GULF SHORES — Changes are coming to what types of trees homeowners can remove from their property with an emphasis on replacing them with local trees.
Gulf Shores City Council amended the …
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GULF SHORES — Changes are coming to what types of trees homeowners can remove from their property with an emphasis on replacing them with local trees.
Gulf Shores City Council amended the city's tree protection ordinance during a council meeting Aug. 12, which allows for the removal of protected pine trees on single family and duplex lots if previous criteria for tree removal cannot be met.
This amendment was considered after a resident's appeal to remove protected trees that did not meet the requirements was approved in a June 24 council meeting. According to the new amendment, one replacement tree is required for every protected tree removed.
A protected tree is one that has a diameter at breast height (DBH) of at least 12 inches or a live oak or sand oak with a diameter of at least 6 inches. A permit for tree removal is still required to remove, relocate, destroy or injure (directly or indirectly) a protected tree in the City of Gulf Shores.
The Gulf Shores tree protection ordinance states that tree species including Chinese tallow (popcorn tree), Chinaberry, tree of heaven (Chinese sumac), silk tree (mimosa) and paper mulberry will not be considered protected trees because they are invasive species.
Before the amendment, the requirements were that a 12-inch DBH protected tree be replaced with four 3-inch DBH trees (or another combination to amount to 12 inches). The amendment allows one 12-inch DBH pine tree to be replaced with one 3-inch DBH tree that has a minimum of 12 feet in height in overall height.
"I think this is a better solution for what we had on pine trees," Councilman Joe Garris said at a previous work session meeting, "because they grow so fast and can create danger for a home, so I really like this change in ordinance."
Trees recommended by the city for replacement include:
These tree species were recommended due to being more wind resistant than pine trees.
Kitti Cooper, of Foley's Cooper Farm, which grows all of the recommended trees, provided insight on which trees are better for certain areas within Gulf Shores based on how they tolerate amounts of sun and water.
Even for non-ordinance related planting, be sure to follow these tips on what trees to plant in your area.
Cooper said live oak and sand live oak trees are more disease resistant and are beneficial to an area's biodiversity as they can provide a habitat to over 2,000 different species of plants, insects and animals. She also said that sand live oak and live oak leaves can be used as mulch for "just about anything" but especially citrus plants.
Both sand live oaks and live oaks prefer full sun and are often self-sustainable once they are mature. As the name suggests, sand live oaks prefer sandy soils and more brackish water compared to live oaks.
The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) plant database warns planters to be cautious with excessive pruning as these trees can be susceptible to oak wilt disease. This is a fungal tree disease that can be spread by insects, infected equipment or adjacent infected tree roots.
Willow oaks and bald cypress trees "will like more water than usual, and they do appreciate a shadier area when they are young," Cooper said.
Cooper said that because of this, locations in Gulf Shores with soils that hold a lot of water are "perfect" for these trees. She also said that once they are more mature, they are more tolerant to full sun exposure.
Southern magnolia trees prefer to be grown in full sun. They produce flowers with a lovely fragrance, and the flower petals are edible in moderate amounts. Cooper says the petals can be boiled, dehydrated or put in a tea.
The University of Georgia has a circular published on growing and caring for the flowering southern magnolia tree and says this tree "has few pest problems." Southern magnolias do shed old leaves and seed pods regularly in late summer, so be aware of potential lawn debris. The university's circular recommended using the "leaf litter" as mulch in another garden.
Cooper said Shumard oaks, like other oak trees, prefer full sun conditions. They also provide habitat for a variety of wildlife. These trees are considered highly susceptible to oak wilt, so they may require more attention and care than the other trees. However, Shumard oaks produce "ornamental and beautiful red leaves in the fall" that stand out among the evergreens in the area.
Other trees not on the city's recommended list that Cooper says would do well in the area include native black cherry and mayhaw trees, which both produce edible fruit.
Cooper said that mayhaw trees are a member of the rose family and grow thorns to protect their fruit that "tastes like a cranberry." However, the fruit eventually will drop if providing food for the wildlife is preferred.
