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4 | LIFE IN SOLERA | JUNE 2024 | Committee members have noticed trees trimmed carelessly while inspecting completed projects. Several residents have replaced their birch trees because some were diseased, while others died due to improper trimming. It is crucial to avoid removing more than twenty-five percent of the tree's canopy at a time as it weakens the tree and may cause its death. Topping a tree, or giving it a 'flat top' is not recommended as it can harm the tree in the long run. The fruitless plum tree is another tree that does not do well when given the 'flat top' trimming. Pruning serves multiple purposes including achieving desired tree shapes and sizes, protecting trees from the risk of dead and diseased branches, and promoting healthy growth of buds and flowers. It is best to prune fruitless plums after they have flowered to avoid the possibility of eliminating flower buds for the next year. However, if you are dealing with silver leaf disease, it is best to prune in the middle of summer. You can remove diseased, damaged, or dead branches at any time. Keep your trees trimmed, thinned, and shaped properly. That might require a tree trimmer rather than your gardener. When choosing to plant a tree, it is important to check the specifications, especially the growth. Some trees, such as sycamore, pine, camphor, and palm trees can grow very tall and be messy. Check the care and maintenance of the tree you wish to plant and choose accordingly. Design Review Committee Curb Appeal Feature TREE TRIMMING 1753 S Forest Oaks Rd 1590 Valhalla Crt 907 Essex Rd Landscape Committee It is with reservation and careful consideration that the landscape committee, along with Park West's arbor specialist, recommend the removal of four California Sycamore trees on Fairway Drive. Unfortunately, when Pulte originally landscaped Fairway Drive, two varieties of Sycamore trees were planted. They were the California Sycamore (Platanus Racemosa) and London Planetree (Platanus Acerifolia). The California Sycamore grows 50-100 feet tall and has an aggressive root system while the London Planetree is considered an excellent "city tree." Over the years, the California Sycamore root systems have raised sidewalks in a few places creating a trip/fall hazard. Several years ago, the sidewalks were ground down to eliminate the problem. Currently these root systems have again created new trip/fall hazards. Park West advised that any shaving or cutting of the roots to alleviate the problem would severely impact the integrity of the trees due to the close proximity to the tree trunks. ~ CALAC Committee

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