Alan Siewert writes:

I was disappointed with the (study). Tree selection is the one time we have to build a good urban forest. Selecting the right tree for the right site not only for size suitability but also for survival is of utmost importance. Street tree selection must take into account diversity of the population and survivability of the plant in the chosen site. Flower color and fall color are personal choices, different for everyone. City trees are city infrastructure, so who gets to decide what looks nice? Everyone will not be happy. Blacktop can be colored and given pattern but on a city street it is black because that is economically best for the community. We need to get past the idea that street trees are an amenity to make the community look nice and realize they are a necessity for our survival in the community. If residents want red flowers or red blacktop with a nice herringbone pattern in it then they should put them in their yard. Diversity as Len Phillips has commented on, and local expertise picking the trees that are economically best for the site and community are needed. It seemed presumptuous to me that a short four-year study can pick the best street trees. The unfortunate part is homeowners intent on planting the wrong tree in the wrong location will search the Internet and find this article and use it to support their position and the urban forester will have to argue against a very good website.

Alan Siewert
Urban Forester
ODNR Forestry
Middlefiled, Ohio