The City of Beverly Hills depends on the partnership of residents and business owners to sustain the health and beauty of trees in our parkways and on private property. Here are some of the ways you can help.

• Do not allow mowing equipment or string trimmers to damage trees. The conductive system of a tree is located just below the bark. When tree trunks are damaged, the ability of the tree to move water, nutrients and starch becomes limited. Trees with wounded trunks often experience limb die-back or whole tree decline. Wounds are often infected by tree diseases. Use care when working near trees.

• Keep the area around tree trunks mulched. There should never be grass or flowers planted around the trunk of a tree. This encourages root wounding, which can lead to tree diseases. A three-inch layer of wood chip or bark mulch around trees protects trees while providing a nice aesthetic touch.

• Provide a good environment for tree roots to grow. Trees growing in grass lawns are competing with the grass for water and nutrients. When trees receive water only from the sprinkler system that waters grass, the trees are prone to developing surface roots that can become a problem for sidewalks and driveways. Shallow-rooted trees are less tolerant to drought. Trees need deep watering. Let the hose drip around your trees once a week during the heat of summer, and once a month during the winter months. Adjust your sprinklers so that they do not spray and erode the bark of trees.

• Aerate the lawn around trees twice a year. Grass growing under the canopy of a tree can limit the amount of oxygen available to the roots of the tree. Aerating your lawn is good for the grass and provides oxygen for tree roots. After aerating, top-dress the lawn with a ¼" layer of fine textured organic mulch. This topdressing will promote the healthy soil micro-flora that trees depend on to absorb water and nutrients and to fend off diseases and stress.

If you have any questions about trees, need information about protecting trees during construction, or need to report a tree problem, contact Public Works at (310) 285-2467.