Bellflower City Council
April 27, 2026

14-A
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

ATTENTION: Ryan Smoot, City Manager

FROM: Wangsu Lee, Assistant to the City Manager

SUBJECT: Consideration and possible action to adopt the Urban Forest Master Plan (“UFMP”) and provide the City Manager with direction regarding the City’s urban forest regulations.

DATE: April 27, 2026

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Bellflower’s urban forest is a vital part of the City’s community, providing environmental, economic, and public health benefits, including cleaner air, cooler temperatures, and better stormwater management. Given rising temperatures and more frequent extreme weather, actively managing and expanding the City’s tree canopy is increasingly important, especially because Bellflower has relatively low canopy cover and a high share of impervious surfaces. To meet these needs, the City sought and received grant funding to develop an UFMP grounded in a detailed assessment of existing conditions and professional International Society of Arboriculture (“ISA”) and the American National Standards Institute (“ANSI”) standards, supported by strong community input favoring urban forest expansion. The City retained West Coast Arborists, Inc. to prepare the plan presented here. The UFMP is a flexible, long-term guidance document for policy and resource decisions; assuming the UFMP is adopted, it is also recommended that the City Council provide direction and guidance to the City Manager to schedule a future agenda item to consider urban forest regulations to codify within the Bellflower Municipal Code (“BMC”).

RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL

1) Adopt the Urban Forest Master Plan; and
2) Provide the City Manager with direction regarding the City’s urban forest regulations; or
3) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.

FISCAL IMPACT

The UFMP development was funded by a federal grant. The UFMP outlines planting goals, tree care measures, policy steps, and community engagement; while the City budgeted for planting and general tree care in the 2025–2027 cycle, adopting the UFMP and potential urban forest regulations may add planning, staffing, policy, and partnership costs, for which staff will submit requests in the next two-year budget. 1 Staff Report – Urban Forest Master Plan
April 27, 2026

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

The UFMP is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3). Here, the UFMP is intended to ameliorate the impacts of climate change and human activity upon the environment. It is plain, therefore, from any reasonable viewpoint that there is no significant impact upon the environment arising solely from adopting the UFMP. Individual projects that implement the UFMP will be independently evaluated in accordance with CEQA.

DISCUSSION

Vision and Goals

The UFMP’s vision is to: increase citywide canopy, especially in underserved areas; optimize management standards and resource allocation; provide clear guidance for officials, staff, and the community; and strengthen partnerships through outreach and education on tree benefits and care. Its goals are to streamline maintenance and pruning schedules; improve species continuity on streets for efficient grid pruning; identify canopy gaps to reach a 10% citywide canopy; establish an annual program to plant at known sites; and obtain the Tree City USA designation.

Existing Conditions and Diversity

The City manages 8,226 trees across 11,620 sites (about 71% occupied), leaving 3,243 vacant sites (about 28%), plus 136 stump sites and 15 miscellaneous sites (about 1% combined). The UFMP assesses tree diversity using the “10-20-30 rule,” which recommends that no single species comprise more than 10% of the total tree population, no genus exceed 20%, and no family represent more than 30% of the overall inventory.

Bellflower meets this guideline, with 128 species across 76 genera and 45 families, originating from six continents. About 84% of trees are in good condition, 15% fair, and 1% poor, highlighting the need for proactive maintenance and timely removal of hazardous trees with a remove-and-replace approach to preserve and grow canopy.

Benefits and Species Selection

The UFMP estimates the urban forest’s asset value at over $37 million and quantifies annual benefits, including approximately 203 tons of carbon sequestered, 4,663 tons stored, 3.11 tons of air pollutants removed, and over 678,000 gallons of stormwater runoff reduced. The plan includes a tree palette to guide species selection, emphasizing climate- adapted, drought-tolerant choices to reduce maintenance costs, conserve water, avoid conflicts with utilities and enhance public safety.

2 Staff Report – Urban Forest Master Plan
April 27, 2026

Canopy Targets and Priorities

The City’s current canopy coverage is 6.61%, with a target of 10% to advance cooling, air quality, carbon benefits, and climate resilience. Canopy is relatively even in residential areas but lags in commercial corridors, industrial zones, and higher-density housing, increasing heat exposure and limiting benefits in underserved communities; the UFMP prioritizes planting and maintenance in these areas. With roughly 80% of land in impervious cover, planting space is constrained; however, 3,243 vacant sites present a clear path for incremental expansion.

Strategy: Expansion, Optimization, Resilience

Expansion includes a remove-and-replace policy and planting about 100 trees annually in priority locations. Optimization calls for a proactive, grid-based pruning cycle based upon Council District, proactive inspections, and data-driven management to improve efficiency and safety. Resilience focuses on climate-ready, drought-tolerant species and greater species diversity to reduce risks from pests and disease, along with phased implementation to minimize canopy loss, partnerships with schools and commercial properties, promoting parking lot trees during development review, and structural pruning to support healthy growth.

Community Engagement

Outreach shows strong public support: 96% of respondents said trees improve quality of life and 93% support adding more trees, especially along boulevards, parkways, and near schools. Residents cited shade, air quality, and climate mitigation as top benefits, while noting concerns about improper pruning, hardscape root damage, and utility conflicts; the UFMP balances expansion with improved maintenance, tree care, and continued public engagement.

Implementation

Implementation can be phased: near-term actions include launching the Council- identified annual planting program, addressing high-priority removals identified by the UFMP or by staff or the community, and expanding public education on water management, climate resilience, plant traits, mulching, fertilization, sanitation, pest and disease identification, wildlife protection, and biological control. Subsequent actions focus on increasing canopy in priority areas, improving operational efficiency through proactive measures, and strengthening partnerships, with an overarching vision to sustain and grow canopy, maintain a healthy and resilient forest, integrate best practices into broader City planning and sustainability, and budget effectively for future needs. The UFMP may also serve as the basis for the City’s urban forest regulations, which would satisfy the remaining requirements for the City’s Tree City USA application. If the UFMP is adopted, it is recommended that the City Council schedule a future agenda item to consider urban forest regulations to codify within the BMC.

ATTACHMENT

City of Bellflower Urban Forest Master Plan ................................................................... 4 3 4

This page is left intentionally blank.

5 i

Table of Contents
1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 5

1.1 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................ 6

1.2 History and Background ......................................................................................................... 7

1.3 Vision ...................................................................................................................................... 8

1.3.1 Specific City Goals to Realize this Vision ........................................................................ 9

1.4 Purpose and Scope of Plan .................................................................................................... 9

1.5 Current State of the Urban Forest......................................................................................... 10

1.6 Public Participation – Survey Results ................................................................................... 10 2 Inventory Report .......................................................................................................................... 13

2.1 Tree Inventory Background ................................................................................................... 14

2.2 Current Tree Inventory .......................................................................................................... 14

2.3 Fast Facts ............................................................................................................................. 23

2.4 Potential Planting Sites ......................................................................................................... 24

2.5 iTree Fast Facts .................................................................................................................... 26 3 Canopy Assessment .................................................................................................................... 27

3.1 Introduction to Canopy Cover ............................................................................................... 28

3.2 Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 28

3.3 Canopy Cover Analysis ......................................................................................................... 30

3.4 Breakdown by District ........................................................................................................... 33

3.4.1 Grid Pruning District 1 ................................................................................................... 33

3.4.2 Grid Pruning District 2 ................................................................................................... 34

3.4.3 Grid Pruning District 3 ................................................................................................... 36

3.4.4 Grid Pruning District 4 ................................................................................................... 38

3.4.5 Grid Pruning District 5 ................................................................................................... 39

3.5 Land Cover Assessment ....................................................................................................... 40

3.6 Canopy Goals ....................................................................................................................... 42 4 Urban Forest Operations ............................................................................................................. 43

4.1 Goals and Objectives ............................................................................................................ 44 6 ii

4.2 Parks and Recreation Facilities ............................................................................................ 44

4.2.1 Byron Zinn Park ............................................................................................................. 44

4.2.2 Caruthers Park .............................................................................................................. 46

4.2.3 Constitution Park ........................................................................................................... 47

4.2.4 Palm Street Park ........................................................................................................... 49

4.2.5 Pirate Park ..................................................................................................................... 50

4.2.6 Riverview Park ............................................................................................................... 51

4.2.7 Simms Park ................................................................................................................... 53

4.2.8 Thompson Park ............................................................................................................. 55

4.2.9 Greenway Bike Trail ...................................................................................................... 57

4.2.10 Butterfly Garden Park .................................................................................................... 58

4.3 Public Works Director or Designee ....................................................................................... 59

4.4 Maintenance Program .......................................................................................................... 60

4.4.1 Tree Inspections ............................................................................................................ 60

4.4.2 Grid Pruning Schedule .................................................................................................. 60

4.4.3 Out of Cycle Pruning ..................................................................................................... 77

4.4.4 Tree Removals .............................................................................................................. 77

4.5 Standards and Best Management Practices ......................................................................... 77

4.6 Plant Health Care ................................................................................................................. 77

4.6.1 Cultural Practices to Support Tree Health ..................................................................... 78

4.6.2 Integrated Pest Management ........................................................................................ 83

4.7 Risk Assessment .................................................................................................................. 88

4.8 Urban Forest Biomass Recycling and Repurposing ............................................................. 89

4.8.1 Tree Recycling Plan ....................................................................................................... 89

4.8.2 Species Replacement Plan ........................................................................................... 89

4.9 Emergency Operations ......................................................................................................... 90

4.9.1 Incident Reporting ......................................................................................................... 90

4.9.2 Storm Events ................................................................................................................. 90

4.9.3 Incident Response ......................................................................................................... 90

4.9.4 Emergency Response by Outside Contractors .............................................................. 90

4.9.5 Debris Management ...................................................................................................... 91 7 iii

4.10 Wildlife Protection ................................................................................................................. 91 5 Climate Resiliency ....................................................................................................................... 94

5.1 Sustainability ........................................................................................................................ 95

5.2 Tree Palette .......................................................................................................................... 95

5.2.1 Plant Characteristics Used ............................................................................................ 96

5.2.2 Approved Tree Palette ................................................................................................... 97

5.2.3 Planting Space Available 2 – 4 Feet Wide With No Overhead Utilities ........................ 100

5.2.4 Planting Space Available 2 – 4 Feet Wide With Overhead Utilities .............................. 100

5.2.5 Planting Space Available 4 – 7 Feet Wide With No Overhead Utilities ........................ 100

5.2.6 Planting Space Available 4 – 7 Feet Wide With Overhead Utilities .............................. 101

5.2.7 Planting Space Available Greater Than 7 Feet Wide ................................................... 102

5.2.8 Species Profiles ........................................................................................................... 103

5.3 Planning, Development, and Infrastructure ......................................................................... 191

5.3.1 Tree Protection in the Development and Planting Process .......................................... 191

5.4 Reduction of Urban Heat Island .......................................................................................... 194

5.5 Planting Plan ...................................................................................................................... 195

5.5.1 Soil Testing .................................................................................................................. 201

5.5.2 Species selection ......................................................................................................... 201

5.5.3 Nursery Stock Selection .............................................................................................. 201

5.5.4 Tree Installation ........................................................................................................... 203

5.5.5 New Tree Support and Trunk Protection ...................................................................... 204

5.5.6 Watering for New Trees ............................................................................................... 207

5.5.7 Structural Pruning ........................................................................................................ 208

5.5.8 Monitoring of Newly Planted Trees .............................................................................. 209 6 Strategic Plan ............................................................................................................................ 210

6.1 Vision Statement ................................................................................................................. 211

6.2 Guiding Principles ............................................................................................................... 211

6.3 Strategic Plan ..................................................................................................................... 212

6.3.1 Maintain Canopy Cover and Urban Forest Tree Inventory Through Replacement of any Public Tree Removed ................................................................................................................. 212

6.3.2 Increase Canopy Cover and Urban Forest Tree Inventory by Planting One Hundred (100) New Trees Each Year ....................................................................................................... 212 8 iv

7 Public Participation .................................................................................................................... 213

7.1 Education / Outreach .......................................................................................................... 214

7.2 Tree City USA Status .......................................................................................................... 214

7.3 Caring for Private Trees ...................................................................................................... 215

7.4 Resources and Guidelines for Homeowners and Businesses ............................................ 215 Appendix A – Sources ....................................................................................................................... 217 Appendix B – Best Management Practices ....................................................................................... 219 Appendix C – City Planning Details and Specifications .................................................................... 221 Appendix D – Common Pest and Disease Information ..................................................................... 223 Appendix E – I-Tree ECO™ Reports ................................................................................................ 228 Appendix F – Resources for Homeowners and Businesses ............................................................. 278 Appendix G – Results of the Public Outreach Survey ....................................................................... 292

9 5

1 INTRODUCTION

10 INTRODUCTION
6 1.1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Bellflower has developed this Urban Forest Master Plan to provide City officials, the Public Works Director or Designee, and members of the community with guidance, practices, and standards to maintain a sustainable, healthy urban forest that maximizes the benefits of trees for everyone who lives in, works in, and visits the City.

This is a living document that will be updated and adjusted to reflect changes in climate, urban forest conditions, scientific research, industry understanding, and practices.

The vision, goals, and purpose of this UFMP are stated in Chapter 1, along with the current state of the City’s Forest as of September 2025. Chapter 2 presents the current tree inventory as of September 2025, including the most represented species, genera, and families. In January 2026, the number of Potential Planting Sites was assessed.

Distribution in Canopy Cover is the subject of Chapter 3, based on the most current imagery and data from 2022. The basic plan to achieve an overall increase in canopy cover citywide is covered in this section.

Chapter 4 describes the City’s Urban Forest Operations framework and details best management practices and standards for urban forest monitoring and maintenance based on the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Best Management Practices and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A300 Tree Care Standards.

Sustainability of the City of Bellflower Urban Forest is the subject of Chapters 5 and 6. A new approved tree palette, designed with species that better tolerate changing climate conditions, reduces the overall water needs of the urban forest and requires less frequent routine pruning and maintenance for more efficient management of resources, is addressed in Chapter 5. This chapter also includes the planting plan to fill currently identified potential planting sites where a tree once existed throughout the City, best practices for planting and caring for young trees, and standards, practices, and policies for protecting mature trees as the City of Bellflower continues to grow and develop. The Strategic Plan in Chapter 6 focuses on new tree planting and 1:1 replacement of all trees removed in the City to increase and maintain overall canopy cover.

Finally, the focus of Chapter 7 is on strengthening the partnership between City management staff and community members as stewards of the urban forest through public outreach and education. This section concludes with the progress and path for the City of Bellflower to obtain recognition as a Tree City USA, along with links to resources for homeowners and business owners about the benefits and proper care of trees. In Appendix E, the March 2026 iTree report assesses and quantifies the structure, composition, and ecosystem services provided by a city’s trees and green spaces.

11 INTRODUCTION
7 1.2 HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The availability of natural resources, due to fertile alluvial soils created by flooding from the San Gabriel River, has been central to the history of the City of Bellflower. In the late 1700s, the land where the city now stands was part of one of the original Spanish land grants in California and later became part of three large ranchos: the Santa Gertrudes, Los Coyotes, and Los Cerritos. These lands offered plenty of resources for cattle grazing and beef production. As the era of large ranchos ended in the 1840s, the abundance of wild game, waterfowl, and fish made the Bellflower region the preferred hunting and fishing spot for locals from nearby towns.

The fertile soils provided by floodwaters made for good cattle grazing, and the Bellflower area, once known as Somerset Ranch and Bellflower Acres, became a center for the dairy industry. The construction of the Pacific Electric Railroad facilitated easy travel to Los Angeles, enabling people to live outside the city and commute for work.

The opportunity to work in Los Angeles while farming on the side was very attractive, and the population of Bellflower continued to grow.

Over the years, the availability of natural resources spurred the growth of the dairy industry, truck gardening, fruit cultivation, and nursery operations in the Bellflower area.

Beginning in 1912, dahlia production started in Bellflower, and the region quickly became the exclusive supplier of dahlias to the Los Angeles Flower Market. The dahlia is the official city flower, and dahlia cultivation continues today thanks to the efforts of the Bellflower Dahlia Society.

The population of Bellflower grew rapidly in the 1940s, marking the beginning of the transition to the current urban environment. As urbanization expanded, Bellflower residents recognized the need to maintain a connection to natural resources, which led to the creation of Bellflower Park. The park was owned by Los Angeles County until 1959, when ownership was transferred to the City of Bellflower. Bellflower Park was renamed John S. Simms Park and is addressed in this Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) in Chapter 4.

The unique natural environment has attracted residents to Bellflower since the early rancho days. As urbanization advanced, the community dedicated itself to preserving the natural beauty through parks and a diverse, healthy, well-maintained urban forest.

This UFMP aims to further demonstrate its commitment to providing the benefits of a healthy urban forest for everyone who lives, visits, and works in the City of Bellflower.

The benefits of trees in the urban environment include, but are not limited to:

Beautifying the landscape
Improving air quality
Releasing oxygen into the atmosphere
Absorbing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases
Providing sound barriers
12 INTRODUCTION
8 Serving as a windbreak
Providing direct and indirect positive economic property value Capturing storm water
Reducing soil erosion
Reducing runoff
Reducing water consumption in the landscape
Providing shade and cooling for homes and leisure
Reducing heat islands
Providing habitat for wildlife

Additionally, many studies have shown that trees positively affect mental and physical health.

This UFMP offers the Bellflower community information to support a healthy urban forest and achieve the goals and visions outlined below.

1.3 VISION
The City of Bellflower’s trees are recognized as integral to the quality of life for all City residents as well as for the City’s urban character and natural environments. A healthy, thriving, and sustainable urban forest remains a longstanding community priority and will be thoughtfully managed in a way that maximizes the range of public benefits, including a thriving ecosystem, a vibrant economy, and a livable community shared by all.

The urban forest within the City of Bellflower is a healthy, dynamic, diverse, and cohesive ecosystem that is valued and cared for by the city and through community stewardship. This vision reflects the community’s deep-rooted desire to live in a green and vibrant community. It reinforces the City’s responsibility to manage the urban forest to preserve and enhance this valuable community resource for the good of the environment, the economy, and the health and well-being of both current residents and future generations.

Maintaining a healthy, sustainable urban forest requires a significant commitment of resources and a cohesive structure to provide guidance for decision makers, the Public Works Director or Designee, and the residents of the community. It is important that the vision, policies, and ordinances develop over time into such a unified structure to support an urban forest that provides the maximum possible benefits for the community.

This UFMP is one link in that structure. The master plan was developed with the overall vision of:
(1) Increasing canopy cover citywide, especially in underserved areas. (2) Optimize urban forest management standards and practices for more efficient allocation of resources.
13 INTRODUCTION
9 (3) Provide a guidance framework for City Officials, Urban Forest Management Staff, and community members to maintain healthy trees and a sustainable urban forest.
(4) Advancing the partnership in caring for this important resource between the City’s urban forest management staff and community members through public outreach and education on the benefits trees provide and proper maintenance and protection of the trees.

1.3.1 SPECIFIC CITY GOALS TO REALIZE THIS VISION
The specific goals identified by the City of Bellflower to be addressed in this UFMP are as follows:
(1) Streamline the tree maintenance process and develop a pruning schedule that incorporates species requiring annual and biannual pruning most efficiently with the grid pruning plan for the remaining tree species. (2) Provide continuity of species on streets, using species with similar pruning needs for more efficient grid pruning.
(3) Identify gaps and deficiencies in canopy cover along public parkways and park grounds with the ultimate goal of increasing overall canopy cover to 10% citywide.
(4) Develop an Annual Planting Program to fill existing known potential planting sites where a tree once existed and identify gaps in the canopy cover.
(5) Obtain Tree City USA status.

1.4 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF PLAN
This Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) is intended as a guide to assist City of Bellflower decision makers and staff in the management, maintenance, and expansion of community benefits for the city-managed tree components of the urban forest. It is also a tool for educating community members about the benefits of trees and the importance of their role in helping maintain a healthy, sustainable urban forest.

The UFMP is based on current scientific understandings and best management practices (BMPs) developed for tree care by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Tree Care Standards. The urban forest exists in a dynamic environment affected by numerous factors such as climate change, drought, population growth, emerging pests and diseases, and changes in laws and regulations. ISA BMPs and ANSI Standards are periodically revised to address these factors and incorporate new scientific discoveries and improved industry practices. Similarly, to effectively help maintain a healthy and sustainable urban forest that offers the greatest benefits to the community in the most efficient and cost-effective 14 INTRODUCTION
10 way, this UFMP is designed to be a living document that will be reviewed and adjusted as needed to accommodate these changes.

1.5 CURRENT STATE OF THE URBAN FOREST
Figures 1.1 and 1.2 below show the percentage of sites by selected ranges of standard measures of tree size, diameter at standard height (DSH, measured at 4.5 feet above grade), and tree height range. The distribution of DSH measurements for existing trees indicates a maturing forest primarily composed of developing middle-sized trees, with about thirty-eight percent (38.71%) of the trees falling within the seven-to-twelve-inch (7” – 12”) diameter range and roughly twenty-five percent (25.29%) in the thirteen to eighteen-inch (13” – 18”) diameter range.

Potential planting sites where a tree once existed make up nearly twenty-eight percent (27.91%) of the available tree sites in the current (January 2026) City of Bellflower urban forest. As these sites are planted, the percentage of trees with smaller DSH ranges might increase, potentially shifting the overall status of the Urban Forest from maturing to one dominated by young trees. Young trees need more frequent watering and care during their first year or two after planting, which could pose a challenge for resource allocation during this transition.

1.6 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – SURVEY RESULTS
As part of the Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP), WCA participated in the Bellflower Street Fest by hosting an informational booth. We distributed printed copies of the community survey and provided access to an electronic version through a QR code.

The 11-question survey gathered input on residents’ opinions and priorities for the City’s urban forest.

Overall, responses show very strong community support for neighborhood trees—96% of participants agreed that trees add value to their quality of life. The most commonly cited benefits were improving air and water quality, providing shade, and helping to mitigate climate change. Nearly everyone (93%) felt the City could use more trees, particularly along major boulevards, in parkways, and around schools.

Regarding species preferences, evergreen trees for year-round shade were most popular, followed by flowering and deciduous trees. Residents’ favorite trees included palms, jacarandas, magnolias, and oaks, while a few noted concerns with invasive or messy species such as Tree of Heaven and certain gums or pines.

Top issues of concern included root damage to hardscape, improper pruning, and conflicts with overhead utilities. More than half of respondents interact with the urban forest as residents caring for street trees, while others enjoy trees for recreation or work near them daily. Detailed results of the survey are included in Appendix H. 15 INTRODUCTION

11 Figure 1.1: Current Distribution of Live Trees by Diameter at Standard Height (DSH in inches) 16 INTRODUCTION
12 Figure 1.2: Current Distribution of Live Trees by Height Range Category (Feet) 17 13

2 INVENTORY REPORT

18 INVENTORY REPORT
14 2.1 TREE INVENTORY BACKGROUND
It is important to accurately identify the trees within an agency’s urban forest. Knowing the quantities, locations, species types, and health conditions of these essential assets within the community provides the foundation for annual work plans and budgets. Therefore, having an inventory is critical to implementing an effective tree care program.

2.2 CURRENT TREE INVENTORY
As of September 2025, the current City Electronic Inventory Software System inventory consisted of 11,620 available tree sites, of which 8,226 (70.79%) were currently occupied by live trees. Examples of some of the information collected for each tree site are listed below:
• Tree Site Address
• Tree Species Identification
• Diameter Range
• Utility Presence
• Recommended Maintenance
• Removal Priority
• Height Range
• Condition
• Tree Health Concern
• Parkway Size/Type

The 10-20-30 rule is commonly applied to increase species diversity and reduce the likelihood of catastrophic tree loss in an urban forest due to disease or pest outbreaks. This rule states that no species should comprise more than 10 percent, no genus should comprise more than 20 percent, and no family should comprise more than 30 % of the total number of trees in an urban forest inventory.

This guideline is only applicable to pests and diseases that are specific to a single host species, genus, or family. It is also a compromise to accept a potentially significant loss of trees within an urban forest to prevent catastrophic loss if a host-specific pest or disease caused high mortality to that host. No species in the current inventory occupies 10% of the total available tree sites in the City of Bellflower, no genus occupies more than 20%, and no family occupies more than 30%.

19 INVENTORY REPORT
15 Table 2.1 lists the botanical name, common name, family, typical maximum height, typical maximum width, water use requirements, number of active trees of the species, and the percentage of the total active trees for each species in the City of Bellflower Inventory. The top ten species by total number in the current inventory are (Figure 2.1):

1. Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) – 9.48% (1,101 trees)

2. Australian willow (Geijera parviflora) – 5.94% (690 trees)

3. Ornamental pear (Pyrus calleryana) – 4.22% (490 trees)

4. Queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffianum) – 3.59% (417 trees)

5. African fern pine (Afrocarpus falcatus) – 3.12% (362 trees)

6. London plane (Platanus x hispanica) – 2.81% (327 trees)

7. Glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum) – 2.49% (289 trees)

8. Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) – 2.03% (236 trees)

9. Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) – 2.01% (234 trees)

10. Evergreen pear (Pyrus kawakamii) – 1.88% (219 trees)

The top ten genera by total number of trees in the current inventory are (Figure 2.2):

1. Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia – 6 species) – 9.65% (1,121 trees)

2. Pears (Pyrus – 5 species) – 6.21% (722 trees)

3. Australian willows (Geijera - 1 species) – 5.94% (690 trees)

4. Queen palms (Syagrus – 1 species) – 3.59% (417 trees)

5. Sycamores (Platanus – 3 species) – 3.25% (378 trees)

6. Yellowwoods (Afrocarpus – 1 species) – 3.12% (362 trees)

7. Privets (Ligustrum– 1 species) – 2.49% (289 trees)

8. Elms (Ulmus – 3 species) – 2.07% (241 trees)

9. Magnolias (Magnolia – 3 species) – 2.07% (240 trees)

10. African sumacs (Searsia – 1 species) – 1.75% (203 trees)

The top ten Families by total number of trees in the current inventory are (Figure 2.3):

1. Rose Family (Rosaceae – 21 species) – 10.02% (1,164 trees)

2. Loosestrife Family (Lythraceae – 3 species) – 9.68% (1,125 trees)

3. Rue Family (Rutaceae – 6 species) – 6.19% (719 trees)

4. Palm Family (Arecaceae – 15 species) – 5.58% (648 trees)

5. Sumac Family (Anacardiaceae – 8 species) – 4.64% (539 trees)

6. Olive Family (Oleaceae – 7 species) – 4.48% (521 trees)

7. Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae – 24 species) – 3.63% (422 trees)

8. Elm Family (Ulmaceae – 4 species) – 3.60% (418 trees)

9. Sycamore Family (Platanaceae – 3 species) – 3.25% (378 trees)

10. Podocarpus Family (Podocarpaceae – 1 species) – 3.12% (362 trees)

20 INVENTORY REPORT
16 Figure 2.1: Current Species Distribution in the City of Bellflower Urban Forest 21 INVENTORY REPORT
17 Figure 2.2: Current Genera Distribution in the City of Bellflower Urban Forest 22 INVENTORY REPORT
18 Figure 2.3: Current Family Distribution in the City of Bellflower Urban Forest 23 INVENTORY REPORT
19 Common Name Botanical Name Family Height
(ft) Width
(ft) Water Use Number
Active
Percentage
of Species
in Urban
Forest
Accolade elm Ulmus ‘Morton’ Ulmaceae 60 40 Moderate 1 0.01% African fern pine Afrocarpus falcatus Podocarpaceae 70 50 Moderate 395 2.52% African sumac Searsia lancea Anacardiaceae 30 35 Very Low 208 1.33% African tulip tree Spathodea campanulata Bignoniaceae 80 60 Moderate 2 0.01% Aleppo pine Pinus halepensis Pinaceae 60 40 Moderate 21 0.13% Alii fig Ficus maclellandii ‘Alii’ Moraceae 60 60 Moderate 8 0.05% American arborvitae Thuja occidentalis Cupressaceae 60 15 Moderate 1 0.01% American sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua Hamamelidaceae 80 40 Low 62 0.40% American sycamore Platanus occidentalis Platanaceae 90 70 Moderate 5 0.03% Apricot Prunus armeniaca Rosaceae 30 20 Moderate 2 0.01% Arapaho crape myrtle Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei
‘Arapaho’ Lythraceae 30 30 Moderate 4 0.03%
Aristocrat pear Pyrus calleryana ‘Aristrocrat’ Rosaceae 40 20 Moderate 9 0.06% Atlas cedar Cedrus atlantica Pinaceae 65 50 Moderate 1 0.01% Australian willow Geijera parviflora Rutaceae 35 20 Moderate 708 4.51% Autumn Gold maidenhair
tree Ginkgo biloba ‘Autumn Gold’ Ginkgoaceae 50 35 Moderate 1 0.01% Avocado Persea americana Lauraceae 40 35 Moderate 17 0.11% Bamboo species Phyllostachys sp. Poaceae 50 10 Moderate 3 0.02% Banana species Musa sp. Musaceae 30 10 High 1 0.01%
Beestill tree Cascabela thevetia Apocynaceae 30 15 Low 2 0.01% Black locust Robinia pseudoacacia Fabaceae 70 35 Moderate 41 0.26% Black mulberry Morus nigra Moraceae 30 35 Moderate 1 0.01% Black walnut Juglans nigra Juglandaceae 100 70 Moderate 23 0.15% Blue gum Eucalyptus globulus Myrtaceae 165 80 Moderate 1 0.01% Bottle palm Hyophorbe lagenicaulis Arecaceae 30 10 High 3 0.02% Bottle tree Brachychiton populneus Malvaceae 50 30 Moderate 155 0.99% Bottlebrush Callistemon sp. Myrtaceae 1 0.01%
Bradford pear Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’ Rosaceae 50 35 Moderate 4 0.03% Brazilian pepper Schinus terebinthifolius Anacardiaceae 30 30 Low 75 0.48% Brisbane box Lophostemon confertus Myrtaceae 50 30 Moderate 107 0.68% Bronze loquat Eriobotrya deflexa Rosaceae 25 25 Moderate 31 0.20% Brown ironbark Eucalyptus paniculata Myrtaceae 60 40 Low 1 0.01% Brush cherry Syzygium australe Myrtaceae 40 20 Moderate 2 0.01% Cajeput tree Melaleuca quinquenervia Myrtaceae 40 25 Low 96 0.61% California fan palm Washingtonia filifera Arecaceae 70 20 Low 5 0.03% California sycamore Platanus racemosa Platanaceae 80 50 High 46 0.29% Camphor tree Cinnamomum camphora Lauraceae 65 60 Moderate 14 0.09% Canary Island date palm Phoenix canariensis Arecaceae 60 40 Low 14 0.09% Canary Island pine Pinus canariensis Pinaceae 80 35 Moderate 70 0.45% Cape chestnut Calodendrum capense Rutaceae 40 40 Moderate 10 0.06% Caribbean copper tree Euphorbia cotinifolia Euphorbiaceae 15 15 Moderate 2 0.01% Carolina laurel cherry Prunus caroliniana Rosaceae 30 25 Moderate 3 0.02% Carrot wood Cupaniopsis anacardioides Sapindaceae 40 30 Moderate 51 0.33% Chaste tree Vitex agnus-castus Verbenaceae 15 20 Low 1 0.01% Cherokee hybrid crape
myrtle Lagerstroemia ‘Cherokee’ Lythraceae 15 15 Very Low 2 0.01% Cherimoya Annona cherimola Annonaceae 30 30 Moderate 6 0.04% Chinaberry Melia azedarach Meliaceae 50 25 Low 8 0.05%
Chinese elm Ulmus parvifolia Ulmaceae 60 70 Moderate 237 1.51% Chinese flame tree Koelreuteria bipinnata Sapindaceae 40 30 Moderate 94 0.60% Chinese fringe tree Chionanthus retusus Oleaceae 20 12 Moderate 30 0.19% Chinese photinia Photinia serrulata Rosaceae 40 30 Low 1 0.01% Chinese pistache Pistacia chinensis Anacardiaceae 35 35 Low 174 1.11% Chinese tallow tree Triadica sebifera Euphorbiaceae 40 30 Moderate 31 0.20% Chinese weeping banyan Ficus benjamina ‘Variegata’ Moraceae 100 60 Moderate 1 0.01% Chinese wisteria Wisteria sinensis Fabaceae 60 60 Moderate 1 0.01% Chitalpa x Chitalpa tashkentensis Bignoniaceae 35 30 Low 17 0.11% Coast live oak Quercus agrifolia Fagaceae 70 70 Low 11 0.07% Coast redwood Sequoia sempervirens Cupressaceae 250 100 High 3 0.02% Colorado blue spruce Picea pungens Pinaceae 70 20 High 1 0.01% 24 INVENTORY REPORT
20 Common Name Botanical Name Family Height
(ft)
Width
(ft) Water Use Number
Active
Percentage
of Species
in Urban
Forest
Cook pine Araucaria columnaris Araucariaceae 160 20 Moderate 2 0.01% Crabapple Malus floribunda Rosaceae 25 30 Moderate 3 0.02% Crape myrtle Lagerstroemia indica Lythraceae 25 25 Low 1,054 6.72% Curry tree Bergera koenigii Rutaceae 20 30 Moderate 1 0.01% Dancer pear Pyrus betulifoila Rosaceae 50 50 Moderate 1 0.01% Date palm Phoenix dactylifera Arecaceae 100 40 Low 21 0.13% Dawn redwood Metasequoia
glyptostroboides Cupressaceae 90 20 High 1 0.01%
Deodar cedar Cedrus deodara Pinaceae 60 30 Moderate 3 0.02% Desert gum Eucalyptus rudis Myrtaceae 60 40 Low 2 0.01% Drumstick tree Moringa oleifera Moringaceae 40 25 Low 1 0.01% Eastern redbud Cercis canadensis Fabaceae 35 35 Moderate 1 0.01% Edible apple Malus domestica Rosaceae 40 25 Moderate 3 0.02% Edible fig Ficus carica Moraceae 30 20 Moderate 5 0.03% Edible loquat Eriobotrya japonica Rosaceae 30 30 Moderate 18 0.11% European white birch Betula pendula Betulaceae 50 25 High 2 0.01% Evergreen pear Pyrus kawakamii Rosaceae 30 30 Moderate 233 1.49% Fiddleleaf fig Ficus lyrata Moraceae 40 35 Moderate 1 0.01% Firewheel tree Stenocarpus sinuatus Proteaceae 30 15 Moderate 29 0.18% Flannel bush Fremontodendron sp. Malvaceae 20 12 Low 1 0.01% Floss silk tree Ceiba speciosa Malvaceae 60 50 Low 3 0.02% Foxtail palm Wodyetia bifurcata Arecaceae 40 15 Moderate 1 0.01% Frangipani Plumeria rubra Apocynaceae 20 25 Low 5 0.03% Fraser photinia Photinia x fraseri Rosaceae 20 12 Moderate 115 0.73% Fremont cottonwood Populus fremontii Salicaeae 80 50 High 1 0.01% Galaxy magnolia Magnolia liliiflora ‘Galaxy’ Magnoliaceae 15 15 Moderate 1 0.01% Glossy privet Ligustrum lucidum Oleaceae 50 30 Moderate 288 1.84% Gold markhamia Markhamia lutea Bignoniaceae 30 20 Moderate 1 0.01% Gold medallion tree Cassia leptophylla Fabaceae 25 30 Moderate 5 0.03% Golden shower tree Cassia fistula Fabaceae 45 20 Moderate 1 0.01% Goldenrain tree Koelreuteria paniculata Sapindaceae 35 40 Moderate 45 0.29% Green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica Oleaceae 50 50 Moderate 1 0.01% Guaje Leucaena esculenta Fabaceae 30 20 Low 1 0.01%
Guamuchil Pithecellobium dulce Fabaceae 30 25 Low 3 0.02% Guava Psidium guajava Myrtaceae 25 25 Moderate 15 0.10% Hawthorn Crataegus sp. Rosaceae 30 35 Moderate 1 0.01%
Holly oak Quercus ilex Fagaceae 60 60 Moderate 184 1.17% Hollyleaf cherry Prunus ilicifolia Rosaceae 30 25 Low 110 0.70% Hollywood juniper Juniperus chinensis
‘Torulosa’ Cupressaceae 15 10 Moderate 9 0.06%
Honey locust Gleditsia triacanthos Fabaceae 70 35 Moderate 56 0.36% Hong Kong orchid tree Bauhinia x blakeana Fabaceae 40 25 Moderate 23 0.15% Hopseed Dodonaea viscosa Sapindaceae 15 15 Moderate 39 0.25% Horsetail tree Casuarina equisetifolia Casuarinaceae 70 20 Low 4 0.03% Idaho locust Robinia ambigua ‘Idahoensis’ Fabaceae 40 30 Moderate 14 0.09% Incense cedar Calocedrus decurrens Cupressaceae 90 15 Moderate 2 0.01% Indian laurel fig Ficus microcarpa ‘Nitida’ Moraceae 35 40 Moderate 21 0.13% Italian cypress Cupressus sempervirens Cupressaceae 70 20 Moderate 24 0.15% Italian stone pine Pinus pinea Pinaceae 80 60 Moderate 17 0.11% Jacaranda Jacaranda mimosifolia Bignoniaceae 50 30 Moderate 82 0.52% Japanese black pine Pinus thunbergii Pinaceae 30 35 Moderate 15 0.10% Japanese maple Acer palmatum Sapindaceae 25 25 Moderate 9 0.06% Japanese pagoda tree Styphnolobium japonicum Fabaceae 70 70 Moderate 2 0.01% Japanese privet Ligustrum japonicum Oleaceae 15 8 Moderate 5 0.06% Jatropha Jatropha cuneifolia Euphorbiaceae 20 12 Moderate 1 0.01% Java plum Syzygium cumini Myrtaceae 90 40 High 2 0.01%
Jelly palm Butia capitata Arecaceae 25 12 Low 1 0.01%
Jerusalem thorn Parkinsonia aculeata Fabaceae 20 25 Low 1 0.01% Jujube Ziziphus jujuba Rhamnaceae 30 30 Moderate 5 0.03% King palm Archontophoenix
cunninghamiana Arecaceae 70 15 Moderate 74 0.47%
Lemon Citrus limon Rutaceae 20 10 Moderate 11 0.07%
25 INVENTORY REPORT
21 Common Name Botanical Name Family Height
(ft)
Width
(ft) Water Use Number
Active
Percentage
of Species
in Urban
Forest
Lemon bottlebrush Callistemon citrinus Myrtaceae 25 25 Low 49 0.31% Lemonade berry Rhus integrifolia Anacardiaceae 20 15 Low 26 0.17% Lemon-scented gum Corymbia citriodora Myrtaceae 160 100 Low 40 0.26% Leyland cypress X Hesperotropsis leylandii Cupressaceae 50 25 Low 1 0.01% London plane Platanus x hispanica Platanaceae 85 70 Moderate 321 2.05% Maidenhair tree Ginkgo biloba Ginkgoaceae 65 25 Moderate 52 0.33% Majestic Beauty Indian
hawthorn
x Rhaphiobotrya splendens
‘Montic’ Rosaceae 25 10 Moderate 66 0.42%
Majesty palm Ravenea rivularis Arecaceae 60 15 Moderate 7 0.04% Malus Malus sp. & cv. Rosaceae 4 0.03%
Mango Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae 50 30 High 4 0.03% Marina strawberry tree Arbutus ‘Marina’ Ericaceae 40 30 Moderate 2 0.01% Mediterranean fan palm Chamaerops humilis Arecaceae 15 15 Low 7 0.04% Mexican ebony Pithecellobium mexicanum Fabaceae 40 40 Low 1 0.01% Mexican fan palm Washingtonia robusta Arecaceae 100 10 Low 34 0.22% Mock orange Pittosporum tobira Pittosporaceae 25 15 Moderate 2 0.01% Mondell pine Pinus eldarica Pinaceae 80 25 Low 2 0.01%
Muskogee hybrid crape
myrtle Lagerstroemia ‘Muskogee’ Lythraceae 25 25 Moderate 1 0.01% Naked coral tree Erythrina coralloides Fabaceae 30 30 Moderate 7 0.04% Natchez hybrid crape
myrtle Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’ Lythraceae 25 25 Moderate 1 0.01% New Zealand Christmas
tree Metrosideros excelsa Myrtaceae 35 35 Low 49 0.31%
Oleander Nerium oleander Apocynaceae 20 15 Low 1 0.01%
Olive Olea europaea Oleaceae 30 30 Low 25 0.16%
Orange Cirus sinensis Rutaceae 30 25 Moderate 7 0.04%
Oriental arborvitae Platycladus orientalis Cupressaceae 20 15 Moderate 2 0.01% Ornamental pear Pyrus calleryana Rosaceae 50 50 Moderate 503 3.21% Peach Prunus persica Rosaceae 25 25 Moderate 9 0.06%
Pearl acacia Acacia podalyriifolia Fabaceae 20 15 Moderate 2 0.01% Pencil tree Euphorbia tirucalli Euphorbiaceae 20 10 Very Low 2 0.01% Pendulous yucca Yucca recurvifolia Agavaceae 15 10 Low 1 0.01% Peppertree Schinus molle Anacardiaceae 50 40 Low 10 0.06% Peppermint tree Agonis flexuosa Myrtaceae 35 30 Low 1 0.01% Pindo palm Butia odorata Arecaceae 25 12 Low 2 0.01%
Pink Indian hawthorn Rhaphiolepis indica Rosaceae 25 10 Moderate 5 0.03% Pink melaleuca Melaleuca nesophila Myrtaceae 30 30 Low 7 0.04% Pink powderpuff Calliandra haematocephala Fabaceae 15 12 Moderate 1 0.01% Pink trumpet tree Handroanthus heptaphyllus Bignoniaceae 30 25 Moderate 28 0.18% Plum Prunus domestica Rosaceae 15 15 Moderate 2 0.01%
Pomegranate Punica granatum Punicaceae 15 15 Moderate 5 0.03% Ponytail palm Beaucarnea recurvata Agavaceae 20 12 Low 1 0.01% Popcorn bush Cassia didymobotrya Fabaceae 25 25 Low 1 0.01% Potato vine Solanum jasminoides Solanaceae 15 30 Low 1 0.01% Purple hopseed Dodonaea viscosa ‘Purpurea’ Sapindaceae 15 15 Moderate 10 0.06% Purple orchid tree Bauhinia variegata Fabaceae 35 35 Moderate 60 0.38% Purple Robe locust Robinia ‘Purple Robe’ Fabaceae 40 30 Low 42 0.27% Purple-leaf plum Prunus cerasifera Rosaceae 35 35 Moderate 22 0.14% Pygmy date palm Phoenix roebelenii Arecaceae 15 7 Moderate 41 0.26% Queen palm Syagrus romanzoffianum Arecaceae 50 30 Moderate 423 2.70% Queensland pittosporum Auranticarpa rhombifolia Pittosporaceae 35 20 Low 7 0.04% Queensland umbrella tree Heptapleurum actinophyllum Araliaceae 40 15 Moderate 2 0.01% Raywood ash Fraxinus angustifolia
‘Raywood’ Oleaceae 50 30 Moderate 1 0.01%
Red flowering gum Corymbia ficifolia Myrtaceae 45 60 Low 2 0.01% Red ironbark Eucalyptus sideroxylon Myrtaceae 90 60 Low 9 0.06% Red ironbark Eucalyptus fibrosa Myrtaceae 90 60 Low 1 0.01% Red mulberry Morus rubra Moraceae 40 50 Moderate 1 0.01% Red willow Salix laevigata Salicaceae 50 35 High 1 0.01% Round-leafed moort Eucalyptus platypus Myrtaceae 40 35 Very Low 1 0.01% 26 INVENTORY REPORT
22 Common Name Botanical Name Family Height
(ft)
Width
(ft) Water Use Number
Active
Percentage
of Species
in Urban
Forest
Rubber tree Ficus elastica Moraceae 45 30 High 1 0.01%
Saucer magnolia Magnolia x soulangeana Magnoliaceae 25 25 Moderate 3 0.02% Sawtooth zelkova Zelkova serrata Ulmaceae 70 65 Moderate 181 1.15% Shamel ash Fraxinus uhdei Oleaceae 80 60 Moderate 156 0.99% Siberian elm Ulmus pumila Ulmaceae 70 40 Moderate 11 0.07% Silk oak Grevillea robusta Proteaceae 65 40 Low 1 0.01% Silk tree Albizia julibrissin Fabaceae 35 20 Moderate 3 0.02% Silver dollar gum Eucalyptus polyanthemos Myrtaceae 75 45 Low 2 0.01% Silver maple Acer saccharinum Sapindaceae 100 50 Moderate 2 0.01% Small Philippine acacia Acacia confusa Fabaceae 60 30 Low 1 0.01% Smoke tree Cotinus coggygria Anacardiaceae 15 18 Moderate 4 0.03% Smooth-shell macadamia Macadamia integrifolia Proteaceae 40 30 Moderate 1 0.01% Sour gum Nyssa sylvatica Nyssaceae 50 30 High 1 0.01%
South African wild plum Harpephyllum caffrum Anacardiaceae 50 50 Moderate 2 0.01% Southern live oak Quercus virginiana Fagaceae 80 100 Moderate 2 0.01% Southern magnolia Magnolia grandiflora Magnoliaceae 80 60 High 241 1.54% Spanish dagger Yucca gloriosa Agavaceae 10 8 Low 1 0.01% Spotted gum Corymbia maculata Myrtaceae 100 40 Low 8 0.05% Strawberry tree Arbutus unedo Ericaceae 35 35 Moderate 8 0.05% Sugar gum Eucalyptus cladocalyx Myrtaceae 90 60 Low 1 0.01% Swamp mahogany Eucalyptus robusta Myrtaceae 80 75 Low 26 0.17% Sweet bay Laurus nobilis Lauraceae 40 30 Moderate 1 0.01% Sweet cherry Prunus avium Rosaceae 70 30 Moderate 2 0.01% Sweetshade Hymenosporum flavum Pittosporaceae 35 20 Moderate 9 0.06% Thornless Chilean
mesquite Prosopis chilensis ‘Thornless’ Fabaceae 30 30 Very Low 1 0.01% Thuja Thuja sp. Cupressaceae 1 0.01%
Toog Bischofia javanica Phyllanthaceae 50 35 Moderate 1 0.01% Toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia Rosaceae 25 15 Low 50 0.32% Tree of heaven Ailanthus altissima Simaroubaceae 60 60 Low 3 0.02% Triangle palm Dypsis decaryi Arecaceae 30 15 Moderate 1 0.01% Trident maple Acer buergerianum Sapindaceae 25 25 Moderate 20 0.13% Tupidanthus Heptapleurum calyptratum Araliaceae 20 25 Moderate 1 0.01% Tuscarora hybrid crape
myrtle Lagerstroemia ‘Tuscarora’ Lythraceae 25 18 Moderate 6 0.04% Velvet ash Fraxinus velutina Oleaceae 50 40 Moderate 22 0.14% Vulcano European fan
palm
Chamaerops humilis
‘Vulcano’ Arecaceae 15 15 Low 2 0.01%
Water gum Tristaniopsis laurina Myrtaceae 35 30 Moderate 1 0.01% Weeping bottlebrush Callistemon viminalis Myrtaceae 20 20 Low 6 0.04% Weeping fig Ficus benjamina Moraceae 100 60 Moderate 34 0.22% Weeping willow Salix babylonica Salicaceae 50 50 High 2 0.01% Western catalpa Catalpa speciosa Bignoniaceae 60 40 Moderate 1 0.01% Western redbud Cercis occidentalis Fabaceae 25 20 Moderate 16 0.10% White alder Alnus rhombifolia Betulaceae 80 50 High 1 0.01% White fig Ficus virens Moraceae 100 75 Moderate 1 0.01% White mulberry Morus alba Moraceae 50 50 Moderate 11 0.07% White popinac Leucaena glauca Fabaceae 30 20 Low 5 0.03% White sapote Casimiroa edulis Rutaceae 50 30 Moderate 1 0.01% Willow pittosporum Pittosporum phillyraeoides Pittosporaceae 25 15 Moderate 1 0.01% Windmill palm Trachycarpus fortunei Arecaceae 30 10 Low 12 0.08% Xylosma Xylosma congesta Flacourtiaceae 10 15 Low 83 0.53% Yew pine Podocarpus macrophyllus Podocarpaceae 30 20 Moderate 1 0.01%

Table 2.1 Current Inventory for the City of Bellflower

27 INVENTORY REPORT
23 2.3 FAST FACTS
The fast facts below are based on the data available in the current City Electronic Inventory Software System as of September 2025 and information from January 2026 regarding potential planting sites.

UNIQUE SPECIES
• The City of Bellflower Urban Forest comprises 128 distinct tree species, representing 76 genera and 45 families. These species originate from six continents: 58 from Asia, 31 from North America, 18 from Australia, 11 from South America, 6 from Africa, and 4 from Europe.

TREES
• There are 8,226 trees in the City of Bellflower Urban Forest, covering 70.79% of the identified available sites. 6,900 trees are rated in "Good" condition (83.88%), 1,209 in "Fair" (14.70%), 100 in "Poor" (1.21%), and 17 are dead (0.21%).

REMOVALS
• The City of Bellflower Urban Forest Inventory recommends the removal of 42 trees. Ten trees are dead (five are small dead trees); seven are diseased or declining (dead); four are poorly structured; eleven have overhead spacing issues; four were recommended for removal after inspection; and one is a seedling or volunteer.

STUMPS
• A total of 136 stumps were recorded in the City of Bellflower Urban Forest Inventory. 81 stumps have diameters ranging from 0 to 6 inches, 36 stumps measure 7 to 12 inches, 9 are 13 to 18 inches, 3 fall between 19 and 24 inches, 6 range from 25 to 30 inches, and 1 stump has a diameter of 31 inches or more.

POTENTIAL PLANTING SITES
• A total of 3,243 potential planting sites—where a tree once existed—have been identified in the City of Bellflower Urban Forest. After removing 136 stumps, these locations will also become available, bringing the total to 3,379 potential planting sites. Potential planting sites currently account for about 27.91% of all identified available planting locations.

28 INVENTORY REPORT
24 2.4 POTENTIAL PLANTING SITES
Unlike a natural forest, where tree numbers and species diversity are sustained by dispersal and germination of seeds from existing mature trees, the expansion and diversity of an urban forest rely almost entirely on the maintenance and planting efforts of urban forest managers. By identifying potential planting sites during inventory collection and updates, the City of Bellflower can target specific areas where planting efforts will be most effective in expanding the City’s Urban Forest and increasing species diversity.

Based on the data from the City’s Electronic Inventory Software System, there are currently three thousand, two hundred forty-three (3,243) potential planting sites and one hundred thirty-six (136) stump sites within the City of Bellflower Urban Forest, nearly twenty-eight percent (27.91%) of the total available potential planting sites. The city can have a profound effect on the quality of life and human health for future generations by filling potential sites with long-lived trees over time. Urban trees act as a sink for carbon dioxide and have a net positive effect on ecosystems and public life.

They influence local air temperature by reducing the heat island effect, help reduce building energy use, and increase property values.

Table 2.2 provides a breakdown of the potential planting sites by Grid Pruning Districts (Section

4.4.2). A map of the potential planting sites by Grid Pruning Districts, based on the January 2026 City of Bellflower Electronic Inventory, is presented in Figure 2.4.

District Number of Potential
Planting Sites
1 1078
2 541
3 636
4 367
5 621
Table 2.2: Potential Planting Sites by Zone
29 INVENTORY REPORT
25 Figure 2.4: Potential Planting Sites
30 INVENTORY REPORT
26 2.5 ITREE FAST FACTS

The History and Background (Section 1.2) discusses the intrinsic value and qualitative benefits of the City of Bellflower Urban Forest in general terms. This section provides quantitative value for the urban forest based on the number, species, size, and health of the component trees. Using the most recent tree inventory from the City’s Electronic Inventory System (ArborAccess, March 2026), a quantitative analysis was carried out with the U.S. Forest Service’s i-Tree Eco™ software. At the current time, this analysis yielded estimates for Replacement Value, Carbon Storage and Sequestration, Avoided Runoff, and Pollution Removal, detailed below. Appendix E contains the complete i-Tree Eco™ report.

ESTIMATED VALUE: $37,018,767.73

TREES
8,226
(RECOMMENDED REMOVALS)
42 STUMPS
136

POTENTIAL PLANTING SITES
3,243

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

CARBON STORAGE
4,663.62 Tons
$2,018,075.71

ANNUAL CARBON SEQUESTRATION
202.65 Tons
$87,691.08

AVOIDED ANNUAL RUNOFF
678,278.24 Gallons
$6,061.09

ANNUAL POLLUTION REMOVAL

3.11 Tons
$61,838.78

31 27

3 CANOPY ASSESSMENT

32 CANOPY ASSESSMENT
28 3.1 INTRODUCTION TO CANOPY COVER
The valuable benefits that the urban forest provides to the community depend on the species of trees, their age, health, and size at maturity. The amount of shade a tree can provide for the reduction of heat islands and cooling for homes and leisure is directly related to the area covered by the tree’s canopy. The volume of greenhouse gases and other pollutants removed from the air through the leaves of plants, as part of the photosynthetic process, increases proportionally to canopy size.

The individual canopies of the component trees combine to form the canopy cover for an urban forest. Analysis of the canopy cover allows urban forest managers to identify and prioritize planting schedules in areas with gaps in cover. The canopy cover analysis in this section identifies gaps and potential planting sites in the City of Bellflower Urban Forest at the time of the development of this plan (September 2025). Coverage gaps and potential planting sites are addressed later in this UFMP as part of the Strategic Plan (Section 6)

3.2 METHODOLOGY
Existing multispectral aerial imagery from the United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) from 2022 (Figure 3.1) was used for the City of Bellflower Urban Forest canopy cover analysis. The imagery was analyzed by West Coast Arborists, Inc. (WCA) in 2025 using a deep learning U-Net (Pixel Classification) model on 4-band 60 cm NAIP 2022 imagery.

The available data was analyzed using ESRI™ ArcGIS Pro Geographic Information System (GIS) software to create the landcover maps and coverage data presented below. Land cover has been divided into the following categories:
• Canopy Cover – Tree Canopy
• Impervious – Buildings
• Impervious – Roads, Parking, Paved
• Pervious – Bare Soil
• Pervious – Grass, Shrubs, Low Vegetation
• Water

33 CANOPY ASSESSMENT
29 Figure 3.1: 2022 NAIP Imagery for the City of Bellflower

34 CANOPY ASSESSMENT
30 3.3 CANOPY COVER ANALYSIS
Tree canopy cover for the City of Bellflower was 6.61% of the total land cover based on the GIS analysis of the 2022 NAIP imagery (Figure 3.1). Street trees accounted for a large portion of the canopy cover shown in Figure 3.2. The breakdown by Grid Pruning Districts is shown in Table 3.1 and in Figure 3.3.

Grid Pruning
District
Total District Area
(ft2)
Tree Canopy Area
(ft2)
Canopy Cover
Percentage
District 1 49,613,849.93 3,396,070.31 6.85%
District 2 31,132,758.09 1,999,921.10 6.42%
District 3 33,735,760.96 2,318,396.08 6.87%
District 4 29,285,195.07 1,670,474.30 5.70%
District 5 28,591,602.58 2,003,035.98 7.01%
Citywide Total 172,359,193.61 11,387,897.77 6.61%
Table 3.1: Canopy Cover by Grid Pruning District
35 CANOPY ASSESSMENT
31 Figure 3.2: 2022 Citywide overview of canopy cover.
36 CANOPY ASSESSMENT
32 Figure 3.3: 2022 Canopy Cover by Grid Pruning District

37 CANOPY ASSESSMENT
33 3.4 BREAKDOWN BY DISTRICT

3.4.1 GRID PRUNING DISTRICT 1
Grid Pruning District 1 is bounded by Somerset Boulevard to the south and the City Limits to the north, west, and east. The trees along the north side of Somerset Boulevard are included in District 1.

The district is mostly residential areas with a few large commercial centers along Rosecrans Avenue.

The canopy cover map for Grid Pruning District 1 is shown in Figure 3.4.

Canopy cover in District 1 was 6.85%. Street trees were a large component of the cover in District 1.

There are significant gaps in canopy cover associated with commercial buildings, including the Animal Care Clinic, Rosecrans Plaza, the Kaiser Permanente Center, and the commercial center south of Rosecrans Ave and Sonrisa Street and north of Scott Street. There are three (3) Parks and Recreation Facilities (Section 4.2) within District 1 with a total of eighty-six (86) available planting sites, including Byron Zinn Park (6 Potential Planting Sites, 10 Stump Sites), a portion of Riverview Park (No Available Sites in District 1), and Thompson Park (25 Potential Planting Sites). In addition to the park sites, there are one thousand, forty-seven (1,047) identified potential planting sites and three (3) sites with stumps that could be removed and replaced with a live tree to increase canopy cover in Grid Pruning District 1.

Figure 3.4: Grid Pruning District 1 canopy cover.

38 CANOPY ASSESSMENT
34 3.4.2 GRID PRUNING DISTRICT 2
Grid Pruning District 2 is bounded by Somerset Boulevard to the north, Bellflower Boulevard to the west, Flower Street to the south, and the City Limits to the east. Trees along the south side of Somerset Boulevard, the east side of Bellflower Boulevard, and the north side of Flower Street are included in District 2. The district is mostly residential with smaller commercial centers scattered throughout. The canopy cover map for Grid Pruning District 2 is shown in Figure 3.5.

Canopy cover in District 2 was 6.42%, with street trees providing the largest portion of cover. The significant cover gaps are associated with parking lots and sports facilities at Bellflower Middle/High School and sports fields at Caruthers Park. Four Parks and Recreation Facilities (Section 4.2) with available planting sites are located within District 2 including Caruthers Park (5 Potential Planting Sites), a portion of Riverview Park (2 Potential Planting Sites, 39 Stump Sites in District 2), a portion of the Greenway Bike Trail (15 Potential Planting Sites, 51 Stump Sites, 3 Dead Tree Sites within District 2), and the Butterfly Garden Park (No Available Planting Sites). Additionally, there are five hundred nineteen (519) potential planting sites, one (1) dead tree site, and one (1) stump site available to increase canopy cover in District 2.
39 CANOPY ASSESSMENT
35 Figure 3.5: Grid Pruning District 2 canopy cover.

40 CANOPY ASSESSMENT
36 3.4.3 GRID PRUNING DISTRICT 3
Grid Pruning District 3 is bounded by Somerset Boulevard to the north, Bellflower Boulevard to the east, Flower Street to the south, and the City Limits to the west. Trees along the south side of Somerset Boulevard, the west side of Bellflower Boulevard and the north side of Flower Street are included in District 3. The district is mostly residential with occasional commercial areas along the major arterial roads. The canopy cover map for Grid Pruning District 3 is shown in Figure 3.6.

Canopy cover in District 3 was 6.87%. Steet trees were the major contributors to overall canopy cover. The largest canopy cover gaps in District 3 were associated with the Hollywood Sports Paintball Center, sports fields at Washington Elementary School, Ramona Elementary School, Somerset High School, and Simms Park, LA Metro/Aztec Mobile Estates, and the shopping center at Alondra Boulevard and Lakewood Boulevard. Three (3) Parks and Recreation Facilities (Section 4.2) with available planting sites are located within District 3, including Pirate Park (0 Potential Planting Sites, 1 Stump Site), Simms Park (37 Potential Planting Sites), and a portion of the Greenway Bike Trail (7 Potential Planting Sites, 7 Stump Sites, 2 Dead Tree Sites). In addition to the available park sites, there are five hundred ninety-two (592) potential planting sites and two (2) stump sites available to increase canopy cover in District 3.
41 CANOPY ASSESSMENT
37 Figure 3.6: Grid Pruning District 3 canopy cover.

42 CANOPY ASSESSMENT
38 3.4.4 GRID PRUNING DISTRICT 4
Grid Pruning District 4 is bounded by Flower Street to the north, Ardmore Avenue to the east and the City Limits to the south and west. Trees along the south side of Flower Street and the west side of Ardmore Avenue are included in District 4. The district is bisected by California State Route 91 (SR- 91) and is a mix of residential and commercial areas. The canopy cover map for Grid Pruning District 4 is shown in Figure 3.7.

Canopy cover in District 4 was 5.70%, with street trees being the major contributor to that cover. The largest canopy cover gaps are associated with the industrial areas south of SR-91 and the commercial center north of SR-91, west of Lakewood Boulevard, south of Walnut Street, and east of the transmission line right-of-way. There are two Parks and Recreation Facilities (Section 4.2) with available planting sites within District 4, including Constitution Park (4 Potential Planting Sites) and Palm Street Park (3 Potential Planting Sites, 6 Stump Sites, 4 Dead Tree Sites). Additionally, there are three hundred sixty (360) potential planting sites and four (4) stump sites that are available for tree installation to increase canopy cover.

Figure 3.7: Grid Pruning District 4 canopy cover.

43 CANOPY ASSESSMENT
39 3.4.5 GRID PRUNING DISTRICT 5
Grid Pruning District 5 is bounded by Flower Street to the north, Ardmore Avenue to the west, and the City Limits to the south and east. Trees along the south side of Flower Street and the east side of Ardmore Avenue are included in District 5. The district is bisected by SR-91 and is mostly high density residential with occasional commercial centers throughout. The canopy cover map for Grid Pruning District 5 is shown in Figure 3.8.

Canopy cover in District 5 was 7.01%. The majority of the canopy cover was provided by street trees.

A portion of the Greenway Bike Trail (Section 4.2.9) is located within District 5 with ten (10) potential planting sites, eleven (11 ) stump sites, and two (2) dead tree sites available for new tree installation.

In addition to the Greenway Bike Trail sites, there are six hundred eleven (611 ) potential planting sites and one (1) stump site that are available for tree planting to increase canopy cover.

Figure 3.8: Grid Pruning District 5 canopy cover.
44 CANOPY ASSESSMENT
40 3.5 LAND COVER ASSESSMENT
The distribution of land cover classes within the City of Bellflower is shown in Figure 3.9. Table 3.2 lists the percentage of cover for each cover class by Grid Pruning District.

Grid
Pruning
District
Canopy
Cover –
Tree
Cover
Impervious Pervious
Water Buildings
Roads,
Parking,
Paving
Bare Soil
Grass,
Shrubs,
Low
Vegetation
1 6.85% 54.30% 25.24% 0.91% 11.37% 1.34%
2 6.42% 50.77% 24.17% 2.52% 15.19% 0.92%
3 6.87% 52.15% 26.27% 0.91% 13.43% 0.36%
4 5.70% 52.62% 30.91% 1.19% 9.18% 0.39%
5 7.01% 55.69% 28.54% 0.93% 7.11% 0.73%
Total 6.61% 53.19% 26.76% 1.25% 11.38% 0.81%
Table 3.2 Land Cover by Class and Grid Pruning Zone
As would be expected in an urban setting, impervious land cover classes, “Buildings” and “Roads, Parking, and Paved” accounted for 79.95% of the total land cover in the City of Bellflower. Pervious land cover classifications composed of the “Bare Soil” and “Grass, Shrubs, and Low Vegetation” had a total cover of 12.63% and Tree Canopy Cover contributed 6.61% of the overall land cover for the city. Because tree canopies can extend over both impervious and pervious surfaces, the total cover class can exceed one hundred percent (100%). Large areas of impervious surface, such as in parking lots, reflect radiant heat and can lead to the formation of heat islands. It may take several years for new trees planted in these areas to contribute significantly to the tree canopy cover and provide adequate shade to reduce the radiated heat from the paved surfaces.

45 CANOPY ASSESSMENT
41 Figure 3.9: Citywide overview of land cover
46 CANOPY ASSESSMENT
42 3.6 CANOPY GOALS
Increasing overall canopy cover throughout the City of Bellflower Urban Forest is a top priority to maximize the benefits provided to the community. The general canopy cover goal for the City of Bellflower is to increase canopy cover from 6.61% at the time of the drafting of the UFMP to an overall canopy cover of 10%. Street tree cover is fairly evenly distributed in residential areas throughout the city, although significant gaps exist in districts with large commercial centers.

Canopy cover tends to be dynamic in the urban forest. Mature trees that are nearing the end of their lifespan, or trees impacted by pests or disease, may begin to decline and will need to be replaced.

Young trees take time to develop canopies of the size of trees that they are replacing, creating temporary gaps in cover. The canopy cover in areas dominated by young trees will continue to increase as these trees mature. Additional management actions will be needed to drive a substantial long-term increase in overall canopy cover, including:
• Replace any tree removed or any newly planted tree that fails to establish at a 1:1 ratio in addition to new tree plantings (Section 6.3.1).
• Develop a plan to install one hundred (100) trees per year in identified potential planting sites (Section 6.3.2). New trees will not immediately contribute to a significant increase in cover, however, a substantial long-term increase in canopy cover will result from expanding the number of trees in the City of Bellflower inventory.
• Develop a succession plan that phases the replacement of maturing trees that reduces the impact to overall canopy cover while younger trees mature. • Install trees at school sites along the perimeter of athletic fields and in strategic interior locations where they will not be in conflict with field use activities. • Encourage interior planting of trees in parking lots during plan reviews. • Plan structural pruning and, to the extent possible, maintenance pruning for mature trees to encourage broader canopy growth. Interior branch structure will need to be maintained to avoid overextended branches that will have a higher likelihood of failure and present a greater risk for property damage and injury to people in these high use areas.

Work with industrial and commercial property owners to encourage installation of trees in areas that will not present a conflict with business operations. Green roof systems and roof top tree planters will also increase canopy cover over land cover areas dominated by buildings while increasing overall canopy cover, reducing the heat island effect, and increasing the environmental benefits for the community.
47 43

4 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS

48 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
44 4.1 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Sustainability in an urban forest requires regular, well-planned management assistance. For the development of the cohesive guidance structure discussed earlier in the Vision Section, it is essential that the City of Bellflower have a clear set of operations policies and procedures that will support an urban forest that can provide the maximum possible benefits for the community. This section of the UFMP evaluates current City operations practices and provides a framework for standardized, efficient operation policies in accordance with ANSI Standards and ISA Best Management Practices.

4.2 PA RKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES
Due to greater use and higher traffic in the parks and recreation facilities in the City of Bellflower, the trees located in these areas require more frequent pruning and maintenance practices to provide for the safety of the community. Each of the facilities described in this section will be inspected annually with pruning and maintenance efforts conducted based on the needs identified during the inspections.

4.2.1 BYRON ZINN PARK
Byron Zinn Park is bounded by Foster Road to the north and east, residences along Carfax Avenue to the west and the Prime Parking Service Lot to the south. The park is located within Grid Pruning District 1. At the time of the drafting of this UFMP, fifty-five (55) available sites were identified within the park, with thirty-nine (39) occupied sites, ten (10) sites occupied by stumps from previously removed trees, and six (6) potential planting sites. Figure 4.1 shows the available sites at the time of the drafting of this UFMP (January 2026). Table 4.1 lists the number of each tree species present. 49 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
45 Figure 4.1: Identified Available Tree Sites in Byron Zinn Park (Stumps are indicated by light green-colored squares, potential planting sites are identified by salmon-colored circles) Species Number of
Trees
Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) 24
Carrot wood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides) 2
Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) 3
Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) 2
Olive (Olea europaea) 7
Sawtooth zelkova (Zelkova serrata) 1
Total number of Sites Occupied by Live Trees 39
Stump 10
Potential Planting Site 6
Total Number of Available Sites 16
Table 4.1: Breakdown of Tree Species in Byron Zinn Park 50 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
46 4.2.2 CARUTHERS PARK
Caruthers Park is bounded by Flora Vista Street to the north, Ripon Avenue to the west, The San Gabriel River to the east, the Greenway Bike Trail to the southwest, and State Highway 91 to the south. Caruthers Park is located within Grid Pruning District 2. There are two baseball/softball fields, a complex of basketball and tennis courts, and several buildings in the central and southeastern portions of the park that are not suitable for tree planting. At the time of the drafting of this UFMP, one hundred thirty-nine (139) available sites were identified within the park, with one hundred thirty-three (133) occupied sites, one (1) site occupied by a dead tree, and five (5) potential planting sites. Figure

4.2 shows the available sites at the time of the drafting of this UFMP (January 2026). Table 4.2 list the number of each tree species present.

Figure 4.2: Identified Available Tree Sites in Caruthers Park (Stumps are indicated by light green-colored squares, potential planting sites are identified by salmon-colored circles) 51 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
47 Species Number of
Trees
Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) 1
American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) 12
Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) 19
Cape chestnut (Calodendrum capense) 2
Chinese flame tree (Koelreuteria bipinnata) 22
Desert gum (Eucalyptus rudis) 1
Fern pine (Afrocarpus falcatus) 12
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) 12
South African wild plum (Harpephyllum caffrum) 2
Lemon-scented gum (Corymbia citriodora) 19
Ornamental pear (Pyrus calleryana) 7
Purple-leaf plum (Prunus cerasifera) 1
Queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffianum) 1
Shamel ash (Fraxinus uhdei) 18
Spotted gum (Corymbia maculata) 4
Total number of Sites Occupied by Live Trees 133
Dead tree 1
Potential Planting Site 5
Total Number of Available Sites 6
Table 4.2: Breakdown of Tree Species in Caruthers Park

4.2.3 CONSTITUTION PARK
Constitution Park is bounded by Cedar Street to the north, Lakewood Boulevard to the east, Rose Street to the south, and Residences to the west. The park is located within Grid Pruning District 4. At the time of the drafting of this UFMP, twenty-three (23) available sites were identified within the park, with nineteen (19) occupied sites and four (4) potential planting sites. Figure 4.3 shows the available sites at the time of the drafting of this UFMP (January 2026). Table 4.3 list the number of each tree species present.
52 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
48 Figure 4.3: Identified Available Tree Sites in Constitution Park (Stumps are indicated by light, green-colored squares, potential planting sites are identified by salmon-colored circles)

Species Number of
Trees
Cajeput tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia) 13
Weeping bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis) 6
Total number of Sites Occupied by Live Trees 19
Potential Planting Site 4
Total Number of Available Sites 4
Table 4.3: Breakdown of Tree Species in Constitution Park 53 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
49 4.2.4 PALM STREET PARK
Palm Street Park is bounded by State Highway 91 to the north and Palm Street to the south. Palm Street Park is located within Grid Pruning District 4. At the time of the drafting of this UFMP, sixty-nine (69) available sites were identified within the park with fifty-six (56) occupied sites, four (4) dead trees, six (6) occupied by stumps from previously removed trees, and three (3) potential planting sites.

Figure 4.4 shows the available sites at the time of the drafting of this UFMP (January 2026). Table 4.4 list the number of each tree species present.

Figure 4.4: Identified Available Tree Sites in Palm Street Park (Stumps are indicated by light, green-colored squares, potential planting sites are identified by salmon-colored circles) Species Number of
Trees
Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) 3
California sycamore (Platanus racemosa) 12
Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) 12
Chitalpa (x Chitalpa tashkentensis) 4
Italian stone pine (Pinus pinea) 8
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) 2
Lemon-scented gum (Corymbia citriodora) 8
Pepper tree (Schinus molle) 1
Red flowering gum (Corymbia ficifolia) 2
Round-leaf moort (Eucalyptus platypus) 1
Shamel ash (Fraxinus uhdei) 1
Spotted gum (Corymbia maculata) 2
Total number of Sites Occupied by Live Trees 56
Dead tree 4
Stump 6
Potential Planting Site 3
Total Number of Available Sites 13
Table 4.4: Breakdown of Tree Species in Palm Street Park 54 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
50 4.2.5 PIRATE PARK
Pirate Park is bounded by Belmont Street to the west, parking lots for the businesses along Bellflower Boulevard to the north and south, and commercial buildings along Bellflower Boulevard to the east.

The park is located within Grid Pruning District 3. At the time of the drafting of this UFMP, seventeen (17) available sites were identified within the park, with sixteen (16) occupied sites, one (1) occupied by a stump from a previously removed tree, and zero (0) potential planting sites. Figure 4.5 shows the available sites at the time of the drafting of this UFMP (January 2026). Table 4.5 list the number of each tree species present.

Figure 4.5: Identified Available Tree Sites in Pirate Park (Stumps are indicated by light green- colored squares, bamboo species are identified by salmon-colored circles)

55 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
51 Species Number of
Trees
Bamboo species (Phyllostachys sp.) 3
Hong Kong orchid tree (Bauhinia x blakeana) 5
King palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) 2
Queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffianum) 6
Total number of Sites Occupied by Live Trees 16
Stump 1
Potential Planting Site 0
Total Number of Available Sites 1
Table 4.5: Breakdown of Tree Species in Pirate Park

4.2.6 RIVERVIEW PARK
Riverview Park is bounded by Rosecrans Avenue to the north, Alondra Boulevard to the south, the San Gabriel River to the east, and residences along Carfax Avenue to the west. Riverview Park spans portions of Grid Pruning District 1 and District 2. At the time of the drafting of this UFMP, three hundred thirty-eight (338) available sites were identified within the park, with two hundred ninety- seven (297) occupied sites, thirty-nine (39) occupied by stumps from previously removed trees, and two (2) potential planting sites. Figure 4.6 shows the available sites at the time of the drafting of this UFMP (January 2026). Table 4.6 list the number of each tree species present. 56 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
52 Figure 4.6: Identified Available Tree Sites in Riverview Park (Stumps are indicated by light green-colored squares, potential planting sites are identified by salmon-colored circles)

Species Number of
Trees
Alii fig (Ficus maclellandii ‘Alii’) 7
Banana species (Musa sp.) 1
Black walnut (Juglans nigra) 23
Bottle tree (Brachychiton populneus) 2
Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) 1
Cajeput tree (Melaleuca quiquenervia) 1
California sycamore (Platanus racemosa) 4
Carrot wood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides) 18
Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) 9
57 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
53 Species Number of
Trees
Flannel bush (Fremontodendron sp.) 1
Goldenrain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) 1
Hollyleaf cherry (Prunus ilicifolia) 109
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) 1
Lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia) 26
London plane (Platanus x hispanica) 18
Pencil tree (Euphorbia tirucalli) 2
Shamel ash (Fraxinus uhdei) 20
Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) 50
White mulberry (Morus alba) 3
Total number of Sites Occupied by Live Trees 297
Stump 39
Potential Planting Site 2
Total Number of Available Sites 41
Table 4.6: Breakdown of Tree Species in Riverview Park

4.2.7 SIMMS PARK
Simms Park is bounded by Oak Street to the north, Flower Street to the south, Ardmore Avenue to the east, and Clark Avenue to the west. Simms Park is located within Grid Pruning District 3. Thirty- four (34) of the trees are located in the planters in the parking lot on the northwest side of the park.

There are two baseball/softball parks, a playground, basketball courts, and the Simms Park Community Center, which are not suitable sites for tree planting. At the time of the drafting of this UFMP, two hundred forty-two (242) available sites were identified within the park, with two hundred five (205) occupied sites, and thirty-seven (37) potential planting sites. Figure 4.7 shows the available sites at the time of the drafting of this UFMP (January 2026). Table 4.7 list the number of each tree species present.
58 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
54 Figure 4.7: Identified Available Tree Sites in Simms Park (Stumps are indicated by light green- colored squares, potential planting sites are identified by salmon-colored circles)

Species Number of
Trees
Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) 1
Black mulberry (Morus nigra) 1
Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) 7
Cape chestnut (Calodendrum capense) 2
Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) 24
Chinese flame tree (Koelreuteria bipinnata) 36
Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) 4
Fern pine (Afrocarpus falcatus) 56
Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) 22
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) 7
King palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) 1
Mediterranean fan palm (Chamaerops humilis) 2
Naked coral tree (Erythrina coralloides) 7
Olive (Olea europaea) 1
Queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffianum) 8
Shamel ash (Fraxinus uhdei) 23
Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) 1
59 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
55 Species Number of
Trees
White fig (Ficus virens) 1
White mulberry (Morus alba) 1
Total number of Sites Occupied by Live Trees 205
Stump 0
Potential Planting Site 37
Total Number of Available Sites 37
Table 4.7: Breakdown of Tree Species in Simms Park

4.2.8 THOMPSON PARK
Thompson Park is bounded by Arthurdale Street to the north, the Pace Education Center to the south, Bellflower Boulevard to the east, and the residences along Ardis Avenue to the west. The park is located within Grid Pruning District 1. There are three baseball/softball fields, a playground, and the YMCA facilities that are not suitable sites for tree planting. At the time of the drafting of this UFMP, one hundred nineteen (119) available sites were identified within the park with ninety-four (94) occupied sites and twenty-five (25) potential planting sites. Figure 4.8 shows the available sites at the time of the drafting of this UFMP (January 2026). Table 4.8 list the number of each tree species present.
60 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
56 Figure 4.8: Identified Available Tree Sites in Thompson Park (Stumps are indicated by light green-colored squares, potential planting sites are identified by salmon-colored circles) Species Number of
Trees
African sumac (Searsia lancea) 3
Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) 4
Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) 1
California fan palm (Washingtonia filifera) 1
Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) 2
Cape chestnut (Calodendrum capense) 3
61 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
57 Species Number of
Trees
Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) 16
Chinese flame tree (Koelreuteria bipinnata) 8
Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) 1
Fern pine (Afrocarpus falcatus) 5
Italian stone pine (Pinus pinea) 1
Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) 2
Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta) 2
Purple orchid tree (Bauhinia variegata) 3
Queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffianum) 4
Shamel ash (Fraxinus uhdei) 38
Total number of Sites Occupied by Live Trees 94
Stump 0
Potential Planting Site 25
Total Number of Available Sites 25
Table 4.8: Breakdown of Tree Species in Thompson Park

4.2.9 GREENWAY BIKE TRAIL
The Greenway Bike Trail runs approximately one mile northwest to southeast from Bellflower Boulevard to State Highway 91. The trail spans portions of Grid Pruning Districts 2, 3, and 5. At the time of the drafting of this UFMP, nine hundred forty (940) available sites were identified along the trail, with eight hundred thirty-two (832) occupied sites, seven (7) sites with dead trees, sixty-nine (69) sites occupied by stumps from previously removed trees, and thirty-two (32) potential planting sites.

Figure 4.9 shows the available sites at the time of the drafting of this UFMP (January 2026). Table 4.9 list the number of each tree species present.

Figure 4.9: Identified Available Tree Sites along the Greenway Bike Trail (Stumps are indicated by light green-colored squares, potential planting sites identified by salmon-colored circles) 62 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
58 Species Number of
Trees
African sumac (Searsia lancea) 192
Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) 3
Brown ironbark (Eucalyptus paniculata) 1
Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) 1
Chinese flame tree (Koelreuteria bipinnata) 3
Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis) 115
Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) 96
Chinese flame tree (Koelreuteria bipinnata) 8
Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) 1
Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara) 1
Glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum) 1
Hopseed (Dodonaea viscosa) 37
Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) 1
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) 3
Olive (Olea europaea) 3
Purple Hopseed (Dodonaea viscosa ‘Pupurea’) 11
Shamel ash (Fraxinus uhdei) 42
White mulberry (Morus alba) 1
Xylosma (Xylosma congesta) 81
Total number of Sites Occupied by Live Trees 832
Dead tree 7
Stump 69
Potential Planting Site 32
Total Number of Available Sites 108
Table 4.9: Breakdown of Tree Species along the Greenway Bike Trail

4.2.10 BUTTERFLY GARDEN PARK
The Butterfly Garden Park is a nearly three quarter (3/4) acre site bounded by Alondra Boulevard to the north and Trabuco Street to the south approximately 400 feet west of the San Gabriel River.

Butterfly Garden Park is located within Grid Pruning District 2. At the time of the drafting of this UFMP, there are twenty-two (22) occupied tree sites within the park. Figure 4.10 shows the available sites at the time of the drafting of this UFMP (January 2026). Table 4.10 list the number of each tree species present.
63 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
59 Figure 4.10: Butterfly Garden Park

Species Number of
Trees
Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis) 7
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimiosifolia) 4
London plane (Platanus x hispanica) 7
Tipu (Tipuana tipu) 4
Total Number of Sites Occupied by Live Trees 22
Table 4.10: Breakdown of Tree Species in Butterfly Garden Park

4.3 PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR OR DESIGNEE
The Department of Public Works is responsible for the care and maintenance of city owned trees within the City of Bellflower. Tree care, maintenance, installation and removal decisions are at the discretion of the Public Works Director or Designee.

64 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
60 4.4 MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
Where practical and financially feasible, the City of Bellflower maintains the trees in the Urban Forest according to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A300 standards and International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Best Management Practices. The City of Bellflower Tree Maintenance Program presented in this section includes tree inspections, scheduled grid pruning, out of cycle pruning, and tree removals.

4.4.1 TREE INSPECTIONS
Regular inspection of the trees in the City of Bellflower Urban Forest is an essential component of the maintenance program. Prior to any scheduled maintenance work, each tree should be inspected for structural defects, dead or broken branches, and signs of stress, decline, pests, or disease. If any of these issues is observed, the condition will be noted in the electronic inventory for the site, and the tree will be referred to the Contractor (West Coast Arborist, Inc. [WCA] at the time of approval of this UFMP) for additional inspection as needed. If the tree is scheduled for pruning or a service request has been made for pruning, the inspector will determine if pruning is required.

4.4.2 GRID PRUNING SCHEDULE
Proper pruning improves the health of a tree by removing dead, diseased, injured, broken, or crowded branches and improving overall branch structure. Well-trimmed trees are less susceptible to disease and pest infestations and less likely to experience large branch failures. The required frequency of regular pruning is dependent on the growth characteristics of individual tree species.

Fast-growing species such as Ficus, elms, and corals require annual pruning to prevent overextended branches that are more susceptible to failures. Senescence of lower fronds and annual fruit production for palms can necessitate an annual pruning cycle as well. The Parks and Recreation facilities listed in Section 4.2 will also require annual inspection and pruning as necessary.

All trees not included for annual pruning in Section 4.2, Section 4.4.2.1 or Section 4.4.2.2 will be inspected for pruning on a two-year Grid-Pruning cycle based on Table 4.11 .

65 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
61 Grid Pruning District
Active Sites (as
of September
2025)
Year One
District 1 2,265
District 2 749
Annual Palm Pruning 617
Annual Pruning Species 242
Parks 1,713
Year One Totals 5,586
Year Two
District 3 1,002
District 4 640
District 5 1,028
Annual Palm Pruning 617
Annual Pruning Species 242
Parks 1,713
Year Two Totals 5,242
Table 4.11 : Two -Year Grid Pruning Schedule

4.4.2.1 Annual Palm Pruning
Palms have been separated from the standard pruning grid districts due to unique growth characteristics and the maintenance challenges they present. An annual trimming cycle to remove fruiting structures and senescing lower fronds is required for these species. The number of each individual palm species by Grid Pruning District is shown in Table 4.12 and the current (September 2025) distribution of trees is shown in Figure 4.11 . Palms within the parks and recreation areas listed in Section 4.2 are not included in this list since they are already part of an annual pruning cycle.

Species
Number of Palms
District
1 District
2 District
3 District
4 District
5 Total
Bottle palm (Hyophorbe lagenicaulis) 1 0 2 0 0 3
California fan palm (Washingtonia filifera) 3 1 0 0 0 4 Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) 3 1 3 3 4 14 Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) 0 0 2 1 19 22
Foxtail palm (Wodyetia bifurcata) 0 0 1 0 0 1
Jelly palm (Butia capitata) 1 0 0 0 0 1
King palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana) 34 6 14 8 9 71 Majesty palm (Ravenea rivularis) 5 0 2 0 0 7
Mediterranean fan palm (Chamaerops humilis) 3 1 0 1 0 5 Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta) 15 4 9 6 1 35
Pindo palm (Butia odorata) 0 0 2 0 0 2
Pygmy date palm (Phoenix roebelenii) 37 0 1 1 0 39
Queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffianum) 95 76 57 33 137 398 Triangle palm (Dypsis decaryi) 1 0 0 0 0 1
Vulcano European fan palm (Chamaerops humilis ‘Vulcano™’) 2 0 0 0 0 2 Windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) 5 1 0 4 2 12
Total number of palms for Annual Pruning 617
Table 4.12: Breakdown of palm species for Annual Pruning

66 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
62 Figure 4.11 : Locations of palms for Annual Pruning

67 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
63 4.4.2.2 Tree Species for Annual Pruning
Due to high growth rates, elms, corals, and figs require annual to biannual pruning to reduce overextended branches that are highly susceptible to failure. In general, elm, especially Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia), coral, and fig species are known for a higher frequency of branch failures than most other species. Pruning efforts will focus on the reduction of overextended branches by selective removal of outer new growth while maintaining interior branches to balance weight distribution along scaffold and large secondary branches. A breakdown of the species for annual pruning by Grid Pruning District is provided in Table 4.13. The current (September 2025) distribution of the tree species for annual pruning is shown in Figure 4.12. Trees within the parks and recreation areas listed in Section 4.2 are not included in this list since they are already part of an annual pruning cycle.

Species
Number of Trees
District
1 District
2 District
3 District
4 District
5 Total
Accolade elm (Ulmus ‘Morton’) 1 0 0 0 0 1
Alii fig (Ficus maclellandii ‘Alii’) 1 0 0 0 0 1
Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) 18 17 29 37 77 178
Chinese weeping banyan (Ficus benjamina ‘Variegata’) 0 0 0 0 1 1 Fiddleleaf fig (Ficus lyrata) 0 0 0 1 0 1
Indian laurel fig (Ficus microcarpa ‘Nitida’) 8 2 5 4 0 19 Rubber tree (Ficus elastica) 1 0 0 0 0 1
Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) 0 0 4 2 0 6
Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) 16 3 10 3 2 34
Total number of trees for Annual Pruning 242
Table 4.13: Breakdown of tree species for Annual Pruning

68 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
64 Figure 4.12: Locations of Annual Pruning tree species

69 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
65 4.4.2.3 Grid Pruning District 1
The boundaries of Grid Pruning District 1 are described in Section 3.4.1. The number of each species not listed in 4.4.2.1 Annual Palm Pruning, 4.4.2.2 Tree Species for Annual Pruning, or 4.2 Parks and Recreation Facilities present in Grid Pruning District 1 according to the City of Bellflower Electronic Inventory System as of September 2025 is presented in Table 4.14. A breakdown of the number of trees by Diameter at Standard Height (DSH) in District 1 is presented in Table 4.15 and the location of trees is shown in Figure 4.13. There is a total of two thousand, two hundred sixty-five (2,265) trees in Grid Pruning District 1. Dominant species in Grid Pruning District 1 included crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica), Australian willow (Geijera parviflora), London plane (Platanus x hispanica), ornamental pear (Pyrus calleryana), southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), and holly oak (Quercus ilex), all species with moderate pruning requirements. Grid Pruning District 1 was dominated by maturing trees with roughly fifty-seven (57) percent (57.88%) of the existing trees with a DSH measurement between seven and eighteen inches (7” – 18”).

Species Number of
Trees
African fern pine (Afrocarpus falcatus) 79
African sumac (Searsia lancea) 6
American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) 20
American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) 3
Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) 1
Aristocrat pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Aristocrat’) 3
Arizona ash (Fraxinus velutina) 14
Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) 1
Australian willow (Geijera parviflora) 274
Avocado (Persea americana) 7
Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) 26
Bottle tree (Brachychiton populneus) 70
Bottlebrush (Callistemon sp.) 1
Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) 53
Brisbane box (Lophostemon confertus) 39
Bronze loquat (Eriobotrya deflexa) 3
Cajeput tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia) 21
California sycamore (Platanus racemosa) 6
Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) 5
Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) 18
Cape chestnut (Calodendrum capense) 5
Caribbean copper tree (Euphorbia cotinifolia) 1
Carolina laurel cherry (Prunus caroliniana) 1
Carrot wood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides) 13
Cherokee hybrid crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia ‘Cherokee’) 1 Chinaberry (Melia azedarach) 4
Chinese flame tree (Koelreuteria bipinnata) 19
Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis) 27
Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) 1
Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) 2
Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) 2
Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) 1
Cook pine (Araucaria columnaris) 1
Crabapple (Malus floribunda) 3
Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) 303
Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) 1
Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara) 1
Drumstick tree (Moringa oleifera) 1
Edible fig (Ficus carica) 5
Edible loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) 10
European white birch (Betula pendula) 1
70 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
66 Species Number of
Trees
Evergreen pear (Pyrus kawakamii) 55
Firewheel tree (Stenocarpus sinuatus) 14
Frangipani (Plumeria rubra) 4
Frasers photinia (Photinia x fraseri) 30
Galaxy magnolia (Magnolia liliiflora ‘Galaxy’) 1
Glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum) 28
Gold markhamia (Markhamia lutea) 1
Gold medallion tree (Cassia leptophylla) 4
Goldenrain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) 21
Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) 1
Guamúchil (Pithecellobium dulce) 1
Guava (Psidium guajava) 6
Holly oak (Quercus ilex) 114
Hollywood juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Torulosa’) 6
Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) 34
Horsetail tree (Casuarina equisetifolia) 3
Idaho locust (Robinia ambigua ‘Idahoensis’) 13
Incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) 2
Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) 3
Italian stone pine (Pinus pinea) 5
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) 12
Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) 4
Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) 5
Japanese pagoda tree (Styphnolobium japonicum) 1
Java plum (Syzygium cumini) 1
Jerusalem thorn (Parkinsonia aculeata) 1
Lemon (Citrus limon) 4
Lemon bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus) 16
London plane (Platanus x hispanica) 235
Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba) 12
Majestic Beauty Indian hawthorn (x Rhaphiobotrya splendens ‘Montic’) 11 Malus species (Malus spp. & cv.) 4
Mango (Mangifera indica) 2
Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) 2
Mock orange (Pittosporum tobira) 2
New Zealand Christmas tree (Metrosideros excelsa) 18
Oleander (Nerium oleander) 1
Olive (Olea europaea) 14
Orange (Citrus sinensis) 6
Ornamental pear (Pyrus calleryana) 163
Peppertree (Schinus molle) 5
Pink melaleuca (Melaleuca nesophila) 6
Pink trumpet tree (Handroanthus heptaphyllus) 4
Pomegranate (Punica granatum) 1
Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) 1
Purple orchid tree (Bauhinia variegata) 16
Purple robe locust (Robinia Purple robe’) 2
Purple-leaf plum (Prunus cerasifera) 6
Queensland pittosporum (Auranticarpa rhombifolia) 3
Raywood ash (Fraxinus angustifolia ‘Raywood’) 1
Red ironbark (Eucalyptus fibrosa) 1
Red ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon) 9
Saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana) 1
Sawtooth zelkova (Zelkova serrata) 88
Shamel ash (Fraxinus uhdei) 41
Silk oak (Grevillea robusta) 1
Small Philippine acacia (Acacia confusa) 1
Smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) 1
Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) 128
Spanish dagger (Yucca gloriosa) 1
Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) 2
Sweet cherry (Prunus avium) 1
Sweetshade (Hymenosporum flavum) 3
Thuja species (Thuja sp.) 1
71 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
67 Species Number of
Trees
Trident maple (Acer buergerianum) 11
Tuscarora hybrid crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia ‘Tuscarora’) 3 Weeping willow (Salix babylonica) 2
Western catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) 1
Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) 10
White mulberry (Morus alba) 1
Total number of trees in Grid Pruning District 1 2,265
Table 4.14: Breakdown of tree species in Grid Pruning District 1

DSH Range Number of Trees
0” – 6” 270
7” – 12” 708
13” – 18” 632
19” – 24” 532
25” – 30” 105
31” + 18
Table 4.15: Diameter at Standard Height (DSH) breakdown for Grid Pruning District 1

Figure 4.13: Locations of trees, stumps, and planting sites in Grid Pruning District 1

4.4.2.4 Grid Pruning District 2
The boundaries of Grid Pruning District 2 are described in Section 3.4.2. The number of each species not listed in 4.4.2.1 Annual Palm Pruning, 4.4.2.2 Tree Species for Annual Pruning, or 4.2 Parks and Recreation Facilities present in Grid Pruning District 2 according to the City of Bellflower Electronic Inventory System as of September 2025 is presented in Table 4.16. A breakdown of the number of trees by Diameter at Standard Height (DSH) in District 2 is presented in Table 4.17 and the location of trees is shown in Figure 4.14. There is a total of seven hundred forty-nine (749) trees in Grid Pruning District 2. Dominant species in Grid Pruning District 2 included crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica), ornamental pear (Pyrus calleryana), African fern pine (Afrocarpus falcatus), and Australian willow (Geijera parviflora), all species with moderate pruning requirements. Grid Pruning District 2 was 72 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
68 dominated by maturing trees with roughly fifty-eight (58) percent (57.73%) of the existing trees with DSH measurements between seven and eighteen inches (7” – 18”).

Species Number of
Trees
African fern pine (Afrocarpus falcatus) 69
African sumac (Searsia lancea) 3
Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) 1
American arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) 1
American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) 18
Aristocrat pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Aristocrat’) 2
Arizona ash (Fraxinus velutina) 1
Australian willow (Geijera parviflora) 48
Autumn Gold maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba ‘Autumn Gold’) 1 Beestill tree (Cascabela thevetia) 2
Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) 5
Bottle tree (Brachychiton populneus) 17
Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’) 1
Brisbane box (Lophostemon confertus) 9
Cajeput tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia) 23
California sycamore (Platanus racemosa) 9
Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) 1
Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) 16
Caribbean copper tree (Euphorbia cotinifolia) 1
Carolina laurel cherry (Prunus caroliniana) 1
Carrot wood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides) 10
Cherimoya (Annona cherimola) 1
Chinese flame tree (Koelreuteria bipinnata) 2
Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis) 21
Cook pine (Araucaria columnaris) 1
Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) 100
Curry tree (Bergera koenigii) 1
Edible apple (Malus domestica) 2
European white birch (Betula pendula) 1
Evergreen pear (Pyrus kawakamii) 40
Firewheel tree (Stenocarpus sinuatus) 1
Floss silk tree (Ceiba speciosa) 1
Frasers photinia (Photinia x fraseri) 9
Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) 1
Glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum) 7
Holly oak (Quercus ilex) 2
Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) 1
Hong Kong orchid tree (Bauhinia x blakeana) 5
Italian stone pine (Pinus pinea) 1
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) 21
Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) 2
Japanese pagoda tree (Styphnolobium japonicum) 1
Lemon bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus) 2
Lemon-scented gum (Corymbia citriodora) 11
Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba) 11
Majestic Beauty Indian hawthorn (x Rhaphiobotrya splendens ‘Montic’) 1 Mondell pine (Pinus eldarica) 1
New Zealand Christmas tree (Metrosideros excelsa) 9
Ornamental pear (Pyrus calleryana) 89
Peppermint tree (Agonis flexuosa) 1
Pink trumpet tree (Handroanthus heptaphyllus) 20
Purple Robe locust (Robinia ‘Purple Robe’) 25
Purple-leaf plum (Prunus cerasifera) 2
Pygmy date palm (Phoenix roebelenii) 3
Red mulberry (Morus rubra) 1
Sawtooth zelkova (Zelkova serrata) 39
Shamel ash (Fraxinus uhdei) 1
Smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) 3
Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) 37
Spotted gum (Corymbia maculata) 2
73 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
69 Species Number of
Trees
Swamp mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta) 25
Sweetshade (Hymenosporum flavum) 2
Thornless Chilean mesquite (Prosopis chilensis ‘Thornless’) 1 Tupidanthus (Heptapleurum calyptratum) 1
Water gum (Tristaniopsis laurina) 1
White mulberry (Morus alba) 1
Total number of trees in Grid Pruning District 2 749
Table 4.16: Breakdown of tree species in Grid Pruning District 2

DSH Range Number of Trees
0” – 6” 66
7” – 12” 243
13” – 18” 190
19” – 24” 196
25” – 30” 40
31” + 14
Table 4.17: Diameter at Standard Height (DSH) breakdown for Grid Pruning District 2

Figure 4.14: Locations of trees, stumps, and planting sites in Grid Pruning District 2 74 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
70 4.4.2.5 Grid Pruning District 3
The boundaries of Grid Pruning District 3 are described in Section 3.4.3. The number of each species not listed in 4.4.2.1 Annual Palm Pruning, 4.4.2.2 Tree Species for Annual Pruning, or 4.2 Parks and Recreation Facilities present in Grid Pruning District 3 according to the City of Bellflower Electronic Inventory System as of September 2025 is presented in Table 4.18. A breakdown of the number of trees by Diameter at Standard Height (DSH) in District 3 is presented in Table 4.19 and the location of trees is shown in Figure 4.15. There is a total of one thousand two (1,002) trees in Grid Pruning District 3. Dominant species in Grid Pruning District 3 included crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica), Australian willow (Geijera parviflora), African fern pine (Afrocarpus falcatus), evergreen pear (Pyrus kawakamii), and holly oak (Quercus ilex), all species with moderate pruning requirements. Grid Pruning District 3 was dominated by maturing trees with roughly fifty-eight (58) percent (58.18%) of the existing trees with a DSH measurement between seven and eighteen inches (7” – 18”).

Species Number of
Trees
African fern pine (Afrocarpus falcatus) 96
African sumac (Searsia lancea) 3
American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) 3
Arapaho crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Arapaho’) 4 Aristocrat pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Aristocrat’) 4
Arizona ash (Fraxinus velutina) 1
Australian willow (Geijera parviflora) 178
Avocado (Persea americana) 4
Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) 6
Bottle tree (Brachychiton populneus) 19
Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’) 3
Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebintifolius) 2
Brisbane box (Lophostemon confertus) 32
Bronze loquat (Eriobotrya deflexa) 17
Brush cherry (Syzygium australe) 2
California sycamore (Platanus racemosa) 1
Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) 7
Carolina laurel cherry (Prunus caroliniana) 1
Carrot wood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides) 8
Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) 1
Cherimoya (Annona cherimola) 4
Cherokee crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia ‘Cherokee’) 1
Chinese flame tree (Koelreuteria bipinnata) 1
Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus) 3
Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis) 3
Chinese tallow tree (Triadica sebifera) 31
Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) 1
Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) 185
Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) 1
Edible apple (Malus domestica) 1
Edible loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) 3
Evergreen pear (Pyrus kawakamii) 60
Firewheel tree (Stenocarpus sinuatus) 3
Frangipani (Plumeria rubra) 1
Frasers photinia (Photinia x fraseri) 27
Glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum) 9
Goldenrain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) 21
Guava (Psidium guajava) 4
Holly oak (Quercus ilex) 51
Hong Kong orchid tree (Bauhinia x blakeana) 2
Italian stone pine (Pinus pinea) 2
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) 7
Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) 9
Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) 4
75 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
71 Species Number of
Trees
Lemon (Citrus limon) 3
Lemon bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus) 2
London plane (Platanus x hispanica) 8
Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba) 24
Majestic Beauty Indian hawthorn (x Rhaphiobotrya splendens ‘Montic’) 4 Marina strawberry tree (Arbutus ‘Marina’) 2
Mondell pine (Pinus eldarica) 1
Natchez crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’) 1
New Zealand Christmas tree (Metrosideros excelsa) 7
Olive (Olea europaea) 4
Oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) 1
Ornamental pear (Pyrus calleryana) 40
Peach (Prunus persica) 4
Pearl acacia (Acacia podalyriifolia) 2
Pink powderpuff (Calliandra haematocephala) 1
Pink trumpet tree (Handroanthus heptaphyllus) 2
Plum (Prunus domestica) 2
Pomegranate (Punica granatum) 2
Purple Rob locust (Robinia ‘Purple Robe’) 6
Purple-leaf plum (Prunus cerasifera) 2
Queensland pittosporum (Auranticarpa rhombifolia) 1
Sago palm (Cycas revoluta) 1
Sawtooth zelkova (Zelkova serrata) 17
Shamel ash (Fraxinus uhdei) 2
Sour gum (Nyssa sylvatica) 1
Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) 23
Swamp mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta) 1
Sweet bay (Laurus nobilis) 1
Sweetshade (Hymenosporum flavum) 2
Toog (Bischofia javanica) 1
Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) 1
Tuscarora hybrid crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia ‘Tuscarora’) 3 White popinac (Leucaena glauca) 1
Willow pittosporum (Pittosporum phillyraeoides) 1
Xylosma (Xylosma congesta) 2
Total number of trees in Grid Pruning District 3 1,002
Table 4.18: Breakdown of tree species in Grid Pruning District 3

DSH Range Number of Trees
0” – 6” 103
7” – 12” 339
13” – 18” 244
19” – 24” 226
25” – 30” 70
31”+ 20
Table 4.19: Diameter at Standard Height (DSH) breakdown for Grid Pruning District 3 76 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
72 Figure 4.15: Locations of trees, stumps, and planting sites in Grid Pruning District 3

4.4.2.6 Grid Pruning District 4
The boundaries of Grid Pruning District 4 are described in Section 3.4.4. The number of each species not listed in 4.4.2.1 Annual Palm Pruning, 4.4.2.2 Tree Species for Annual Pruning, or 4.2 Parks and Recreation Facilities present in Grid Pruning District 4 according to the City of Bellflower Electronic Inventory System as of September 2025 is presented in Table 4.20. A breakdown of the number of trees by Diameter at Standard Height (DSH) in District 4 is presented in Table 4.21 and the location of trees and available sites is shown in Figure 4.16. There is a total of six hundred thirty-nine (640) trees in Grid Pruning District 4. Dominant species in Grid Pruning District 4 included crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica), Ornamental pear (Pyrus calleryana), African fern pine (Afrocarpus falcatus), and Australian willow (Geijera parviflora), all species with moderate pruning requirements. Grid Pruning District 4 was dominated by maturing trees with nearly sixty-three (63) percent (62.96%) of the existing trees with a DSH measurement between zero and twelve inches (7” – 18”). 77 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
73 Species Number of
Trees
African fern pine (Afrocarpus falcatus) 60
African sumac (Searsia lancea) 3
Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) 10
American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) 5
American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) 2
Australian willow (Geijera parviflora) 45
Avocado (Persea americana) 4
Blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) 1
Bottle tree (Brachychiton populneus) 13
Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) 7
Brisbane box (Lophostemon confertus) 4
Bronze loquat (Eriobotrya deflexa) 10
Cajeput tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia) 14
California sycamore (Platanus racemosa) 3
Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) 3
Carrot wood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides) 1
Chinaberry (Melia azedarach) 1
Chinese flame tree (Koelreuteria bipinnata) 6
Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus) 27
Chitalpa (x Chitalpa tashkentensis) 13
Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) 119
Edible loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) 3
Evergreen pear (Pyrus kawakamii) 33
Firewheel tree (Stenocarpus sinuatus) 8
Floss silk tree (Ceiba speciosa) 2
Frasers photinia (Photinia x fraseri) 23
Golden shower tree (Cassia fistula) 1
Guamúchil (Pithecellobium dulce) 1
Guava (Psidium guajava) 3
Hawthorn (Crataegus sp.) 1
Holly oak (Quercus ilex) 1
Hollywood juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Torulosa’) 3
Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) 3
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) 4
Lemon (Citrus limon) 4
Lemon bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus) 13
Leyland cypress (x Hesperotropsis leylandii) 1
London plane (Platanus x hispanica) 13
Majestic Beauty Indian hawthorn (x Rhaphiobotrya splendens ‘Montic’) 42 Mango (Mangifera indica) 1
Mexican ebony (Pithecellobium mexicanum) 1
New Zealand Christmas tree (Metrosideros excelsa) 3
Orange (Citrus sinensis) 1
Ornamental pear (Pyrus calleryana) 75
Peach (Prunus persica) 2
Pendulous yucca (Yucca recurvifolia) 1
Peppertree (Schinus molle) 1
Pink trumpet tree (Handroanthus heptaphyllus) 2
Pomegranate (Punica granatum) 1
Popcorn bush (Cassia didymobotrya) 1
Purple-leaf plum (Prunus cerasifera) 7
Queensland pittosporum (Auranticarpa rhombifolia) 3
Saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana) 1
Shamel ash (Fraxinus uhdei) 3
Silver dollar gum (Eucalyptus polyanthemos) 2
Southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) 2
Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) 16
White mulberry (Morus alba) 3
White popinac (Leucaena glauca) 4
Total number of trees in Grid Pruning District 4 640
Table 4.20: Breakdown of tree species in Grid Pruning District 4

78 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
74 DSH Range Number of Trees
0” – 6” 90
7” – 12” 273
13” – 18” 130
19” – 24” 127
25” – 30” 17
31” + 3
Table 4.21: Diameter at Standard Height (DSH) breakdown for Grid Pruning District 4

Figure 4.16: Locations of trees, stumps, and planting sites in Grid Pruning District 4

4.4.2.7 Grid Pruning District 5
The boundaries of Grid Pruning District 5 are described in Section 3.4.5. The number of each species not listed in 4.4.2.1 Annual Palm Pruning, 4.4.2.2 Tree Species for Annual Pruning, or 4.2 Parks and Recreation Facilities present in Grid Pruning District 5 according to the City of Bellflower Electronic Inventory System as of September 2025 is presented in Table 4.22. A breakdown of the number of trees by Diameter at Standard Height (DSH) in District 5 is presented in Table 4.23 and the location of trees and available sites is shown in Figure 4.17. There is a total of one thousand, twenty-eight (1,028) trees in Grid Pruning District 5. Dominant species in Grid Pruning District 5 included crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica), Australian willow (Geijera parviflora), ornamental pear (Pyrus calleryana), London plane (Platanus x hispanica), and purple orchid tree (Bauhinia variegata), all species with moderate pruning requirements. Grid Pruning District 5 was dominated by maturing trees with roughly sixty-two (62) percent (62.15%) of the existing trees with a DSH measurement between seven and eighteen inches (7” – 18”).

79 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
75 Species Number of
Trees
African fern pine (Afrocarpus falcatus) 22
African sumac (Searsia lancea) 1
Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) 3
American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) 4
Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) 1
Arizona ash (Fraxinus velutina) 6
Australian willow (Geijera parviflora) 152
Avocado (Persea americana) 2
Bottle tree (Brachychiton populneus) 26
Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) 6
Brisbane box (Lophostemon confertus) 23
Bronze loquat (Eriobotrya deflexa) 1
Cajeput tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia) 13
California sycamore (Platanus racemosa) 11
Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) 5
Carrot wood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides) 1
Chinaberry (Melia azedarach) 2
Chinese flame tree (Koelreuteria bipinnata) 2
Chinese photinia (Photinia serrulata) 1
Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis) 8
Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) 248
Dancer pear (Pyrus betulifolia) 1
Desert gum (Eucalyptus rudis) 1
Edible loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) 2
Evergreen pear (Pyrus kawakamii) 34
Firewheel tree (Stenocarpus sinuatus) 3
Frasers photinia (Photinia x fraseri) 24
Glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum) 1
Golden medallion tree (Cassia leptophylla) 1
Guaje (Leucaena esculenta) 1
Guamúchil (Pithecellobium dulce) 1
Guava (Psidium guajava) 1
Holly oak (Quercus ilex) 15
Hollyleaf cherry (Prunus ilicifolia) 1
Hong Kong orchid tree (Bauhinia x blakeana) 11
Italian stone pine (Pinus pinea) 1
Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) 18
Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) 5
Lemon bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus) 14
Lemon-scented gum (Corymbia citriodora) 1
London plane (Platanus x hispanica) 46
Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba) 4
Majestic Beauty Indian hawthorn (x Rhaphiobotrya splendens ‘Montic’) 12 Mango (Mangifera indica) 1
Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) 1
Muskogee hybrid crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia ‘Muskogee’) 1 New Zealand Christmas tree (Metrosideros excelsa) 12
Olive (Olea europaea) 3
Oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) 1
Ornamental pear (Pyrus calleryana) 120
Peppertree (Schinus molle) 1
Purple orchid tree (Bauhinia variegata) 44
Purple-leaf plum (Prunus cerasifera) 2
Queensland pittosporum (Auranticarpa rhombifolia) 1
Queensland umbrella tree (Heptapleurum actinophyllum) 1 Saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana) 1
Sawtooth zelkova (Zelkova serrata) 35
Shamel ash (Fraxinus uhdei) 6
Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) 2
Smooth-shell macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia) 1
Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) 32
Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) 5
Sugar gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) 1
Sweet cherry (Prunus avium) 1
80 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
76 Species Number of
Trees
Sweetshade (Hymenosporum flavum) 2
Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) 2
Trident maple (Acer buergerianum) 9
Western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) 5
White mulberry (Morus alba) 1
White sapote (Casimiroa edulis) 1
Total number of trees in Grid Pruning District 5 1,028
Table 4.22: Breakdown of tree species in Grid Pruning District 5 DSH Range Number of Trees
0” – 6” 138
7” – 12” 367
13” – 18” 272
19” – 24” 195
25” – 30” 51
31” + 5
Table 4.23: Diameter at Standard Height (DSH) breakdown for Grid Pruning District 5

Figure 4.17: Locations of trees, stumps, and planting sites in Grid Pruning District 5 81 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
77 4.4.3 OUT OF CYCLE PRUNING
Out-of-cycle pruning is typically conducted in response to resident requests or recommendations from the Public Works Director or Designee. When an out-of-cycle pruning request is received, the Director of Public Works or the Director’s designee will inspect the tree or assign an outside ISA Certified Arborist contractor to inspect the tree to determine if the requested pruning can be completed without adversely impacting the health and structure of the tree. If, after inspection, it is determined that the requested pruning is necessary and will not have adverse impacts on the tree, the Director of Public Works shall assign the work to the appropriate crew or outside contractor. The request and notification of work completed will be logged on the tree site in the Electronic Inventory System.

4.4.4 TREE REMOVALS
The removal of dead, dying, or hazardous trees is a necessary element to maintaining a healthy and sustainable urban forest. As living organisms, trees have a finite lifespan and will eventually begin to decline and expire. Trees planted in spaces too small for the species will eventually outgrow the space and decline or damage the surrounding hardscape. Removal should be considered as the final option, once other alternatives have been ruled out, for trees in the City of Bellflower. An ISA Certified Arborist shall inspect each tree proposed for removal and provide a written report with recommendations to the Director of Public Works. The arborist report will be attached to the tree site in the Electronic Inventory System. The City’s My Bellflower mobile app offers residents a simpler and efficient way to connect with City services. A sub mitted service request must be reviewed and approved by the Director of Public Works prior to any tree removal, with the exception of trees that are removed as part of an Emergency Response.

The removal will be noted in the Electronic Inventory System once work is completed. To the extent possible, the stump of removed trees and all major roots should be removed by hand or using a stump grinder. Replacement species should be selected from the Approved Tree Palette based on the size of the available space and the desired form and function for the planting site. Replacement with the same species or a species susceptible to the same disease is not recommended if the tree was removed due to a soil-borne disease. The Director of Public Works should consult with an ISA Certified Arborist during the tree selection process to determine the appropriate replacement species in these cases.

4.5 STANDARDS AND BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
To the extent possible, all tree maintenance work within the City of Bellflower should be conducted in accordance with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A300 Tree Care Standards and the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Best Management Practices (BMPs). The ANSI Standards and ISA BMPs are summarized throughout this UFMP and included in Appendix B for reference.

4.6 PLANT HEALTH CARE
Plant health care is an integrated process that begins with appropriate species selection based on the size and location of the planting site, selection of healthy nursery stock with good branch and root structure, proper installation practices (planting and staking), and regular, systematic maintenance (watering and structural pruning for young trees, regular pruning for established trees). Appropriately 82 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
78 selected trees with adequate growing conditions and proper maintenance are more resilient to environmental stress and have the necessary resources to resist or tolerate many pests and diseases without additional treatment. As essential components of any Plant Health Care (PHC) and Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM), species selection (Tree Palette), nursery stock inspection (Nursery Stock Selection), installation practices (Planting Plan), and proper maintenance (Maintenance Program) are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the UFMP. This section will focus on standards for cultural care and pest and disease susceptibility, diagnostics and standard treatment practices.

4.6.1 CULTURAL PRACTICES TO SUPPORT TREE HEALTH
Planting the right tree in the right place according to the installation standards presented in the Standards and Best Management Practices (Appendix B) section of this UFMP is the first step in the Plant Health Care Program. The establishment and long-term health of the tree will depend on good cultural practices to maintain the tree’s growing environment. Cultural care includes proper water management, mulching, fertilization, pruning, and sanitation practices to establish environmental conditions around the tree that are favorable for tree growth, while eliminating conditions that favor pests and diseases. The extent to which these practices can be implemented may be limited in the urban setting by available space, infrastructure needs, and development. There is a continuum for each of these practices where too much and not enough can lead to stress for the tree, so each process needs to be properly planned to respond to the needs of the tree to the extent possible in the urban environment. The information presented in each section below is summarized from the ISA Best Management Practices – Tree Planting and ANSI A300 Tree Care Standards Clause 10:

Planting and Transplanting. Links to both are included in Appendix B.

4.6.1.1 Water Management
Access to adequate water is essential for the growth and health of all trees. The movement of water in a tree requires that the roots uptake enough water to balance that which is lost through leaf transpiration in the canopy. Insufficient soil moisture reduces the ability of roots to access and uptake water. If the roots are unable to uptake enough water to replace transpiration losses, leaves and branches may begin to wilt and die back, beginning in the upper canopy. Water-stressed trees are also typically more susceptible to pests and disease as resources needed to produce defensive chemicals become limited or reallocated.

Similarly, excessive soil moisture is problematic for the health of trees. Like all living cells, root cells require oxygen to function and remain alive. Roots access both water and air stored in the pore spaces between soil particles. As soil becomes oversaturated, the pore spaces become filled by excess water, displacing air. Without the necessary air, root function is reduced, and eventually the roots begin to die. The resulting reduction in root system function and volume reduces water uptake and can lead to similar symptoms as those expected in water-stressed trees.

Trees established in the landscape will have developed root systems connected to adequate water sources and should only require supplemental water during long periods of drought for non-irrigated sites, or if there are long-term changes to the frequency or duration of watering cycles for irrigated sites.
83 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
79 Supplemental water is required for young, newly planted trees until they become established, usually one to two years after installation. If an irrigation system is to be used to provide supplemental water, the new trees should be on a dedicated valve and program, separate from adjacent lawn or shrub systems. Soil moisture should be tested periodically using a soil probe to make sure the soil is being kept moist but not oversaturated, and the program should be adjusted accordingly.

Sites without automatic irrigation will require hand watering of newly planted trees. A watering schedule will need to be developed, and the responsible party clearly defined for all new tree plantings. To avoid overwatering, samples of the soil should be taken with a soil probe prior to hand watering, with supplemental water provided only as required to maintain adequate soil moisture.

Water should be evenly distributed throughout the watering basin established during installation. (see Standards and Best Management Practices). Any disturbance to the berm or basin must be repaired at the time of watering or prior to the next scheduled visit.

The frequency of visits will be based on the specific needs of the species, based on the water usage provided in the species profile (Tree Palette). Table 4.24 provides a general schedule based on time of year and species water usage. A general guidance for the volume of water to be provided at each visit is ten (10) gallons of water for every one (1) caliper inch of the trunk.

Water Usage June - October November - May
Very Low 1x per week
1x per week (0 – 3 months
after installation)
Every other week (3
months + after installation)
Low
2x per week (0 – 3 months
after installation)
1x per week (3 months +
after installation)
1x per week
Moderate 2x per week 2x per week
Table 4.24: General Watering Schedule Based on Water Usage

4.6.1.2 Mulching
There are many benefits of applying mulch to trees in the urban forest. Mulches help:
• Maintain soil moisture.
• Manage weed growth.
• Moderate soil temperature changes.
• Reduce soil compaction and erosion.
• Increase soil organic matter, which stimulates microbial activity, soil aggregation, and nutrient availability.

Like all the cultural practices in this section, these benefits may not be realized if mulch is not applied in the proper manner. In fact, improper mulch application can be more harmful to the health of the tree than not applying mulch at all.

Figure 4.18 illustrates proper mulching technique and some potential consequences of improper mulching. In general, mulch:
84 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
80 • Should cover as much of the root zone as possible. o For newly planted trees, 1.5 to 3 inches DSH, mulch should be applied over an area with a minimum 3-foot radius.
o For larger trees, it is ideal to apply mulch from near the trunk to the dripline; however, the minimum radius of the mulched area should be three times the DSH. o Applied in a continuous bed around multiple trees.
• Should not be in contact with the trunk of the tree. The area six to eight inches (6” – 8”) from the base of the trunk should be left clear of mulch when practical. • Should be tapered in depth from a thin layer near the trunk to a maximum depth of two inches (2”) near the edge of the mulched area.

More detailed information can be found in Appendix B in the Mulching Section of the ISA Soil Management for Urban Trees BMP.

85 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
81 Figure 4.18: Proper Mulching Practices

4.6.1.3 Fertilization
Fertilizers should only be applied to trees when a nutrient deficiency is identified through lab analysis of soil and tissue samples. Some pests and diseases can cause very similar symptoms to those typically associated with nutrient deficiencies, so samples should always be taken to confirm the deficiency before a fertilizer is applied. For new tree plantings, adding organic amendments to the top six inches of backfill soil will improve soil structure while promoting beneficial soil microbe development and healthy root growth for the tree.

If specific nutrient deficiencies are identified in soil or tissue samples, a Certified Arborist or Pest Control Advisor can provide an appropriate fertilizer treatment plan. Further information regarding tree nutrient requirements and fertilizer application can be found in Appendix B in the ISA Tree and Shrub Fertilization BMP.

4.6.1.4 Pruning
Pruning of mature trees is discussed in Section 4.4 as part of the Maintenance Program. Where practical pruning should be conducted according to ANSI A300 Standards and ISA Best Management Practices (Appendix B). Some general acceptable pruning guidelines include:
• Define the objectives of the pruning.
• Remove only the amount of material necessary to meet the objectives. • To the extent possible, avoid cuts to large branches (branches with a diameter of four inches [4”] or greater) that will create a large wound. Large wounds are more susceptible to pests, disease, and decay.
• Avoid poor pruning practices such as flush cuts; topping, lion-tailing, excessive thinning, excessive raising, or excessive reduction.
• Make cuts back to branch unions with the remaining branch at least one-third the diameter of the branch to be removed; do not leave stubs.
• Use the three-cut method (Figure 4.19) to preserve the branch collar and avoid bark tearing to the trunk or remaining branch.
• Sanitize pruning equipment with an alcohol or bleach solution before moving to a different tree or making a cut on the same tree if disease or pest infestation is suspected on the previously cut branch.
86 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
82 Figure 4.19: The Three Cut Method
(Graphic courtesy of the ISA Pruning Best Management Practices, Third Edition. Cut 1 is an undercut made one to two feet from the parent branch or trunk, Cut 2 is a top cut slightly further out on the branch than Cut 1 (directly above when using a chainsaw), and Cut 3 is the final cut made just outside the branch collar.)

87 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
83 Structural pruning of young trees promotes healthy branch architecture, reduces the need for excessive trimming, and reduces the number of large branch cuts as the tree matures. Figure 4.20 details the objectives of a structural pruning plan for young trees.

Figure 4.20: Structural Pruning Objectives for Young Trees

4.6.1.5 Sanitation
Sanitation practices refer to the removal of broken, dead, diseased, or pest-infested branches from a tree. Broken and dead branches can serve as sites for pest infestation or as entry points for pathogens into the tree. Removing branches infected by a pathogenic disease or infested with a bark or stem-boring pest can help slow or even eliminate the spread of the pest or disease to other parts of the tree. It is an important part of this process to remove pest-infested or diseased branches, twigs, and foliage from the site and dispose of these parts according to recommended protocols. An ISA Certified Arborist, Pest Control Advisor, County Agricultural Commissioner, or the local office of the University of California Cooperative Extension Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) can provide recommended disposal protocols.

4.6.2 INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
The cultural practices above are an integral part of plant health care and the first step in an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program. IPM is a combination of multiple practices for the prevention and control of pests and diseases. Proper cultural practices focus on reducing abiotic (non-living) factors that can affect a tree's health. Healthy trees are better able to tolerate and resist pests and are less susceptible to pathogenic disease. In addition to the cultural practice standards, the City of Bellflower IPM Program includes regular urban forest monitoring, biological control practices, tracking of 88 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
84 emerging pests and diseases, and chemical control when necessary. This UFMP discusses the general framework of the IPM Program. Specific pest and disease issues will apply this framework in consultation with a licensed California Department of Pesticide Regulation Agricultural Pest Control Adviser (Pest Control Adviser).

4.6.2.1 Urban Forest Monitoring
Regular monitoring of the urban forest trees for early signs of abiotic stress, pests, and disease is an important part of the City of Bellflower IPM Program. The number of treatment options for most pests and diseases is greater, and usually more effective when detected in the early stages. As part of the Maintenance Program (Section 4.4), trees scheduled for pruning will be inspected by the contractor/WCA prior to being assigned to the City crew or contractor. The crew will also inspect the tree before starting work and continue to look for signs of pests or disease as the work progresses.

In addition to the maintenance monitoring and specific inspection requests submitted through the Director of Public Works, an ISA Certified Arborist contractor should conduct quarterly windshield surveys of the entire urban forest to locate trees with obvious signs of stress, pests, or disease signs and symptoms. Trees identified with any signs or symptoms of stress, pests, or disease will be noted in The City’s Electronic Inventory System for follow-up inspections to identify the cause and determine the appropriate treatment plan.

4.6.2.2 Pest/Disease Identification
Proper identification of the abiotic factor, pest, or disease that is causing the observed symptoms is a key part of the City of Bellflower IPM Program. When no direct signs of known pests or disease are observed at the time of inspection, the inspector will photograph the symptoms and signs and collect samples for submittal to a qualified laboratory for identification.

4.6.2.3 Common Pests and Diseases
Table 4.25 shows some common pests and diseases associated with the most abundant Genera or specific species present in the current City of Bellflower urban forest inventory or in the approved plant palette. This is not an all-inclusive list of potential pests and cannot account for future emerging pest issues. Further information on these pests and diseases is provided in Appendix D.

Common Name Botanical Name Common Pest Associates Common Disease Associates Crape myrtle Lagerstroemia indica Crape myrtle aphid, Glassy- winged sharpshooter Powdery mildew, Sooty mold
Australian willow Geijera parviflora Chinese wax scale Collar rot, Root rot, Crown rot Ornamental pear Pyrus calleryana Aphids, Whitefly, Carpenterworm Bacterial blight, Bacterial canker,
Entomosporium leaf spot, Fire
blight, Sooty mold
89 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
85 Common Name Botanical Name Common Pest Associates Common Disease Associates Queen palm Syagrus romanzoffianum
Palm aphid, Boisduval scale,
California red scale, Greedy scale,
Oleander scale, Black scale,
Brown soft scale, Hemispherical
scale, Banana moth, Palm leaf
skeletonizer, Greenhouse thrips,
Giant white fly, Giant palm borer,
Coconut mealybug, Gill’s
mealybug, Ground mealybug,
Longtailed mealybug, Obscure
mealybug, Pink hibiscus
mealybug, vine mealybug,
Eriophyid mites, Spider mites
Butt rot, Armillaria, Diamond scale,
Fusarium wilt, Pink rot, Sudden
crown drop
African fern pine Afrocarpus falcatus Podocarpus aphid, California red scale –
London plane Platanus x hispanica
Invasive shot hole borer, Melon
aphid, Oystershell scale, Euopean
fruit lecanium, frosted scale,
Sycamore scale, American plum
borer, Flathead appletree borer,
Pacific flathead borer, Sycamore
borer, Fall webworm, Syacamore
leaf skeletonizer, Sycamore plant
bug, Western sycamore lacebug,
Greenhouse whitefly, Sycamore
spider mite
Anthracnose, Ceratocystis canker,
Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Glossy privet Ligustrum lucidum
Aphids, California red scale, San
Jose scale, Pit-making
pittosporum scale, Black scale,
Black vine weevil, Ash borer,
Privet rust mite, Privet bud mite,
Privet mite, Leaf miner
Armillaria, Dematophora root rot,
Phytophthora, Anthracnose, Sooty
mold
Southern magnolia Magnolia grandiflora
Invasive shot hole borer, Aphids,
California red scale, Greedy scale,
Oleander scale, Cottony cushion
scale, Tuliptree scale,
Omnivorous looper, Gill’s
mealybug, Obscure mealybug,
Greenhouse thrips, Spider mites
Armillaria, Verticillium, Bacterial
blight, Bacterial leaf scorch,
Nectaria canker, Crown gall,
Phyllosticta leaf spot, Powdery
mildew, Bacterial slime flux
Chinese elm Ulmus parvifolia
Elm leaf aphid, Citricola scale,
Frosted scale, European elm bark
beetle
Chinese elm anthracnose, Nectaria
canker, Dutch elm disease, Foamy
canker, Powdery mildew, Bacterial
slime flux, Armillaria, Verticillium
Evergreen pear Pyrus kawakamii Aphids, Whitefly, Carpenterworm Bacterial blight, Bacterial canker,
Entomosporium leaf spot, Fire
blight, Sooty mold
90 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
86 Common Name Botanical Name Common Pest Associates Common Disease Associates Searsia lancea African sumac Aphids, Sumac psyllids, Black scale
Armillaria, Nectaria canker, Leaf
spots, Powdery mildew, Verticillium
Holly oak Quercus ilex
Acorn moth, Woolly oak aphid,
Oak leaf phylloxera, Obscure
scale, Ehrhorn’s oak scale, Oak
pit scale, Black-punctured kermes,
Oak lecanium scale, Ambrosia
beetles, Oak bark beetles,
Sycamore borer, Flathead
appletree borer, Oak twig girdler,
Pacific flathead borer,
Roundheaded oak twig borer,
Carpenterworm, California
oakworm, Fruittree leafroller, Tent
caterpillars, Tussock moths,
Leafminers, Oak ribbed
casemaker, Shield bearers,
Skeletonizers, Fuller rose beetle,
Live oak weevil, Live oak erineum
mite, California gallfly, Cynipid gall
wasps, Ichneumonid wasps,
Jumping oak gall wasp,
Twohorned oak gall wasp, Glassy-
winged sharpshooter, Obscure
mealybug, Root nematodes, Oak
treehopper, Sycamore spider
mite, Crown whitefly, Gelatinous
whitefly, Stanford whitefly
Anthracnose, Armillaria, Hypoxylon
canker, Nectaria canker, Drippy
oak acorns, foamy canker, Oak
branch dieback, Oak leaf blister,
Oak twig blight, Powdery mildew,
Rusts, Sudden Oak Death,
Wetwood
Sawtooth zelkova Zelkova serrata Elm leaf beetle, Calico scale, Spider mites, Japanese beetle
Anthracnose, Armillaria, Nectaria
canker, Crown gall, Dutch elm
disease
Chinese pistache Pistacia chinensis
Aphids, Obliquebanded leafroller,
Western tussock moth, Black
scale, Brown soft scale, European
fruit lecanium, Frosted scale
Armillaria, Botrytis blight,
Botryosphaeria canker and
dieback, Alternaria leaf spot,
Alternaria blight, Powdery mildew,
Verticillium
Shamel ash Fraxinus uhdei
Ash leaf curl aphid, Oystershell
scale, walnut scale, frosted scale,
Carpenterworm, Ash borer,
Redbelted clearwing, Ash moth,
Fall webworm, Fruitree leafroller,
Omnivorous leafroller, Glassy-
winged sharpshooter, Ash psyllid,
Pear sawfly, Buffalo treehopper,
Arizonica ash tingid, Ash plant
bugs, Boxelder bug, Lace bugs,
Ash whitefly, Citrus whitefly
Anthracnose, Ash dieback,
Bacterial leaf scorch, Nectaria
canker, Leaf spot diseases,
Powdery mildew, Fusarium,
Verticillium, Sooty mold
Bottle tree Brachychiton populneus Invasive shot hole borer – Table 4.25: Selected Pest and Diseases Associated with Tree Species Currently in the Urban Forest Inventory or Approved Plant Palette
91 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
87 4.6.2.4 Cultural and Biological Pest Control
Most pathogenic fungi and bacteria tend to thrive in moist, cool conditions. Over-irrigated soils can provide a favorable environment for pathogens that cause root rot. Excessive moisture at the base of a tree due to a buried root flare or an irrigation head directed at the trunk can promote conditions favorable to many vascular and rot diseases. Dense foliage growth provides shelter for insect pests and reduces air flow, which can lead to increased moisture retention in the inner canopy and create favorable conditions for casual agents of branch and leaf diseases. Flushes of new growth resulting from unnecessary or inappropriately timed fertilizer application can attract and promote population growth for many insect pests. Eliminating favorable environmental conditions for the growth, reproduction, and spread can maintain many pests and diseases at tolerable levels in the urban forest.

In addition to cultural controls, some insects can be effective in the control of pest populations as natural predators and parasitoids. Examples of natural predators and parasitoids are provided in Appendix D. There are three biological control implementation approaches: conservation, augmentation, and introduction. The conservation approach focuses on maintaining an environment that promotes existing beneficial insects. Avoidance of broad-spectrum pesticides in favor of products that kill only targeted pests and timing applications to reduce the impacts to beneficial insects is an important aspect of natural enemy conservation. Augmentation involves the release of native and naturalized beneficial insects to supplement existing populations. Many common natural predators are commercially available for purchase as part of an augmentation program. The introduction approach is a highly regulated process of releasing non-native predatory species, and it is usually reserved for introduced pest species that lack native or naturalized predators. Before a non-native predator can be considered for release, it undergoes years of testing under government agency supervision to ensure the potential predator will not have adverse impacts on the native ecosystem.

The cultural practices described in Section 4.6.1 are a key component of the City of Bellflower IPM Program. In addition, the Program will promote conservation of beneficial insects by reducing the use of broad-spectrum pesticides and timing pesticide applications to reduce impacts to these species to the extent feasible. Augmentation of existing beneficial insect populations will be considered on a case-by-case basis in consultation with a licensed Pest Control Advisor. The introduction approach is beyond the scope of the City of Bellflower, although the City may consider participation in introduction programs conducted by the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner (County Agricultural Commissioner), UCANR, or other agencies as available.

4.6.2.5 Emerging Pests and Diseases
The introduction of new non-native pests and diseases is an ongoing, dynamic process that requires urban forest managers to keep up to date with the most current information. Staff participation in continuing education opportunities, seminars, and conferences through the ISA and other arboriculture and landscape industry-related professional organizations is an important component of the IPM Program. Partnerships and consultation with the County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, UCANR, and private consultants will also be part of tracking emerging pests and diseases. 92 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
88 4.6.2.6 Chemical Control
The goal of the City of Bellflower IPM Program is to reduce the use of pesticides, especially broad- spectrum pesticides, to control pests and diseases within the urban forest to the extent possible by selecting the appropriate species for the planting site (Tree Palette, Section 5.2), following the proper BMPs and Standards for installation (Planting Plan, Section 5.5), adhering to the Maintenance Program (Section 4.4) and applying the above mentioned monitoring, cultural and biological control practices. Under this program, chemical control is the last option when control of a pest or disease cannot be achieved by other methods. Before initiating chemical control, the Director of Public Works will consult with a licensed Pest Control Advisor to develop a treatment plan and obtain a written Pesticide Recommendation.

4.7 RISK ASSESSMENT
Despite proper management to maintain a healthy urban forest that maximizes the benefits to the community, there are risks to people and property associated with trees. Trees are living organisms, and the potential for failure, either in entirety or in part, cannot always be predicted. The goal for urban forest managers is to find a balance where the benefits provided are greater than the risks associated with trees.

The ISA has developed the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) to train arborists to evaluate this risk to the greatest extent possible. Risk assessment ratings can assist the Director of Public Works in prioritizing maintenance needs and scheduling.

TRAQ designates three levels for conducting risk assessments based on the level of detail required.

Level 1 Limited Visual Assessment: a tree or tree population is observed from one perspective to identify obvious defects or conditions with increased likelihood of failure near specified targets. Level 1 Risk Assessments can also be conducted from a slow-moving vehicle or aerially using an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone).

Level 2 Basic Assessment: a 360° ground-based visual inspection of the subject tree(s) and the surrounding site. The visible buttress roots, trunk, and branches are inspected for defects, and each defect is evaluated for the likelihood of failure. The likelihood of failure is combined according to a matrix with the likelihood of the failed part contacting each of the identified targets to determine an overall likelihood that a particular target will be struck. Occupancy rate and distance of the target from the tree are factored into this determination. The likelihood of failure and impact are combined in a separate matrix with the consequences of impact on the target to assign a risk rating for the tree or tree part.

Level 3 Advanced Assessment: advanced assessment to obtain more detailed information about specific tree parts, defects, targets, or site conditions using specialized equipment, analysis, and/or expertise.

To assess the risk presented by trees in the City of Bellflower Urban Forest as a whole, a Level 1 Limited Visual Assessment could be performed simultaneously with the quarterly windshield surveys described in Section 4.6.2.1, provided the inspector is TRAQ qualified. Trees identified with obvious 93 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
89 defects, or for which inspection requests have been submitted to an outside Contractor (WCA at the time of the development of this UFMP), may require Level 2 Basic Assessment and/or Level 3 Advanced Assessment conducted by a TRAQ-qualified Arborist.

4.8 URBAN FOREST BIOMASS RECYCLING AND

REPURPOSING
To maximize the environmental benefits provided, all biomass in the urban forest should be repurposed to the highest possible use in accordance with the current State of California Standards.

Biomass from tree maintenance activities in the City of Bellflower will either be chipped on-site or at a collection facility to be recycled as organic mulch or repurposed as part of the Urban Wood Policy, depending on the size and diameter of the material. Vegetative biomass and woody material less than nine inches (9“) in diameter shall be chipped on-site or transported to a green material processing center to be chipped and recycled as mulch or composted. The minimum size and diameter of wood material that can be repurposed under the Urban Wood Policy can vary by tree species, extent of wood decay and other factors. Woody material that cannot be repurposed due to any of these factors shall be chipped on-site or transported to a processing center for chipping and recycling.

The objective of the Urban Wood Policy is to maximize sequestered carbon and utilize removed trees in the most efficient method possible. This effort utilizes trees removed from urban environments and considers their highest potential environmental value. Environmental benefits are realized by diverting wood that would otherwise populate landfills and rescue greenhouse gas emissions that are released through traditional disposal processes. Co-benefits include sourcing local raw materials for construction, maximizing benefit from trees being removed, and displaying urban wood products in the community, all of which tells the unique story of the city in which the trees grew and matured.

Conditioned upon availability of funding, the City of Bellflower may promote sustainability through urban forest operations in the following ways:

4.8.1 TREE RECYCLING PLAN
Trees that are removed may be repurposed for their highest use. This includes, but is not limited to, being milled into lumber, left in public spaces as natural architecture (including wildlife habitat), or crafted into useable products such as benches, picnic tables, new non-structural construction elements, and other wood crafts and projects. The selection criteria for urban wood shall be made at the discretion of the Director of Public Works in consultation with an urban wood repurposing facility.

Suggested resources for wood processing can be found at www.urbansalvagedwoods.com and www.urbanwoodnetwork.org .

4.8.2 SPECIES REPLACEMENT PLAN
Tree replacement criteria should include a consideration for end of life uses, including lumber. For City trees that are removed with the potential for urban wood, a replacement tree from the Approved Tree Palette in this UFMP will be considered for replanting. The size of the available planting space for the replacement species, presence of overhead utility lines, and the desired resident benefits for the location should be considered in the species selection process. 94 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
90 4.9 EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
Regularly scheduled maintenance, inspection, structural pruning, and plant health care will significantly reduce the frequency of tree failure, but they cannot eliminate failures entirely. Branches, trunks, or entire trees may still fail due to storm events, mechanical damage, or other unpredicted environmental factors. As living organisms, trees may fail without warning or discernable cause.

These unexpected failures can damage structures, disrupt traffic patterns, and potentially cause injuries. They constitute an emergency that must be addressed as soon as possible. The remainder of this section describes the procedures of the City of Bellflower Tree Emergency Operations Plan.

4.9.1 INCIDENT REPORTING
Tree related incidents that occur during normal business hours for the City of Bellflower Department of Public Works, Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (closed every other Friday) can be reported by phone (562) 804-1424. Tree related incidents that occur outside of standard business hours can be reported by City residents through the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station Non-Emergency Line (562) 623-3500 or 911 if the incident results in injury or immediate safety concerns that require police or fire department response.

4.9.2 STORM EVENTS
When weather forecasts predict a significant storm or Santa Ana Wind, City of Bellflower Public Works Staff and the City’s Tree Maintenance Contractor access the potential for branch and tree failures that may result. For storms that present a higher risk of such failures, additional response City or Contractor staff may be assigned to respond to emergency calls and patrol areas with higher probability for failures based on tree species and potential targets that could be impacted after normal Public Works operating hours.

4.9.3 INCIDENT RESPONSE
For calls received during normal Public Works working hours, the Director of Public Works or the Director’s designee will contact the appropriate City staff or outside contractor to inspect the incident site and assess the response needed. If immediate response is required, the Director or designee will mobilize the appropriate City staff or outside contractors if needed.

For calls received after normal Public Works hours, the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station Non- Emergency Line Staff will contact the Director of Public Works or designee to mobilize the appropriate City staff or outside contractor to inspect the access to the incident site and assess the response needed. If immediate response is required, the Director or designee will mobilize the appropriate City staff or outside contractors if needed.

4.9.4 EMERGENCY RESPONSE BY OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS
Requests for emergency tree responses by an outside contractor require approval by the Director of Public Works. Once approved, the contractor will be contacted according to established procedures and mobilized to the emergency location. As the current Tree Emergency response contractor for the City of Bellflower, the West Coast Arborist (WCA) emergency response procedure is outlined as an example below. The contact information and contractor procedures will need to be periodically updated as contact personnel change or the city selects a new emergency services contractor. 95 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
91 4.9.4.1 West Coast Arborist Emergency Tree Services Contact Procedure For emergency services calls in the City of Bellflower during WCA standard business hours (7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, not including holidays), contact:

West Coast Arborist Anaheim Corporate Office – (714) 991-1900 For emergency service calls outside standard working hours, the WCA on-call manager can be contacted through the Limb Down line at (866) LIMB.DOWN [(866) 546-2369]. Once the on-call manager has been contacted, site details and additional information can be emailed to [email protected].

WCA emergency response crews will be on-site within 2 hours of receiving the call request.

4.9.5 DEBRIS MANAGEMENT
Foliage and woody debris resulting from the emergency response shall be taken to a green waste facility approved by the Department of Public Works. The responding City or contractor crew is responsible for removal of the debris prior to leaving the worksite. Larger woody debris, such as trunks and large branches may be transported to an urban wood recycling location as described in the previous section.

4.10 WILDLIFE PROTECTION
The many benefits to the community provided by the trees in the City of Bellflower have been presented throughout this UFMP. In addition to the benefits for people, the urban forest also provides habitat for a great number of wildlife species. Trees can serve as valuable sites for roosting, foraging, sheltering, and nesting, attracting many wildlife species that would otherwise not be found in urban environments. Interactions with many of these wildlife species, such as resident and migrating birds, add to the beauty and quality of life for the residents of the community.

The City of Bellflower is aware that many of the tree maintenance activities included in the UFMP may impact and/or cause harm to wildlife and that measures to protect wildlife are a key component to the Urban Forest Operations Plan. In addition to the community benefits they provide; Federal and State of California laws require measures to protect wildlife in the urban forest including:
• Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)
• Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA)
• Federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA)
• California Endangered Species Act (CESA)
• California Fish and Game Code Sections 1600-1617

The degree to which tree maintenance activities impact wildlife will vary based on the time of year and the habitat value associated with the species of tree(s) where maintenance work will be performed. Wildlife can nest at any time during the year and in any tree regardless of habitat value, however, the likelihood of activity is much higher during the breeding season for the wildlife species in trees with higher habitat value. Table 4.26 provides the breeding periods for selected groups of birds as a general guideline.
96 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
92 To assist urban forest managers in deciding the level of protection measures required, the ISA Tree Care for Wildlife Best Management Practices (Appendix B) suggests three categories determined by the breeding season for the species, or group of species of concern and the habitat value provided by the tree(s) that require maintenance activities. The three categories are defined according to the matrix in Figure 4.21.

To protect wildlife during tree maintenance activities, The City of Bellflower will implement the following measures for all City Maintenance Crews and Tree Maintenance Contractors:
• For Work to be performed in Category 1 Wildlife Protection Areas:
o Crews will be trained by a Wildlife Trained Arborist or Wildlife Biologist to conduct pre- work inspections for signs of nesting wildlife. The training can be site specific or general wildlife awareness training for city-wide work.
o Trained crews will conduct a pre-work survey for wildlife prior to beginning work. o Inspections will be documented on a form approved by the Director of Public Works. • For Work to be performed in Category 2 Wildlife Protection Areas:
o Pre-work inspection will be conducted by a Wildlife Trained Arborist. o Inspections will be documented on a form approved by the Director of Public Works. • For Work to be performed in Category 3 Wildlife Protection Areas:
o Pre-work inspection will be conducted by a Wildlife Biologist or Wildlife Trained Arborist specifically trained by a Wildlife Biologist for High Habitat Value areas in the City of Bellflower.
o Inspections will be documented on a form approved by the Director of Public Works. • If signs of wildlife nesting activity are observed:
o The scheduled work will be delayed until the nesting activity has concluded, and the young have left the nest as determined by a Wildlife Trained Arborist or Wildlife Biologist.
o An appropriate buffer, according to Table 4.26 or at the direction of a Wildlife Biologist, will be established around the nest. Maintenance work will be delayed for any scheduled trees that fall within the buffer area or would require crews or equipment to enter the buffer area to conduct the scheduled work.
o Signs will be posted on the nesting tree and any additional tree in the buffer area to provide public notice of the delay in work.
o A note will be attached to the City’s electronic inventory system to the nesting tree site and any tree sites within the buffer zone detailing the wildlife nesting and the delay in the maintenance work.
o The Director of Public Works will be notified of the delayed work.

97 URBAN FOREST OPERATIONS
93 Bird Group Typical Breeding
Season
Egg
Incubation
Period
(Days)
Duration of
Period from
Hatching to
Young Leaving
the Nest
Minimum
Buffer
Radius for
Low Habitat
Value Trees
(feet)
Minimum
Buffer
Radius for
High Habitat
Value Trees
(feet)
Herons and Egrets January – August 19 – 27 21 – 81 days 200 300 Birds of Prey
(Hawks, Vultures,
Falcons)
February - August 25 – 36 4 – 7 weeks 300 500
Doves February - November 14 – 20 13 – 30 days 100 300 Owls January – July 26 – 35 28 – 60 days 300 500
Hummingbirds December - July 13 – 18 20 – 23 days 100 300 Songbirds (eg.

Finches, kingbirds,
mockingbirds)
February - August 11 – 17 9 – 25 days 100 300
Crows, Ravens,
Jays February - August 15 – 21
Jays: 18 days
Crows: 35 days
Ravens: 5 – 6
weeks
100 300
Table 4.26: Breeding Season, Incubation Period, Fledging Duration, and Buffer Requirements for Selected Groups of Birds

Figure 4.21: Wildlife Protection Categories
(From the ISA Tree Care for Wildlife Best Management Practices) 98 94

5 CLIMATE RESILIENCY

99 CLIMATE RESILIENCY
95 5.1 SUSTAINABILITY
The urban environment presents many challenges for the growth and development of trees. The area needed for root expansion, to provide structural support and access to adequate water and nutrients for tree growth and development, is often limited by the building, hardscape, and infrastructure footprints necessary to support the community. The expansion of a tree’s canopy to gather more light and support growth often conflicts with overhead utilities, buildings, and traffic signs. Increased temperature due to reflected heat from structures and hardscape increases evapotranspiration, taxing tree root systems to uptake more water to compensate.

These obstacles become more daunting as Southern California trends towards hotter, drier weather as part of global climate change. Climate prediction models, such as The Climate Explorer, project an increase in average daily temperatures of one to three degrees Fahrenheit (1° – 3°F) from 2020 to 2030 and an additional one to two degrees Fahrenheit (1° – 2°F) increase by 2040. The temperature change is likely to be accompanied by more unpredictable annual precipitation with longer periods of drought in between extreme storm events. Many common Southern California street tree species will struggle to adapt to the changing climate patterns, either succumbing directly to drought stress or to associated increases in pest and disease susceptibility.

Overcoming these obstacles requires a commitment of resources to the cultural and maintenance practices discussed in the previous section and proper planning to install the appropriate species for the site from high-quality nursery stock, according to ISA BMPs and ANSI Standards. For the urban forest to be sustainable, available resources must be allocated efficiently to deliver the maximum possible benefits to the community. The information offered in this section is based on the most current scientific research, industry practices, ISA Best Management Practices, and ANSI Standards at the time of the drafting of the UFMP and is intended to provide the City of Bellflower Tree Management personnel guidance for more effective species selection, installation procedures, and protection of mature trees on the pathway to a sustainable urban forest.

5.2 TREE PALETTE
Installing the wrong tree species for the site can lead to increased maintenance efforts and cost, increased water usage, damage to infrastructure, conflicts with overhead utilities, lighting, traffic signs and signals, and may even result in the death of the tree. The need to conserve water resources, due to changes in climate and sustained drought, must also be a major consideration in species selection as the City of Bellflower looks to replace removed trees or fill potential planting sites to expand the Urban Forest. Tables 5.1 – 5.6 below list the appropriate tree species based on the size of the planting area, proximity to overhead utility lines, and water usage. Trees currently in the City of Bellflower Urban Forest inventory are indicated with an asterisk (*). Trees that are native to Southern California are marked with a double dagger symbol (‡). A profile is provided for all species not currently included in the inventory.

100

CLIMATE RESILIENCY
96 5.2.1 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS USED

5.2.1.1 Foliage Type
This characteristic describes the persistence of leaves on trees of a given species. The three categories for foliage type are evergreen, deciduous, and partly deciduous.

Evergreen – Trees that do not lose all their leaves or needles at any one time. These trees will drop older leaves at specific times or throughout the year, depending on the species. Evergreen trees remain green throughout the winter.

Deciduous – Trees that lose their leaves completely and enter a period of dormancy in a given season. Most species are fall or winter deciduous and will become dormant during the colder periods of the year; however, there are a handful of drought deciduous species that will enter dormancy during the summer when temperatures are higher and water is less available.

Partly Deciduous – Trees that lose most of their leaves during the dormancy period, while still retaining some living foliage at lower densities.

Some tree species can adapt foliage type depending on climate and local weather patterns. For example, if the winter temperatures in a given area are mild and rarely below freezing, a species that is normally deciduous may adopt a partly deciduous foliage type in that area. Species that demonstrate this adaptive characteristic are indicated in the tables below with a range for the foliage type.

5.2.1.2 Maximum Height and Width
The numbers for maximum height and width presented in the tables and species profiles that follow represent the observed values, in feet, for trees of each species from the available literature.

Environmental factors such as availability of growing space, light, and water may limit growth, preventing individual trees from reaching these dimensions.

5.2.1.3 Water Usage
The water usage rating given for each tree species in the tables and species profiles below is based on the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS) values. WUCOLS rates the water usage by species across four categories: Very Low, Low, Moderate, and High. For species that have not been evaluated as part of WUCOLS, water usage rates were based on the values presented in the SelecTree databases using the same scale values.

Very Low – Once established, species with a Very Low rating do not require irrigation water to supplement normal precipitation, except in years with below average rainfall.

Low – Once established, species with a Low rating require only minimal irrigation water during the summer months.

Moderate – Once established, species with a Moderate rating require irrigation water to remain healthy, especially during the summer and during long periods without precipitation. 101

CLIMATE RESILIENCY
97 High – Species with a High rating require regular irrigation to remain healthy, especially during the summer.

5.2.2 APPROVED TREE PALETTE
The list of tree species approved for new and replacement installations in areas managed by the City of Bellflower is listed in Table 5.1. The common name, botanical name, minimum planter size, potential to damage hardscape, potential conflicts with overhead utility lines, foliage type, maximum height and width, and water requirements are listed for each approved species. The overall list is broken down further by minimum planter space and compatibility with overhead utility lines in Tables

5.2 – 5.6. Trees currently in the City of Bellflower Urban Forest inventory are indicated with an asterisk (*). Trees that are native to Southern California are marked with a double dagger symbol (‡).

The availability of nursery stock for these species for emergencies and other small-quantity replacements may vary with industry trends, leading to an overrepresentation of more commonly available species in the Urban Forest inventory. This issue can be addressed through contract grows of underrepresented species.

Common Name Botanical Name
Min.

Planter
Size
(Width
in Feet)
Potential
Hardscape
Damage
Overhead
Utility Line
Compatible
Foliage
Type
Max
Height
(Feet)
Max
Width
(Feet)
Water
Usage
African Fern Pine* Afrocarpus falcatus > 7 Low No Evergreen 65 30 Moderate African Sumac* Searsia lancea 4 – 7 Low No Evergreen 30 35 Very Low Argyle Apple Eucalyptus cinerea > 7 Moderate No Evergreen 50 40 Moderate Aristocrat Pear Pyrus calleryana
'Aristocrat' 4 – 7 Moderate No Deciduous 40 20 Moderate Australian Tea
Tree
Leptospermum
laevigatum 4 – 7 Low No Evergreen 30 30 Low
Australian Willow* Geijera parviflora 4 – 7 Low No Evergreen 35 20 Moderate Autumn Gold
Maidenhair Tree*
Ginkgo biloba ‘Autumn
Gold’ > 7 Moderate No Deciduous 50 35 Moderate
Blue Atlas Cedar Cedrus atlantica
‘Glauca’ > 7 Moderate No Evergreen 60 40 Low
Blue Live Oak Quercus oblongifolia > 7 Moderate No
Partly
Deciduous
-
Evergreen
60 40 Moderate
Bright n’ Tight
Laurel Cherry
Prunus caroliniana
‘Bright n tight’ 4 – 7 Low No Evergreen 35 25 Moderate Brisbane Box* Lophostemon
confertus 4 – 7 Moderate No Evergreen 50 30 Moderate
Bur Oak Quercus macrocarpa > 7 Moderate No Deciduous 80 30 Moderate Cajeput Tree Melaleuca
quinquenervia 4 – 7 Low No Evergreen 40 25 Low
California Fan
Palm*‡ Washingtonia filifera 4 – 7 Moderate No Evergreen 70 20 Low Camphor Tree Camphora officinarum >7 Moderate No Evergreen 70 60 Moderate Caribbean Copper
Plant* Euphorbia cotinifolia 2 – 4 Low Yes Evergreen 15 15 Moderate Carolina Laurel
Cherry Prunus caroliniana 4 – 7 Low No Evergreen 30 25 Moderate Catalina Cherry‡ Prunus ilicifolia ssp.
lyonii 4 – 7 Low No Evergreen 35 30 Low
102

CLIMATE RESILIENCY
98 Common Name Botanical Name
Min.

Planter
Size
(Width
in Feet)
Potential
Hardscape
Damage
Overhead
Utility Line
Compatible
Foliage
Type
Max
Height
(Feet)
Max
Width
(Feet)
Water
Usage
Catalina
Ironwood‡
Lyonothamnus
floribundus ssp.
aspleniifolius
4 – 7 Moderate No Evergreen 40 20 Low
Cherokee Crape
Myrtle*
Lagerstroemia indica
‘Cherokee’ 2 – 4 Low Yes Deciduous 15 15 Very Low
Chestnut-Leaved
Oak Quercus castaneifolia > 7 Low No
Deciduous
– Partly
Deciduous
90 90 Moderate
Chinaberry* Melia azedarach > 7 Moderate No Deciduous 50 25 Low Chinese Elm* Ulmus parvifolia > 7 Moderate No Partly
Deciduous 60 50 Moderate
Chinese Photinia* Photinia serrulata 4 – 7 Low No Evergreen 40 30 Low Chinese Pistache* Pistacia chinensis 4 – 7 Low No Deciduous 35 35 Low Chisos Oak Quercus canbyi > 7 Low No
Deciduous
– Partly
Deciduous
50 50 Low
Chitalpa* x Chitalpa
tashkentensis 4 – 7 Low No Deciduous 35 30 Low
Coast Live Oak*‡ Quercus agrifolia > 7 Moderate No Evergreen 70 70 Low Columbia Plane
Tree
Platanus x hispanica
‘Columbia’ 4 – 7 Moderate No Deciduous 80 40 Moderate
Compton Oak Quercus x comptoniae 4 – 7 Low No Deciduous 60 40 Moderate Flaxleaf
Paperbark Melaleuca linariifolia 4 – 7 Low No Evergreen 30 25 Low Floss Silk Tree* Ceiba speciosa > 7 Moderate No Partly
Deciduous 60 50 Low
Flowering
Ornamental Pear* Pyrus calleryana > 7 Moderate No Deciduous 50 50 Moderate Fraser Photinia* Photinia x fraseri 2 – 4 Low Yes Evergreen 20 12 Moderate Ghost Gum Corymbia aparrerinja 4 – 7 Moderate No Evergreen 50 35 Very Low Glossy Privet* Ligustrum lucidum > 7 Moderate No Evergreen 50 40 Moderate Gold Medallion
Tree Cassia leptophylla 4 – 7 Low No
Deciduous
– Partly
Deciduous
25 30 Moderate
Golden Trumpet
Tree
Handroanthus
chrysotrichus 2 – 4 Moderate No
Deciduous
– Partly
Deciduous
30 30 Moderate
Graves Oak Quercus gravesii > 7 Low No Deciduous 60 35 Moderate Guadalupe Palm Brahea edulis 4 – 7 Low No Evergreen 25 15 Low Honey Mesquite‡ Prosopis glandulosa
var. torreyana 4 – 7 Low No Deciduous 35 35 Low
Incense Cedar*‡ Calocedrus decurrens > 7 Moderate No Evergreen 90 15 Moderate Jacaranda* Jacaranda mimosifolia 4 – 7 Moderate No Partly Deciduous 50 30 Moderate
Japanese Elm Zelkova serrata > 7 Moderate No Deciduous 70 70 Moderate Jerusalem
Thorn*‡ Parkinsonia aculeata 2 – 4 Low Yes Deciduous 20 25 Low King Palm* Archontophoenix
cunninghamiana 4 – 7 Moderate No Evergreen 70 15 Moderate Maidenhair Tree* Ginkgo biloba > 7 Moderate No Deciduous 65 25 Moderate Majestic Beauty
Indian Hawthorn
x Rhaphiobotrya
splendens ‘Montic’ 4 – 7 Low Yes Evergreen 25 10 Moderate Marina Strawberry
Tree* Arbutus ‘Marina’ 2 – 4 Low No Evergreen 40 30 Moderate Mexican Blue
Palm Brahea armata 4 – 7 Low No Evergreen 50 25 Low
Mexican Fan
Palm* Washingtonia robusta 4 – 7 Moderate No Evergreen 100 10 Low Mexican
Sycamore Platanus mexicana > 7 Moderate No Deciduous 50 30 Moderate Mimosa* Albizia julibrissin 4 – 7 Moderate No Partly
Deciduous 35 20 Moderate
Mondell Pine* Pinus eldarica > 7 Moderate No Evergreen 80 25 Low 103

CLIMATE RESILIENCY
99 Common Name Botanical Name
Min.

Planter
Size
(Width
in Feet)
Potential
Hardscape
Damage
Overhead
Utility Line
Compatible
Foliage
Type
Max
Height
(Feet)
Max
Width
(Feet)
Water
Usage
Montezuma
Cypress Taxodium mucronatum > 7 Moderate No
Deciduous
– Partly
Deciduous
80 40 Moderate
Muskogee Hybrid
Crape Myrtle*
Lagerstroemia
‘Muskogee’ 4 – 7 Low Yes Deciduous 25 25 Moderate
Natchez Hybrid
Crape Myrtle*
Lagerstroemia
‘Natchez’ 4 – 7 Low Yes Deciduous 25 25 Moderate
Netleaf Oak Quercus rugosa > 7 Moderate No Evergreen 60 40 Moderate Norfolk Island
Pine Araucaria heterophylla > 7 Moderate No Evergreen 100 60 Moderate Olive* Olea europaea 4 – 7 Moderate No Evergreen 30 30 Low Omeo Gum Eucalyptus neglecta > 7 Moderate No Evergreen 60 60 Moderate Orange Gum Eucalyptus prava 2 – 4 Moderate No Evergreen 30 30 Low Peppermint Tree* Agonis flexuosa 4 – 7 Moderate No Evergreen 35 30 Low Pindo Palm* Butia odorata 4 – 7 Low Yes Evergreen 25 12 Low Pink Melaleuca* Melaleuca nesophila 4 – 7 Low No Evergreen 30 30 Low Purple Orchid
Tree* Bauhinia variegata 4 – 7 Low No Partly
Deciduous 35 35 Moderate
Purple-Leaf
Acacia Acacia baileyana 4 – 7 Moderate Yes Evergreen 30 30 Very Low Purpureus Smoke
Tree
Cotinus coggygria
‘Purpureus’ 2 – 4 Low Yes Deciduous 15 15 Low
Queen Palm* Syagrus romanzoffiana 4 – 7 Moderate No Evergreen 50 30 Moderate Red Flowering
Gum* Corymbia ficifolia 4 – 7 Moderate No Evergreen 45 60 Low Red Push
Pistache Pistacia ‘Red Push’ 4 – 7 Low No Deciduous 40 40 Moderate River Wattle Acacia cognata 4 – 7 Low Yes Evergreen 25 25 Moderate Roberts’ Western
Sycamore
Platanus racemosa
‘Roberts’ > 7 Moderate No Deciduous 50 50 Moderate
Rose Gum Angophora costata > 7 Moderate No Evergreen 65 50 Low Round-Leafed
Moort* Eucalyptus platypus 4 – 7 Low No Evergreen 35 35 Very Low Saratoga Laurel Laurus ‘Saratoga’ 4 – 7 Low No Evergreen 40 30 Moderate Shamel Ash Fraxinus uhdei 4 – 7 High No Partly
Deciduous 80 60 Moderate
Shoestring Acacia Acacia stenophylla 4 – 7 Low Yes Evergreen 30 20 Very Low Sky Climber Live
Oak
Quercus virginiana
‘Skyclimber’ > 7 Moderate No
Deciduous
– Partly
Deciduous
80 100 Moderate
Smoke Tree* Cotinus coggygria 2 – 4 Low Yes Deciduous 15 18 Low Smooth Arizona
Cypress‡
Hesperocyparis
arizonica var. glabra > 7 Moderate No Evergreen 50 20 Low Soapbark Tree Quillaja saponaria 4 – 7 Low No Evergreen 45 25 Low Swan Hill Olive Olea europaea ‘Swan
Hill’ 4 – 7 Moderate No Evergreen 30 30 Low
Sweet Hakea Hakea drupacea 2 – 4 Low Yes Evergreen 20 20 Very Low Texas Olive Cordia boissieri 2 – 4 Low No Evergreen 20 15 Low Water Gum* Tristaniopsis laurina 4 – 7 Low No Evergreen 35 30 Moderate Western
Redbud*‡ Cercis occidentalis 2 – 4 Low Yes Deciduous 20 20 Moderate White Jacaranda Jacaranda mimosifolia
‘Alba’ > 7 Moderate No Partly
Deciduous 50 30 Moderate
Table 5.1: Approved Tree Species Palette.

104

CLIMATE RESILIENCY
100

5.2.3 PLANTING SPACE AVAILABLE 2 – 4 FEET WIDE WITH NO OVERHEAD

UTILITIES
The following species (Table 5.2) are recommended for parkways, medians, or other City maintained planting areas where the width of the smallest dimension is between two (2) and four (4) feet and no overhead utility lines are present.

Common Name Botanical Name Foliage Type Maximum
Height (ft)
Maximum
Width (ft)
Water
Usage
Golden Trumpet Tree Handroanthus chrysotrichus
Deciduous –
Partly
Deciduous
30 30 Moderate
Marina Strawberry Tree Arbutus ‘Marina’ Evergreen 40 30 Moderate Orange Gum Eucalyptus prava Evergreen 30 30 Low
Texas Olive Cordia boissieri Evergreen 20 15 Low
Table 5.2: Species Appropriate for 2 – 4-Foot-Wide Planting Areas with No Overhead Utility Lines Present.

5.2.4 PLANTING SPACE AVAILABLE 2 – 4 FEET WIDE WITH OVERHEAD UTILITIES The following species (Table 5.3) are recommended for parkways, medians, or other City maintained planting areas where the width of the smallest dimension is between two (2) and four (4) feet and overhead utility lines are present. These species can also be planted in areas without overhead utility lines.

Common Name Botanical Name Foliage
Type
Maximum
Height (ft)
Maximum
Width (ft)
Water
Usage
Caribbean Copper Plant* Euphorbia cotinifolia Evergreen 15 15 Moderate Cherokee Crape Myrtle* Lagerstroemia indica ‘Cherokee’ Deciduous 15 15 Very Low Fraser Photinia Photinia x fraseri Evergreen 20 12 Moderate Jerusalem Thorn*‡ Parkinsonia aculeata Deciduous 20 25 Low Purpureus Smoke Tree Cotinus coggygria ‘Purpureus’ Deciduous 15 15 Low Smoke Tree* Cotinus coggygria Deciduous 15 18 Low
Sweet Hakea Hakea drupacea Evergreen 20 20 Very Low
Western Redbud* Cercis occidentalis Deciduous 20 20 Moderate Table 5.3: Species Appropriate for 2 – 4-Foot-Wide Planting Areas with Overhead Utility Lines Present.

5.2.5 PLANTING SPACE AVAILABLE 4 – 7 FEET WIDE WITH NO OVERHEAD

UTILITIES
The following species (Table 5.4) are recommended for parkways, medians, or other City maintained planting areas where the width of the smallest dimension is at least four (4) feet and no overhead utility lines are present. Species marked with + have a high potential for root damage to hardscape and should be avoided in smaller planters adjacent to sidewalks and roadways.

Common Name Botanical Name Foliage
Type
Maximum
Height (ft)
Maximum
Width (ft)
Water
Usage
African Sumac* Searsia lancea Evergreen 30 35 Very Low
Aristocrat Pear Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat' Deciduous 40 20 Moderate Australian Tea Tree Leptospermum laevigatum Evergreen 30 30 Low Australian Willow* Geijera parviflora Evergreen 35 20 Moderate Bright n’ Tight Laurel Cherry Prunus caroliniana ‘Bright n tight’ Evergreen 35 25 Moderate Brisbane Box* Lophostemon confertus Evergreen 50 30 Moderate Cajeput Tree Melaleuca quinquenervia Evergreen 40 25 Low California Fan Palm*‡ Washingtonia filifera Evergreen 70 20 Low Carolina Laurel Cherry* Prunus caroliniana Evergreen 30 25 Moderate 105

CLIMATE RESILIENCY
101
Common Name Botanical Name Foliage
Type
Maximum
Height (ft)
Maximum
Width (ft)
Water
Usage
Catalina Cherry*‡ Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii Evergreen 35 30 Low Catalina Ironwood‡ Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp.
aspleniifolius Evergreen 40 20 Low
Chinese Photinia* Photinia serrulata Evergreen 40 30 Low Chinese Pistache* Pistacia chinensis Deciduous 35 35 Low Chitalpa* x Chitalpa tashkentensis Deciduous 35 30 Low
Columbia Planetree Platanus x hispanica ‘Columbia’ Deciduous 80 40 Moderate Compton Oak Quercus x comptoniae Deciduous 60 40 Moderate Flaxleaf Paperbark Melaleuca linariifolia Evergreen 30 25 Low Ghost Gum Eucalyptus aparrerinja Evergreen 50 35 Very Low Gold Medallion Tree* Cassia leptophylla
Partly
Deciduous –
Evergreen
25 30 Moderate
Guadalupe Palm Brahea edulis Evergreen 25 15 Low
Honey Mesquite‡ Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana Deciduous 35 35 Low Jacaranda* Jacaranda mimosifolia Partly
Deciduous 50 30 Moderate
King Palm* Archontophoenix cunninghamiana Evergreen 70 15 Moderate Mexican Blue Palm Brahea armata Evergreen 50 25 Low
Mexican Fan Palm* Washingtonia robusta Evergreen 100 10 Low Mimosa* Albizia julibrissin Partly
Deciduous 35 20 Moderate
Olive* Olea europaea Evergreen 30 30 Low
Peppermint Tree* Agonis flexuosa Evergreen 35 30 Low
Pink Melaleuca* Melaleuca nesophila Evergreen 30 30 Low Purple Orchid Tree* Bauhinia variegata Partly
Deciduous 35 35 Moderate
Queen Palm* Syagrus romanzoffiana Evergreen 50 30 Moderate Red Flowering Gum* Eucalyptus ficifolia Evergreen 45 60 Low Red Push Pistache Pistacia x ‘Red Push’ Deciduous 40 40 Moderate Round-Leafed Moort* Eucalyptus platypus Evergreen 35 35 Very Low Saratoga Laurel Laurus ‘Saratoga’ Evergreen 40 30 Moderate Shamel Ash Fraxinus uhdei Partly
Deciduous 80 60 Moderate
Soapbark Tree Quillaja saponaria Evergreen 45 25 Low
Swan Hill Olive Olea europaea ‘Swan Hill’ Evergreen 30 30 Low Water Gum Tristaniopsis laurina Evergreen 35 30 Moderate Table 5.4: Species Appropriate for 4 – 7-Foot-Wide Planting Areas with No Overhead Utility Lines Present.

5.2.6 PLANTING SPACE AVAILABLE 4 – 7 FEET WIDE WITH OVERHEAD UTILITIES The following species (Table 5.5) are recommended for parkways, medians, or other City maintained planting areas where the width of the smallest dimension is at least four (4) feet and overhead utility lines are present. These species can also be planted in spaces with a width of at least four (4) feet with no overhead utility lines present.

Common Name Botanical Name Foliage
Type
Maximum
Height (ft)
Maximum
Width (ft)
Water
Usage
Majestic Beauty Indian Hawthorn* x Rhaphiobotrya splendens ‘Montic’ Evergreen 25 10 Moderate Muskogee Hybrid Crape Myrtle* Lagerstroemia ‘Muskogee’ Deciduous 25 25 Moderate Natchez Hybrid Crape Myrtle* Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’ Deciduous 25 25 Moderate Pindo Palm* Butia odorata Evergreen 25 12 Low
Purple-Leaf Acacia Acacia baileyana ‘Purpurea’ Evergreen 30 30 Very Low River Wattle Acacia cognata Evergreen 25 25 Moderate
Shoestring Acacia Acacia stenophylla Evergreen 30 20 Very Low Table 5.5: Species Appropriate for 4 – 7-Foot-Wide Planting Areas with Overhead Utility Lines Present.
106

CLIMATE RESILIENCY
102

5.2.7 PLANTING SPACE AVAILABLE GREATER THAN 7 FEET WIDE The following species (Table 5.6) require planters where the width of the smallest dimension is greater than seven (7) feet. These are larger trees that are better suited for parks and large medians.

None of the species in this list are appropriate for planting in areas with overhead utility lines. Species marked with + have a high potential for root damage to hardscape and should be avoided in smaller planters adjacent to sidewalks and roadways.

Common Name Botanical Name Foliage
Type
Maximum
Height (ft)
Maximum
Width (ft)
Water
Usage
African Fern Pine* Afrocarpus falcatus Evergreen 65 40 Moderate Argyle Apple Eucalyptus cinerea Evergreen 50 40 Moderate Autumn Gold Maidenhair Tree* Ginkgo biloba ‘Autumn Gold’ Deciduous 50 35 Moderate Blue Atlas Cedar Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’ Evergreen 60 40 Low Blue Live Oak Quercus oblongifolia
Partly
Deciduous -
Evergreen
60 40 Moderate
Bur Oak Quercus macrocarpa Deciduous 80 30 Moderate
Camphor Tree Camphora officinarum Evergreen 70 60 Moderate Chestnut-Leaved Oak Quercus castaneifolia
Deciduous –
Partly
Deciduous
90 90 Moderate
Chinaberry* Melia azedarach Deciduous 50 25 Low
Chinese Elm* Ulmus parvifolia Partly
Deciduous 60 50 Moderate
Chisos Oak Quercus canbyi
Partly
Deciduous –
Evergreen
50 50 Low
Coast Live Oak*‡ Quercus agrifolia Evergreen 70 70 Low
Floss Silk Tree* Ceiba speciosa Partly
Deciduous 60 50 Low
Flowering Ornamental Pear Pyrus calleryana Deciduous 50 50 Moderate Glossy Privet* Ligustrum lucidum Evergreen 50 50 Moderate Graves Oak Quercus gravesii Deciduous 60 35 Moderate
Incense Cedar*‡ Calocedrus decurrens Evergreen 90 15 Moderate Japanese Elm Zelkova serrata Deciduous 70 70 Moderate
Maidenhair Tree* Ginkgo biloba Deciduous 65 25 Moderate Mexican Sycamore Platanus mexicana Deciduous 50 30 Moderate Mondell Pine* Pinus eldarica Evergreen 80 25 Low
Montezuma Cypress Taxodium mucronatum
Partly
Deciduous –
Evergreen
80 40 Moderate
Netleaf Oak Quercus rugosa Evergreen 60 40 Moderate
Norfolk Island Pine Araucaria heterophylla Evergreen 100 60 Moderate Omeo Gum Eucalyptus neglecta Evergreen 60 60 Moderate
Roberts’ Western Sycamore Platanus racemosa ‘Roberts’ Deciduous 50 50 Moderate Rose Gum Angophora costata Evergreen 65 50 Low
Sky Climber Live Oak Quercus virginiana ‘Skyclimber’
Partly
Deciduous –
Evergreen
80 100 Moderate
Smooth Arizona Cypress‡ Hesperocyparis arizonica var.
glabra Evergreen 50 20 Low
White Jacaranda Jacaranda mimosifolia ‘Alba’ Partly
Deciduous 50 30 Moderate
Table 5.6: Species Appropriate for Planting Areas 7-Foot-Wide or Greater 107

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5.2.8 SPECIES PROFILES
Photos for each species are courtesy of West Coast Arborist and SelecTree: A Tree Selection Guide

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5.3 PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT, AND INFRASTRUCTURE
A critical component of the continued growth of the City of Bellflower is the development and improvement of new and existing public and private facilities and infrastructure. Prior to approving and issuing permits for any proposed project, the Director of Public Works or designee must consider potential impacts to community assets and public resources, including the effects to the urban forest.

To protect utilities and infrastructure, City trees will not be planted within the following distances from:
• Driveways – 10 feet
• Streetlights – 15 feet
• Intersections – 25 feet
• Fire Hydrants – 10 feet
• Power Poles – 10 feet
• Adjacent Trees – 50 feet
• Above ground, surface-mounted utility boxes – 5 – 10 feet

5.3.1 TREE PROTECTION IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND PLANTING PROCESS The ISA Best Management Practices, Managing Trees During Site Development and Construction and the ANSI A300 Tree Care Standards Clause 9 – Management During Site Development and Construction (Appendix B) both emphasize the importance of the inclusion of a certified arborist throughout the development process to evaluate direct and indirect impacts to the urban forest and ensure the appropriate measures are taken to protect trees as illustrated in Figure 5.1. At a minimum, proposed plans should address the following in relation to trees in the City of Bellflower Urban Forest:
• An inventory of the trees on site and adjacent trees that may be impacted by the project. o Inventory data required:
 Location (either as a map or set of coordinates)
 Tree Number (Electronic Inventory ID for City trees or site-specific identification number
 Species (common and botanical name)
 Diameter at Standard Height ([DSH] measured at 4.5 feet above grade)  Health Condition
o Impact zones outside of the project will vary. The precise buffer will be at the discretion of the Director of Public Works during the review process (See ISA BMP and ANSI Standards in Appendix B for more detail)
• Potential tree impacts:
o Direct
 Describe specific impacts to each tree.
 Project specifics that make tree impacts unavoidable.  Permits required for removals, branch removals, root pruning.  Potential for increased sun exposure due to proposed pruning activities leading to sunburn on internal branches.
• Proposed protection measures to prevent sunburn.
o Indirect
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 Grade changes within the root zone of existing trees.  Changes to water flow on site that may divert water away or increase flows around existing trees.
 New hardscape installation near existing trees.
 Changes in sun exposure for existing trees due to the removal of adjacent trees, removal/changes to existing structures or addition of new structures. • List of trees proposed to be preserved on site after the project. o Defined Tree Protection Zone (TPZ) for each tree to be preserved (See ISA BMP Managing Trees During Site Development in Appendix B for assistance in defining appropriate TPZ).
 Activities prohibited within the TPZ:
• Grade changes (cuts and fills).
• Trench excavation.
• Root pruning or cutting.
• Pedestrian and equipment traffic.
o It can cause soil compaction and root damage.
• Parking.
• Burning of brush or woody debris.
• Storing of soil, construction materials, petroleum products, water, or building refuse.
• Disposing of wash water, fuel, or other liquids that could potentially damage tree roots.
 Proposed method to delineate the TPZ(s) and restrict access.  TPZ(s) for adjacent trees outside the project area that may be impacted by the project.
• Monitoring and Maintenance Plan for trees to be preserved. o Conducted by a Certified Arborist
o Preconstruction
 Watering
 Mulching
 Pest / Disease Prevention / Treatment
 Routine Pruning
 Tree Health
o During Construction
 Watering
 Mulching
 Pest / Disease Prevention / Treatment
 Tree Health
 TPZ Monitoring and Maintenance
 Monitoring / Response to incidental damage to protected trees. 197

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 Root Pruning Monitoring (According to the ISA Best Management Practices Root Management and ANSI A300 Tree Care Standards Clause 12 – Root Management, Appendix B)
o Post Construction
 Watering
 Mulching
 Pest / Disease Prevention / Treatment
 Tree Health
For private development projects, as part of the review process, in compliance with the ISA BMPs and the ANSI A300 Standards, the Director of Public Works or designee will evaluate the stated impacts and permit application(s) for each proposed project. The Director of Public Works or the designee will also evaluate the construction limits and protection measures around any preserved trees on the proposed plans to ensure the trees are suitable for preservation and the submitted protections are adequate to maintain a healthy tree after construction. Periodic site visits will be assigned at the Director of Public Works discretion to ensure compliance with the approved protection measures.

For City-managed or other public projects, the Director of Public Works or designee will coordinate with the lead agency to develop the tree protection plan as described above. A staff Certified Arborist or a contracted arborist will be assigned to complete the site evaluation, inventory, and protection measures at the discretion of the Director of Public Works.

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Figure 5.1: Arborist Involvement in the Development Process (From the International Society of Arboriculture, Best Management Practices: Managing Trees During Site Development and Construction, page 4)

5.4 REDUCTION OF URBAN HEAT ISLAND
The concept of the urban heat island effect is empirically demonstrated by thermometer measurements of temperatures in various municipal areas across the world. As cities grow and the percentage of paving and built environment increases in relation to unpaved areas, there are demonstrable effects on air temperature from reflected heat, especially in zones that lack tree canopy.

Trees naturally provide a cooling effect by shading hardscape that would reflect the heat back to the atmosphere, and evapotranspiration from tree leaves provides much-needed cooling moisture.

Another important benefit of increased shade is that residents and visitors are more likely to walk rather than drive from one point to another. This results in fewer emissions and fossil fuel use, which is beneficial for human health. As trees grow, the area they shade will increase. The expanding zone of reduced radiated heat from the surrounding hardscape and increased relative humidity can form microclimates that will support many more types of plants in the landscape than would otherwise be 199

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possible. Irrigation needs for plants in these microclimates may also be reduced since less water is lost to evaporation from unshaded soils.

Bellflower trees are essential to climate modification and energy savings. Benefits include:

1. The process of transpiration in trees cools the air by converting water used by the plants into water vapor. Without trees, the solar energy that makes this process happen would otherwise heat the air.

2. Shade from trees reduces radiant energy stored by impervious surfaces.

3. Trees moderate annual heating and cooling costs when planted in key locations.

5.5 PLANTING PLAN
The January 2026 inventory (Section 2.4) listed 3,243 potential planting sites where a tree once existed and 136 stump sites that could be used as new planting sites after stump removal within the City of Bellflower Urban Forest (approximately 27.91% of the total identified available sites). These sites were identified based on appropriate available space along parkways and medians where either a previous tree was removed or a stump that could be removed, opening up the site for future planting. This is not an exhaustive analysis of all potential planting sites where trees could be planted, but it serves as a benchmark to provide the greatest canopy cover possible within the current system of parkways and medians. The distribution of the potential planting sites is shown in Figures 5.2 – 5.6.

The City of Bellflower intends to plant one hundred (100) new trees per year in potential planting sites (See Section 6).

The remainder of this section details the process for soil testing, species selection, nursery stock selection, installation, and young tree maintenance for all tree installations at sites managed by the City of Bellflower.
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Figure 5.2: Distribution of Potential Planting Sites in District 1 as of the January 2026 Inventory. 201

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Figure 5.3: Distribution of Potential Planting Sites in District 2 as of the January 2026 Inventory.

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Figure 5.4: Distribution of Potential Planting Sites in District 3 as of the January 2026 Inventory.

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Figure 5.5: Distribution of Potential Planting Sites in District 4 as of the January 2026 Inventory. 204

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Figure 5.6: Distribution of Potential Planting Sites in District 5 as of the January 2026 Inventory.

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5.5.1 SOIL TESTING
Prior to species selection for any planting site, soil samples will be taken to determine soil pH, nutrient availability, and the presence of heavy metals or other materials that may be harmful or reduce the growth of new trees on the site. The samples will be submitted to a laboratory facility approved by the Director of Public Works for analysis. Samples should be taken according to the methodology described in the ISA Best Management Practices Soil Management for Urban Trees (Appendix B) summarized below.
• Ten (10) core samples should be taken from the upper six to eight inches (6” – 8”) of site soil using a soil probe or auger for every one thousand square foot (1,000 sq. ft.) area to be tested.

If the site is less than one thousand square feet, a minimum of ten core samples should be taken.
• Scrape aside any layer of mulch, litter, or turf before taking the sample. • Core samples should be representative of the diversity of the site. • Combine the ten core samples into a single sample bag to be submitted to the laboratory for analysis.
• Remove any rocks and/or debris from the sample before submittal.

5.5.2 SPECIES SELECTION
City Designee, with approval of the Director of Public Works, shall refer to the approved species list for selection of the species from this list that is appropriate for the size of the available planting space and presence or absence of utility lines (Tables 5.2 – 5.6). • Adjacent infrastructure should be considered when developing the list of potential species. The Approved Species List in Table 5.1 and the individual species profiles list the potential for roots to damage infrastructure. Species with moderate to high potential for hardscape damage may not be appropriate for planting adjacent to critical infrastructure. • Compare the soil sample analysis results for the planting site to the Soil pH requirements provided in the species profiles for the list of potential species. If the site soil pH lies within the tree species pH tolerance range, the species may be considered suitable for the site.

5.5.3 NURSERY STOCK SELECTION
Obtaining healthy, well-structured nursery stock is essential for the establishment of healthy, well- structured trees in the City of Bellflower Urban Forest. Nursery stock must be free of pests and diseases with a visible root flare to be accepted for installation in the City of Bellflower. Codominant leaders, or trees with large pruning wounds from the recent removal of a codominant stem, will also be rejected. Pruning of young trees in the nursery is a common industry practice; however, the pruning cuts should be made according to ANSI A300 Standards and ISA BMPs (Appendix B). Trees with flush cut pruning wounds and/or stubs left after pruning will not be accepted.

Ideally, the trees should be inspected at the nursery prior to delivery, but if this is not feasible, the inspection should occur prior to offloading from the delivery truck. To the extent possible, the roots at the container edge should be inspected to make sure they have not been turned back by the container and begun to form J-roots. J-roots will continue to grow inward, forming a balled root 206

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system instead of growing out into the surrounding site soil. As the young tree grows and requires more water uptake from the roots, the small root area will not be able to accommodate the demand.

The young tree can experience drought stress symptoms regardless of the amount of water provided and eventually die. Figure 5.7 illustrates some of the conditions that would indicate healthy nursery stock compared to conditions that would lead to rejecting delivery of a nursery tree.

Figure 5.7: Conditions for Selecting Nursery Stock
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5.5.4 TREE INSTALLATION
Prior to excavation of any tree planting site, the location of underground utilities should be verified either internally by the Public Works Director or Designee or with a contracted underground utilities locating service such as DigAlert. Once the site has been verified safe for excavation, the new tree will be installed according to the following specifications and as illustrated in Figure 5.8 (Further detail can be found in Appendix B, ISA Best Management Practices Tree Planting and ANSI A300 Tree Care Standards Clause 10 – Planting and Transplanting):
• Excavate the planting hole twice the width of the container and to a depth one to one and a half inches (1” – 1 1/2 “) less than the depth of the container soil. o The depth can be adjusted if needed by replacing excavated soil, watering the fill, and compacting it by foot.
• Remove excess soil around the base of the tree while it is still in the container to expose the root flare if necessary.
• Place the tree in the planting hole while still in the container to check that the container soil level is one to one-and-a-half inches (1” – 1 ½”) above the site grade. o The depth can be adjusted if needed by replacing excavated soil, watering the fill, and compacting it by foot.
• Once the depth of the planting hole has been properly adjusted o For plastic containers (15-gallon, 20-gallon, etc.):
 Carefully remove the root ball from the container by squeezing or banging on the sides to free the soil from the container and sliding the container from the root ball. Do not pull the tree out of the container by the trunk or turn the container upside down.
 Gently disturb the outer parts of the root ball by hand to free any roots that may have been constricted by the container. This will encourage outward expansion of the roots into the surrounding soil.
 Place the root ball in the center of the hole, supporting it with shovels or boards to keep it intact and in the proper position.
 Begin backfilling with native soil.
• Remove any debris, turf, mulch, or litter from the native soil prior to backfilling. • If soil amendments are recommended based on the pre-installation soil sample analysis, they should be thoroughly mixed with the native soil prior to being placed in the planting hole.
o Amended soil should only be used for the top eight to twelve inches (8” – 12”) of backfill unless otherwise specified.
• Backfill soil in six-to-eight-inch (6” – 8”) layers.
o Water in and compact each layer by foot.
• Once the backfill has reached 2/3 the height of the root ball, the supports can be removed.
o Backfill the gap left by supports, water, and compact by foot.

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o Continue adding layers of soil, watering, and compacting until the backfill is level with the surrounding grade (the top of the container soil should be one to one-and-a-half inches [1” – 1 1/2”] above grade).  Blend the edges of the container soil with the surrounding grade to create a gentle slope from the top of the container soil to the surrounding grade. • Cover any exposed roots on the edges. Do not cut exposed roots unless recommended by a Certified Arborist.
• Remove any backfill soil that is covering the original container soil. The nursery soil will likely be significantly different in composition and drainage from the native soil. If the nursery soil is covered by native backfill, a soil barrier may result, which can prevent water from penetrating into the root ball.

As the tree begins to establish itself at the site, the roots will expand into the surrounding soil, and this will be less of an issue, but for the first few months, most of the absorbing roots will be within the original container soil.  Build a berm from the remaining backfill soil to create a watering basin around the new tree.
• Berm should be four to six inches (4” – 6”) outside the edge of the original container and two to three inches (2” – 3”) high.
• Compact the berm by hand.
 Fill the basin with water and allow water to infiltrate the soil completely.  Once water has completely drained from the basin, fill it with water a second time.
o For boxed trees
 Follow the installation process above with these exceptions:
• For twenty-four (24”) and thirty-six-inch (36”) boxes, remove the bottom boards from the box before placing the tree in the planting hole • For forty-eight-inch (48”) boxes and larger, remove every other bottom board prior to placement in the planting hole.
• Do not cut the straps or remove the box sides until the backfill has reached 2/3 the height of the box; doing so can lead to the collapse of the unsupported root ball, damaging the roots.
• Backfill the gap created by the removal of the box sides in six-to-eight-inch (6” – 8”) layers, water each layer, and compact the soil with shovels and by foot before applying the next layer.

5.5.5 NEW TREE SUPPORT AND TRUNK PROTECTION
Double staking with wooden stakes is usually adequate for most newly installed container trees up to a forty-eight-inch (48”) box size. Trees from larger containers or balled and burlapped trees with small root balls relative to tree height may be too tall to be supported by wooden stakes. For these trees, guying and/or root ball anchoring may be the preferred support method. Details and methodology for guying and root ball anchoring can be found in the ISA Best Management Practices Tree Support Systems: Cabling, Bracing, Guying, and Propping and the ANSI A300 Tree Care Standards Clause 7 – Supplemental Support Systems in Appendix B.
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5.5.5.1 Tree Stake Installation
Figure 5.8 illustrates the correct placement and attachment of the double stake support system. The process is as follows:
• Remove the nursery stake from the tree and the associated ties. If the stake cannot be completely removed without damaging the tree or roots, cut the stake flush with the ground. If the entire stake is removed, backfill the hole and compact by hand or with a small trowel. Avoid damaging the roots or trunk while backfilling the stake hole. • Place the two untreated lodge pole pine or Douglas fir stakes on opposite sides of the tree perpendicular to the direction of the prevailing wind for the planting site. • Drive stakes into native undisturbed soil, outside the planting hole, to a minimum depth of two inches (2”). The stakes need to be driven into the ground straight and not at an angle. • Attach the tree to the stake using 36” EZ-Band Self Locking Tree Ties or an equivalent approved by the city.
o Place the first pair of ties at the highest point on the trunk where the tree stands upright.

The tie should not contact, cross, constrict, or interfere with any branch in the canopy. o Each tie will be looped in a figure-8 orientation from the trunk to the stake (Figure 5.8). o The opposite tie in the pair should be placed so that it contacts the trunk just above or below the point of the first tie without overlapping.
o The dull side of the tie should be placed flat against the trunk on this side of the loop. o If the distance from the trunk to the stake is greater than can be reached by a single tie, multiple ties can be linked by passing the end of one through the self-locking loop of the second tie. A knot is tied on the end of the first tie to prevent it from slipping through the self-locking loop. The connection and knot should be placed as far from the trunk as possible.
o Place the end of the tie through the self-locking loop against the stake and pull it through until the desired tightness is reached.
 Ties should allow the trunk to move up to three times (3x) the diameter in all directions. Ties that are too loose will not support the tree properly, and ties that are applied too tightly will not allow the tree to develop supporting roots and reaction wood that will be necessary once the stake is removed. Over-tightened stake ties can also lead to the trunk snapping above the tie point in heavy winds, and are more likely to become embedded in the trunk sooner as the tree grows. o Secure the ties to the stake with a small nail driven through the self-locking loop to hold them in place and prevent the end from sliding back through the loop. The remaining end of the tie can be cut off after the tie is secured. o A second pair of ties should be installed in the same manner at approximately half the distance from the first set of ties and ground level.
o The top of the stakes should be cut off approximately one inch (1”) above the attachment point of the top ties and at least six inches (6”) below the lower branches of the canopy.

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Figure 5.8: New Tree Installation Specification
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5.5.5.2 Tree Stake Inspection
Stakes and ties should be inspected at least once every six (6) months after installation until they are removed. Broken or loose stakes and/or ties need to be replaced. The contact point of the tie and the trunk will also be inspected for indications that the tie is constricting the growth of the trunk. The tie will be loosened or replaced if it is constricting trunk growth or becoming embedded in the bark.

5.5.5.3 Tree Stake Removal
Tree stakes should be left in place for a minimum of twelve (12) months and a maximum of eighteen (18) months after installation. If, after the eighteen-month period, the tree has not established sufficient support roots to prevent movement of the root plate when the trunk is moved, or cannot stand upright once the stakes are removed, a Certified Arborist should inspect the tree and roots to determine the course of action for the tree.

5.5.6 WATERING FOR NEW TREES
The first one to two years following planting are a critical time for young trees as they adjust from the ideal nursery growing conditions to the site conditions in an urban setting. As described in Section

5.5.4, the initial root system that was confined to the nursery container must expand into the surrounding soils at the planting site if the uptake capacity of the roots will be sufficient to replace increased transpiration water loss in the urban setting and support the growth of the trunk and canopy. Supplemental water will need to be provided to help the tree through this stage and become established in the urban forest.

The process for new tree installation must include a plan to provide the water necessary to support the trees through the establishment period. Details for water management are discussed as part of the cultural practices in Section 4.6.1.1 Water Management. The general scheduling guidelines based on species water usage requirements from Section 4.6.1.1 have been duplicated in Table 5.7 for reference. The water requirements for each species can be found in Table 5.7. This is only a general schedule and may need to be adjusted based on the specific environmental conditions at the planting site.

For sites with automatic irrigation systems, the schedules can be set to provide the necessary water based on species needs and site conditions. The system should be tested at the time of tree installation to ensure that the system provides enough water to fill the water basin and that the spray from overhead sprinklers is not hitting the trunk of the tree. For sites that will be hand watered, the schedule and party responsible will be identified prior to the installation work. Watering should be done with a shower nozzle whenever possible to reduce soil erosion in the basin. Any soil disturbance that occurs at the time of watering will be repaired prior to leaving the site. The berm around the watering basin will be inspected at the time of each visit and repaired as needed prior to watering the tree.

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Water Usage June - October November - May
Very Low 1x per week
1x per week (0 – 3 months
after installation)
Every other week (3
months + after installation)
Low
2x per week (0 – 3 months
after installation)
1x per week (3 months +
after installation)
1x per week
Moderate 2x per week 2x per week
Table 5.7 – General Watering Schedule Based on Water Usage

5.5.7 STRUCTURAL PRUNING
A structural pruning plan will be developed for each newly planted tree within six (6) months of installation. The plan will address the goals in Figure 5.9 along with any site-specific conditions, such as clearance for adjacent buildings, traffic signals, or signs, where strategic pruning of smaller branches will encourage growth away from areas of conflict with these structures and reduce the need for removal of larger branches at a later date. Pruning at the time of installation should be avoided other than to remove dead or broken branches so that the tree’s resources can be allocated to root growth and adaptation to the new environmental conditions.

Figure 5.9: Structural Pruning for Young Trees
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5.5.8 MONITORING OF NEWLY PLANTED TREES
For hand-watered trees, the scheduled visits will be an opportunity to evaluate tree health and site conditions. Trees that show signs of pests, disease, stress, or other declining health will be reported to the Director of Public Works immediately, and a note will be placed on the site in the City’s Electronic Inventory Software System. Follow-up action will be at the discretion of the Director of Public Works.

Prior to the installation of new trees on planting sites that will be watered by an automatic irrigation system, a schedule of monitoring visits will be developed with the responsible party assignment.

These visits will occur weekly for the first three months after installation and then bi-weekly through the first year. After year one, the frequency of visits can remain biweekly or transition to monthly at the discretion of the Director of Public Works.

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6 STRATEGIC PLAN

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6.1 VISION STATEMENT
The benefits that trees provide to the community make the urban forest one of the most valuable resources for the City of Bellflower. The City of Bellflower is committed to developing and maintaining an urban forest that will be a model to other municipalities as a pathway to maximize the benefits of trees in an efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective way in partnership with the residents and business community.

Many of the visions and goals stated in the Introduction for the City of Bellflower Urban Forest Master Plan have been addressed in previous sections. The Strategic Plan will focus on the additional data analysis and specific planning needs to:
• Maintain canopy cover and Urban Forest tree inventory through replacement of any public tree removed.
• Increase the canopy cover and Urban Forest tree inventory by planting one hundred (100) new trees each year.

6.2 GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The overarching guiding principle for this Strategic Plan is to maximize the benefits that trees provide to the entire Bellflower Community. Those benefits include:

Beautifying the landscape
Improving air quality
Releasing oxygen into the atmosphere
Absorbing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases
Providing sound barriers
Serving as a windbreak
Providing direct and indirect positive economic property value Capturing storm water
Reducing soil erosion
Reducing runoff
Reducing water consumption in the landscape
Providing shade and cooling for homes and leisure
Reducing heat islands
Providing habitat for wildlife

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Achievement of the main guiding principle is reliant on these additional component principles and guidelines.
• Maintaining healthy well-structured trees within the urban forest by following the Best Management Practices and Standards as developed by the International Society of Arboriculture and the American National Standards Institute and presented in the previous sections of this UFMP.
• Practicing adaptive management, adapting to new scientific information, industry understanding, and changes in climate that may require periodic updates in practices and standards.
• Protecting and conserving limited water resources by reducing the water requirements to sustain the urban forest.
• Reducing property damage and injury to people by replacing trees that pose a higher risk based on species profile and history of failure within the City of Bellflower.

6.3 STRATEGIC PLAN

6.3.1 MAINTAIN CANOPY COVER AND URBAN FOREST TREE INVENTORY

THROUGH REPLACEMENT OF ANY PUBLIC TREE REMOVED
As part of the maintenance of a healthy urban forest, removal of dead, pest infested, diseased or hazardous trees will be required. Removal should be a last resort after all other feasible mitigation measures to retain the tree have been exhausted.

Any city-maintained tree removed will be replaced at a 1:1 ratio to avoid a net loss of trees in the inventory and reduce the impacts to canopy cover. If a large mature tree must be removed, there may be short-term local impacts to canopy cover until the replacement tree can develop a canopy of similar size. Replacement trees shall be chosen from the Approved Tree Palette for the list of species appropriate for the available space and available water resources. All replacement trees shall be installed according to the standards described in Section 5.5 of this UFMP.

6.3.2 INCREASE CANOPY COVER AND URBAN FOREST TREE INVENTORY BY PLANTING ONE HUNDRED (100) NEW TREES EACH YEAR
To increase the number of trees within the City of Bellflower inventory and meet the goal of an overall 10% canopy cover for the urban forest, at least one hundred (100) new trees shall be installed annually in the 3,243 available potential planting sites and 136 stump sites described in Section 5.5.

These new trees shall be in addition to any trees installed as replacements for removed trees as described in Section 6.3.1.

New trees shall be chosen from the Approved Tree Palette for the list of species appropriate for the available space and available water resources. All replacement trees shall be installed according to the standards described in Section 5.5 of this UFMP.

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7 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

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PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
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7.1 EDUCATION / OUTREACH
The commitment of the Public Works Director or Designee and officials to the vision, goals, and practices outlined in this Urban Forest Master Plan is essential to maximizing the urban forest benefits for the community. The plan will not be successful without the understanding of the community members. To garner community support, the City of Bellflower is committed to educating the community on the role that the trees in the urban forest play in improving the physical and mental well-being of the people who live, work, and visit the city.

7.2 TREE CITY USA STATUS
In 1976, to promote the many benefits of the urban forest to communities, the Arbor Day Foundation instituted the Tree City USA program. This program recognizes the commitment of cities across the country to maximizing the benefits provided to the community by the urban forest through expansion of canopy cover and proper maintenance of trees. The goals and visions in this UFMP demonstrate the commitment from the City of Bellflower to the principles of the Tree City USA program. To celebrate that vision, the city seeks to obtain Tree City USA recognition and retain this designation in perpetuity.

There are four (4) standards that a city must meet to be recognized under the Tree City USA program. Cities that meet the standards to be recognized as a Tree City USA have:

1. A Tree Board or Department: The City of Bellflower Department of Public Works is responsible for the maintenance and care of the trees in the Urban Forest.

2. A Public Tree Care Ordinance: The City of Bellflower does not have an adopted Tree Care Ordinance. The Department of Public Works operates under the City of Bellflower Street Tree Policy.

A Tree Care Ordinance will need to be prepared and adopted to meet this standard for Tree City USA status.

3. A Community Forestry Program with an Annual Budget of at Least $2 Per Capita: The population of the City of Bellflower is 79,190 according to the 2020 census data, requiring an annual budget of $158,380 to meet this standard. The annual urban forest management budget for the City of Bellflower averages well above $500,000 per year, far exceeding this standard.

4. An Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation: The City of Bellflower Council will need to prepare and execute a Proclamation declaring an Arbor Day observation event will take place annually to meet this standard for Tree City USA status.

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7.3 CARING FOR PRIVATE TREES
Professionally maintained trees will provide long-lasting benefits to residents and help improve the environment. Residents and business owners are encouraged to seek out and contract with licensed and certified tree care professionals. Public outreach to educate the community about the benefits provided by the trees and how to properly maintain trees in good health is essential to achieving the urban forest goals described in this UFMP.

7.4 RESOURCES AND GUIDELINES FOR HOMEOWNERS AND

BUSINESSES
The City of Bellflower recognizes that reaching the goal of a healthy urban forest that provides the greatest benefit for the community requires the participation and cooperation of the community members. The public outreach and education discussed in Section 7.1 demonstrates the City’s understanding and commitment to that idea. The practices for species selection, tree installation, cultural care, mature tree protection, and tree maintenance presented in this UFMP provide guidance for Homeowner and Business participation in achieving these goals. Additional resources are available in Appendix E and through forestry agencies and professional organizations, with a few examples provided below.

Trees Are Good, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)

www.treesaregood.org

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California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Urban Forestry Program

https://www.fire.ca.gov/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/urban-and-community-forestry

United States Forest Service

https://www.fs.usda.gov/learn/trees

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Master Gardener Program

https://mg.ucanr.edu/
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APPENDIX A – SOURCES
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SOURCES

Links to the International Society of Arboriculture Best Management Practices and American National Standards Institute A300 Standards that form the basis for much of this Urban Forest Master Plan are included in Appendix B for reference. Additional information sources referenced in the UFMP are listed below.

American National Standards Institute. 2023. A300 Tree Care Standards. Tree Care Industry Association, Londonberry, NH. American National Standards Institute. 2023. A300 Tree Care Standards. Tree Care Industry Association, Londonberry, NH.

Costello, Laurence R., Gary Watson, E. Thomas Smiley, and Richard Hauer. 2023. Best Management Practices – Root Management. International Society of Arboriculture, Atlanta, GA.

City of Bellflower. City History. https://bellflower.ca.gov/community/about_bellflower_/city_history.php .

Assessed on September 15,2025.

Lilly, Sharon J., Edward F. Gilman, and E. Thomas Smiley. 2019. Best Management Practices – Pruning. Third Edition. International Society of Arboriculture, Atlanta, GA.

Matheny, Nelda, E. Thomas Smiley, Ryan Gilpin, and Richard Hauer. 2023. Best Management Practices – Managing Trees During Site Development and Construction. Third Edition.

International Society of Arboriculture, Atlanta, GA.

Scharenbroch, Bryant C. and E. Thomas Smiley. 2021. Best Management Practices – Soil Management for Urban Trees. Second Edition. International Society of Arboriculture, Atlanta, GA.

SelecTree. UFEI. 1995-2025. Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo. https://selectree.calpoly.edu Smiley, E. Thomas, Sharon Lilly, Les Werner, and Beth Brantley. 2020. Best Management Practices – Tree and Shrub Fertilization. Fourth Edition. International Society of Arboriculture, Atlanta, GA.

Smiley, E. Thomas, Nelda Matheny, Sharon Lilly, Brian Kane, Ryan Klein, Beth Brantley. 2025. Best Management Practices – Tree Risk Assessment. Third Edition. International Society of Arboriculture, Atlanta, GA.

UC IPM Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program. University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/index.html
Watson, Gary. 2014. Best Management Practices – Tree Planting. Second Edition. International Society of Arboriculture, Atlanta, GA.

Wiserman, P. Eric and Michael J. Raupp. 2016. Best Management Practices – Integrated Pest Management. Second Edition. International Society of Arboriculture, Atlanta, GA.

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APPENDIX B – BEST MANAGEMENT

PRACTICES
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BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Best Management Practices Pruning
Soil Management for Urban Trees
Tree Support Systems
Managing Trees During Site Development & Construction
Tree Planting
Root Management
Tree Risk Assessment
Integrated Pest Management
Tree and Shrub Fertilization

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
ANSI A300 Tree Care Standards
Clause 1 – 4: Scope, Purpose, Application, and General Info Clause 5: Pruning
Clause 6: Soil Management
Clause 7: Supplemental Support Systems
Clause 9: Management During Site Development and Construction Clause 10: Planting and Transplanting
Clause 11: Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM)
Clause 12: Root Management
Clause 13: Tree Risk Assessment
Clause 14: Integrated Pest Management
Clause 15: Industry Definitions

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APPENDIX C – CITY PLANNING

DETAILS AND SPECIFICATIONS

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CITY PLANNING DETAILS AND SPECS

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APPENDIX D – COMMON PEST AND

DISEASE INFORMATION

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COMMON PEST AND DISEASE INFO

More information regarding tree pests and diseases is available through the links below. This is not a comprehensive list, there are many other pests and diseases not included.

TREE PESTS AND PEST/DISEASE COMPLEXES

Acorn moth
Aphids
Arizona Ash Tingid
Ash Borer
Ash Leaf Curl Aphid
Ash Moth
Ash Plant Bugs
Ash Psyllid
Ash Whitefly
Banana Moth
Biosduval Scale
Black-punctured Kermis
Black Scale
Black Vine Weevil
Boxelder Bug
Brown Soft Scale
Buffalo Treehopper
Calico Scale
California Gallfly
California Oakworm
California Red Scale
Carpenterworm
Chinese Wax Scale
Citricola Scale
Citrus Whitefly
Coconut Mealybug
Cottony Cushion Scale
Crape Myrtle Aphid
Crown Gall
Crown Whitefly
Cynipid Gall Wasps
Elkhorn’s Oak Scale
Elm Leaf Aphid
Elm Leaf Beetle
Eriophyid Mites
European Elm Bark Beetle
European Fruit Lecanium
Fall Webworm
Flathead Appletree Borer
Frosted Scale
Fruittree Leafroller
Fuller Rose Beetle
Gelatinous Whitefly
Giant Palm Borer
Giant Whitefly
Gill’s Mealybug
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COMMON PEST AND DISEASE INFO

Goldspotted Oak Borer (GSOB)
Glassy-winged Sharpshooter
Greedy Scale
Greenhouse Thrips
Greenhouse Whitefly
Ground Mealybug
Hemispherical Scale
Ichneumonid Wasps
Invasive Shothole Borers (ISHB)
Japanese Beetle
Jumping Oak Gall Wasps
Lace Bugs
Leaf Miner
Live Oak Weevil
Live Oak Erineum Mite
Longtailed Mealybug
Mealybugs
Melon Aphids
Oak Bark Beetles
Oak Leaf Phylloxera
Oak Lecanium Scale
Oak Pit Scale
Oak Ribbed Casemaker
Oak Treehopper
Oak Twig Girdler
Obliquebanded Leafroller
Obscure Mealybug
Obscure Scale
Oleander Scale
Omnivorous Leafroller
Omnivorous Looper
Oystershell Scale
Pacific Flathead Borer
Palm Aphid
Palm Leaf Skeletonizer
Pear Sawfly
Pink Hibiscus Mealybug
Pit-Making Pittosporum Scale
Podocarpus Aphid
Privet Bud Mite
Privet Rust Mites
Psyllids
Redbelted Clearwing
Roundheaded Oak Twig Borer
Root Nematodes
San Jose Scale
Scales
Shield Bearers
Stanford Whitefly
South American Palm Weevil
Spider Mites
Sumac Psyllids
Sycamore Borer
Sycamore Leaf Skeletonizer
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COMMON PEST AND DISEASE INFO

Sycamore Plant Bug
Sycamore Scale
Sycamore Spider Mite

Tent Caterpillars
Thrips
Tuliptree Scale
Tussock Moths
Two Horned Oak Gall Wasps
Vine Mealybug
Walnut Scale
Wax Scales
Western Sycamore Lace Bug
Whiteflies
Woolly Oak Aphid

TREE DISEASES

Alternaria Leaf Spot
Alternaria Blight
Anthracnose
Armillaria Root Rot
Ash Dieback
Bacterial Blight
Bacterial Canker
Bacterial Leaf Scorch
Bacterial Slime Flux / Wetwood
Botryosphaeria Canker
Botrytis Blight
Butt Rot
Ceratocystis Canker
Chinese Elm Anthracnose
Collar Rot
Crown Gall
Crown Rot
Dematophora Root Rot
Diamond Scale
Drippy Oak Acorns
Dutch Elm Disease
Entomosporium Leaf Spot
Ficus Branch Canker
Fire Blight
Foamy Canker
Fusarium Wilt
Ghost Canker
Hypoxylon Canker
Leaf Spot Diseases
Nectaria Canker
Oak Branch Dieback
Oak Leaf Blister
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COMMON PEST AND DISEASE INFO

Oak Twig Blight
Oleander Leaf Scorch
Palm Diseases
Phyllosticta Leaf Spot
Phytophthora
Pink Rot
Pitch Canker
Powdery Mildew
Rusts
Sooty Mold
Sudden Crown Drop
Verticillium Wilt
Western Gall Rust
Wood Decay
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APPENDIX E – I-TREE ECO™

REPORTS
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APPENDIX F – RESOURCES FOR

HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES
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APPENDIX G – RESULTS OF THE

PUBLIC OUTREACH SURVEY
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