Entities work to educate homeowners on handling tree debris

Preserving damaged trees – or removing them altogether – is a key consideration for many area homeowners after the January ice storm. Springfield City Council has awarded a contract to Mobile, Ala.,-based DRC Emergency Services Inc. for removal of street-side debris, and removal already is under way in the city and in unincorporated areas of Greene County.

Gaylord Moore, a horticulture specialist with the University of Missouri Extension office in Springfield, said assessing actual damage is a key step for homeowners before taking drastic steps to completely remove damaged trees.

“Trees are amazingly resilient, and in many situations, with proper pruning and corrective measures, they may recover,” he said in a news release.

Assessing the damage

Moore cites several tips from the National Arbor Day Foundation that will help homeowners determine whether a tree can be saved:

• Look beyond storm damage. Moore says that if a storm-damaged tree is basically healthy otherwise, and isn’t creating a hazard due to structural damage, “it will recover by applying corrective pruning measures.”

• Examine the size of broken limbs. The larger a broken limb, the harder it will be for a damaged tree to recover. If a majority of a tree’s main branches are gone, the tree will have little chance of surviving.

• Measure what’s left of branches and leaves. If at least half of the tree’s crown – the leaves and branches – is intact, it’s a good rule of thumb that the tree has a fair chance of survival. A tree with less than half of its leaves and branches may not be able to produce enough foliage to nourish the tree through another growing season.

• Consider the size of the wounds. The larger the wound where branches are broken or bark is damaged, the less likely the tree is to heal, which could leave the tree vulnerable to disease and pests.

The extension office has information for dealing with damaged trees available on its Web site, www.extension.missouri.edu.

Who can burn debris?

In the unincorporated areas of Greene County, storm debris will be removed only from lots that are 2 acres or smaller. While burning of debris is prohibited within city limits, the county is asking unincorporated county residents who live on 2 acres or more to consider burning their debris on their own property. The county is offering these safety tips:

• Never burn within 200 yards (600 feet) of an occupied structure;

• Notify the local fire department before burning; and

• Use extreme caution and common sense, and never leave a fire unattended.

As of Feb. 6, the Springfield Fire Department had responded to 47 calls for people burning brush in the city. Because of safety hazards, the city is not issuing permits for burning tree debris in the city.

Handling debris in the city limits

The city of Springfield will answer debris removal questions at (417) 864-1011. Recorded updates are available at (417) 864-1400 or at www.springfieldmogov.org.

The city is providing several debris-removal tips in response to some of the most common questions.

• Placing debris for pickup. Debris needs to be placed as close to a public street as possible without blocking the sidewalk or creating site obstructions. Debris removal crews will be able to access the back side of the sidewalk from the public street.

Debris should not be placed under power lines, in ditches or waterways. Debris should be placed at least 6 feet from fire hydrants, utility poles or utility boxes.

If, in some cases, the debris is so deep onto private property that crews cannot reach all of it on the first pass through your neighborhood, they will take what they can access, but homeowners may need to move remaining debris closer to the street.

DRC crews will not reach over fences to remove debris.

• Physical limitations. If physical limitations prevent the moving of debris, the AmeriCorps program is working to line up volunteers to help. Those who need help can call (417) 869-6040 to get on a waiting list, though there is no guarantee that everyone on the list can be assisted by volunteers.

• Acceptable sizes. There is no limitation on size or type of vegetative debris that can be taken, as long as it is moved as close as possible to the street. Crews will take logs, root balls, stumps, limbs and brush that are accessible from the street.

The city recommends that debris is not stacked higher than about 6 feet to maintain line-of-sight visibility.

• Removal schedule. DRC crews are working all across the city. They are beginning work on large debris piles. They will make two passes through each neighborhood so residents will have a second opportunity to move debris out to the street after the first piles are removed.

Once the contractor determines the amount of time the job is expected to take, the city will be notified of a final date after which no further storm debris will be collected. The city will send a direct-mail postcard to every Springfield resident to let them know the final collection date.

• Cost concerns. Debris collection by DRC and its authorized contractors is free to Springfield residents along public streets. Residents who don’t live on public streets are encouraged to move their debris to the nearest public street. In some cases, the city will work with homeowners or neighborhoods move debris to a public street. [[In-content Ad]]