 dead 4x 20" sugar maples 3 healthy, 1 dead
multi 6"-trunk magnolia healthy
2100 8" sugar maple healthy
10" sugar maple healthy
side of Parsons Pl.
side of Edgewood 20" pin oak healthy
other side of Edgewood
2132 4x 6" river birch healthy 3x 4" tulip poplar healthy 8" ash healthy
2134 6" dogwood healthy
2138 3x 20" white pine healthy 10" sugar maple healthy
4" hemlock healthy
2140 3x 5" crab apple dead
3" crab apple dead
2144 4" magnolia healthy
30" maple dead
20" pin oak healthy
10" ash healthy
2146 4" japanese maple healthy 32" silver maple healthy
6" sugar maple healthy
2144 2" dogwood healthy 24" silver maple healthy
side of 1501 Cowling 3" Golden rain tree healthy
7" sweet gum healthy
2202 20" pin oak healthy
2204 14" sugar maple healthy
2206
2208
2210
2212 5" unknown (willow?)
8/8/2004 Alta Ave. 2219 12" ornamental pear healthy
2223 26" pin oak healthy
2225 14" pin oak healthy
42" silver maple healthy
2227 3" dogwood healthy 8" rain tree healthy
8" fir (?) healthy
2229
2231 multi-branched ornamental healthy 3" oak healthy
4" dogwood healthy 4" ornamental pear healthy
2233 8" holly 2x 2" rain tree healthy
5" weeping birch 40" oak moderately healthy
2 split stem 5" each dogwood
2301 (on side) 2x 12" split trunk cherry dead
4" rain tree healthy
2" dogwood healthy
2301 (in front) 6" dogwood healthy
10" conifer healthy
2301 (on side) multi-stem unknown healthy
crab apple (?)
2303 6" dogwood dead 14" ornamental pear healthy
18" sugar maple moderately healthy
2305 6" dogwood healthy 12" ornamental pear healthy
26" white pine healthy
2317 12" ornamental pear healthy
2319 5" dogwood healthy 4" Prunus ornamental healthy
2321 9" Normway maple healthy
14" Norway maple healthy
2325 multi-stem 2x 2" jap. Maple 20" pin oak dead
6" sugar maple healthy
2327 (on side) 3x 14" conifer healthy
2327 (in front) 2" Prunus healthy 14" ornamental pear dead
6" apple healthy
2331 3" dogwood healthy 2" bush healthy
8" holly healthy 14" ornamental pear dead
20" hemlock healthy 4" ornamental healthy
3" japanese maple healthy
2327 (side by alley) 5x 6" to 14" magnolia healthy
6" hemlock healthy
6" oak healthy
2336 6" red maple healthy 4" ash dead
8" weeping Prunus healthy 2" ash healthy
6" red maple healthy
2334 3" dogwood healthy 4" sugar maple moderately healthy
4" hardwood healthy
2x 6" holly healthy
2332 30" s. magnolia healthy
2330 8" holly healthy 16" ornamental pear healthy
4" redbud healthy
2324 10" dogwood healthy 38" silver maple dead
10" magnolia healthy 14" silver maple healthy
6" pine healthy 30" silver maple healthy
28" pin oak healthy
2312 5" spruce healthy 10" ornamental pear healthy
6" spruce healthy
2308 22" silver maple healthy 12" tulip poplar healthy
2306 3x 4" to 6" redbud healthy 24" sugar maple healthy
2304 14" dogwood healthy
2300 10" sugar maple healthy
12" sugar maple healthy

Barney Ave. beside 2300 Alta 14" sugar maple healthy
12" sugar maple healthy
12" sugar maple healthy
40" silver maple healthy
20" silver maple healthy
beside 2301 Bonnycastle 4" Zelcova healthy
5" Zelcova healthy
Bonnycastle 2301 22" maple healthy 8" pin oak healthy
2x 6" and 8" hemlock healthy 4" maple healthy
4" ash healthy
2307 3" pin oak healthy
2" pin oak healthy
2315 10" silver maple healthy
2319 14" ornamental pear healthy
10" ornamental pear healthy
6" dogwood healthy
2323 8" holly healthy 3x 14" pin oak 2 healthy, 1 dead
3" jap. Maple
2" dogwood healthy
2327 12" unknown healthy
12" weeping Prunus dead
2331 6" blue spruce healthy
2" dogwood healthy
3x 8" to 14" maple healthy
2335 6" pin oak healthy
14" sug maple healthy
2337 2x 12" pin oak healthy
2340 multi-stem magnolia 10" each healthy
10" holly healthy
2332 (on side) 4" Prunus healthy
3" Prunus healthy
5" Prunus healthy
2x 3" dogwood healthy
2332 (in front) 3" ornamental healthy
3x ornamentals healthy
5" Zelcova healthy
2328 (on side) 3x 3" ornamental healthy
5" dogwood healthy
36" maple healthy
2326 24" oak healthy
2" holly healthy
2324 5" blue spruce healthy
20" little leaf linden healthy
2320 8" ornamental healthy
2318
2316
2314 2" dogwood dead
5" japanese maple healthy
8" Prunus ornamental healthy
2304 36" oak
2300
2331 (on Barney side) 22" silver maple healthy
44" silver maple healthy
Alta Ave. 2230 2226 22" silver maple moderately healthy
2224 3" japanese maple healthy
2222 2" ash healthy
2220 6" white pine healthy
26" sycamore healthy
2218
2216 2x 10" locust healthy 2x 4" dogwood healthy
2214 3" dogwood dead

unknown Speed Ave. 2101 16" pine healthy 6" s. magnolia healthy
8" s. magnolia healthy
40" red oak healthy
2105 20" elm in decline
2107 (on side) 4"yellowwood? healthy
3" hackberry healthy
2107 (front) 28" maple healthy
6" japanese maple has dead wood
8" japanese maple has dead wood
2111 dogwood 4 crab apples w/ 12" maple healthy
2111 (side) 4 crate myrtle healthy
2113 18" red oak healthy
6" hemlock healthy
8" hemlock healthy
2115 2 hemlocks healthy
16" red oak healthy
35" hackberry healthy
35" hackberry healthy
2117 5 dogwoods healthy 5" crab apple healthy
10" locust 6" crab apple healthy
4" walnut healthy
cedar
2119 24" tulip poplar healthy
6" dogwood
4" Prunus sp. healthy
2121 8" redbud healthy
white oak healthy
2 big leaf magnolia healthy
paw-paw healthy
10" red oak healthy
24" white oak healthy
40" tulip poplar healthy
2123 10" crabapple healthy crabapple in decline
10" crabapple healthy
4" dogwood in decline
14" hackberry in decline
14" ash in decline
6" redbud healthy
2125/2127 24" mulberry healthy
26" ash
16" hackberry in decline
20" hackberry in decline
36" hackberry healthy
2 8" sugar maple healthy