The Importance of Tree Canopy in College Park

Tree canopy can be plentiful in rural areas, but in urban and suburban areas such as College Park there are numerous challenges to sustaining and nurturing a healthy canopy, including development, lawns, power lines, and solar panels. A robust tree canopy has many benefits, including cleaner air, lower summer temperatures, better stormwater management, increased property values, improved health benefits, and greater sequestration of carbon.

To sustain and nurture tree canopy, many municipalities have implemented codes to protect their canopy. In 2022 College Park joined this effort when the City implemented a tree ordinance to protect existing mature trees. The City implemented this ordinance after a 2018 canopy assessment determined that the canopy had declined to about 38% of the City’s area.

The 2022 ordinance requires any resident who wants to remove a large tree to secure a permit from the City. The ordinance applies to trees measuring at least 36 inches circumference measured 4.5 feet above ground level. A permit is also required for pruning more than 20% of the live branches from a 36-inch circumference or larger tree. More information about the ordinance and the permit process is available at www.collegeparkmd.gov/trees.

The City’s Tree and Landscape Board encourages residents to care for all the trees that make up our shared canopy. A healthy canopy entails preserving mature trees, nurturing young trees to maturity, and planting new trees because of tree loss due to natural causes.

Preserving mature trees means preventing the growth of invasive vines, which weaken trees, and pruning trees when necessary. Visit the webpage above to learn more about how to prevent English ivy from weakening your mature trees. And if your mature trees have dead or diseased branches, hire a Maryland licensed tree expert to come prune them. No permit is required to prune dead branches.

Nurturing young trees to maturity entails watering as needed during drought. Young trees should be watered during drought 2 or 3 times weekly especially on very hot days. Not sure whether watering is needed? Insert a long screwdriver into the soil: If it does not insert easily, watering is needed. Water slowly to ensure moisture penetrates to the roots: Drip water using a garden hose or a gator bag is one method. Wait at least a year after planting young trees to fertilize them. This is best done in late autumn or early spring. It is not necessary to fertilize trees every year. Utilize low nitrogen fertilizer and follow the instructions carefully to ensure effectiveness and avoid overfertilizing. Consider installing deer protection fence around new trees if there is deer pressure in your neighborhood.

Planting new trees is essential because the canopy naturally loses mature trees due to mortality and severe weather events. The City supports planting of new trees in several ways, including free tree planting on residential property, tree planting in the right of way (aka street trees), and reimbursement for residential tree planting via the Tree Canopy Enhancement Program. Visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/trees for details. And choose your new tree location carefully, away from power lines and underground utilities. Remember to contact missutility.net to have gas and water lines marked prior to digging for planting your trees.

By nurturing mature and young trees and planting new trees wisely, we can ensure College Park remains a green haven with all the environmental benefits a healthy tree canopy brings.