THE PUBLIC TREE RESOURCE

     The City’s first public street tree inventory was completed in 1992 by Technical  Forestry Services of Commerce, Georgia.  Highlights of the inventory. At the time of the inventory, the trees were valued at over $4.0 million dollars.
     The data has been used over the years to develop tree planting, tree pruning, and tree removal plans. 

TREE CANOPY COVER STUDY

     Protecting a tree’s roots is one of the most important things you can do to keep the entire tree healthy.  Where do tree roots grow?  You’d probably be surprised to learn that they grow out, not down.  Most tree roots grow in the top 6 to 18 inches of soil, and extend out from the tree 2 to 3 times the width of the tree’s branches.  Click here for more information on tree roots.

THE HISTORIC TREE RESOURCE

     The City hired ACRT, Inc., to inventory the historic tree resource within the City.  The purpose of this inventory was to identify where the resource was, the condition it is in, and the maintenance needs of the trees.

The inventory results are as follows:

l       At least 1,200 historic trees located within the city limits.

     The City will begin in 2005 to implement the maintenance recommendations made by the consultants.  The owners of historic trees located on private property will be invited to apply for their trees to be listed on the City’s Historic Tree Registry.  Owners will be provided with a Certificate of Historic Tree Status, can have their trees inspected once per year by the City Forester, and will become eligible for tree grants provided by Trees Covington, Inc., a local non-profit organization.

     The criteria used for selecting and identifying the trees included:

l       Greater than 50 years of age.

l       Part of a greater cross-property planting. 

Covington has more than 1,200 historic trees.