Lower Merion, PA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

The nine-member Shade Tree Commission, appointed by the Board of Commissioners for five-year terms, has exclusive custody and control of all shade trees on Township property under § 128-4, and § 128-6B lets any owner request that the Township Arborist plant, prune, spray or remove a right-of-way tree, with the Arborist deciding whether the work can be done and whether it carries a charge. Planting standards cross-referenced from Chapter 101 require spacing of 30 to 50 feet between trees staggered along both sides of a street, a minimum 15-foot setback from fire hydrants, streetlights or stop signs, and deep root barriers to prevent cracked pavement, plus a Township commitment to plant at least as many trees each year as are removed.

Section 128-9B sets the physical specification: a new tree's trunk must run two to 2 1/4 inches in diameter, with a root ball of one foot per inch of trunk diameter, planted in a hole at least 12 inches wider than the ball. If sidewalk space is too tight, § 128-9C lets an owner appeal to the Commission for a workable planting solution, and § 128-9D bills the property owner for removal cost and the tree's appraised value under International Society of Arboriculture guidelines when new construction requires taking one down.