TM 5-803-13/AFM 126-8
APPENDIX B
STREET PLANTINGS
B-1. Introduction. The use of street plantings, par-
of the installation, for example, a particular land-use
ticularly trees, is one of the most effective means to
relationship, historic district, community area or other
enhance and define the road hierarchy. Trees will also
similar entity.
provide shade and improve the overall visual quality of
(3) The selection of tree species, spacing and loca-
the installation. A systematic design approach should be
tion along roads should bear a relationship to the class of
employed to establish a coordinated street planting
roadway. Roadways are generally classified as arterial,
program for the entire installation.
secondary or collector, or local. Plantings should reflect
the nature and speed of passing traffic. The visual and
B-2. Relationship to master planning. If the
psychological impact of tree plantings is of very real
visual quality of military installations is to be improved,
value in establishing a hierarchy of traffic flow from
design procedures and guidelines must be incorporated
installation entrances to major and minor roads. A clearly
into the master planning process. It is at the master
structured and consistent planting scheme can provide
planning level that there is an appropriate overview
overall visual coherence on the installation.
directed at insuring overall compatibility of individual
(4) A palette of readily-available, hardy trees with
program needs. Formulation of an installation street
suitable growth characteristics should be developed for
planting program to support the overall objectives of the
use as street trees. These should include large, medium-
installation master plan will provide guidelines for
sized and smaller trees and may include flowering spe-
improving the visual quality of a military installation.
cies. A variety of disease and insect resistant species
should be used to insure that an infestation of insects or
B-3. Assessment of the existing environment.
disease does not decimate the street tree plantings on the
The steps listed below should be followed in assessing
entire installation.
the existing situation. TM 5-803-5/NAVFAC P-
(5) Initial size of large growing trees should gener-
960/AFM 88-43 explains each of these procedures in
ally be about 2 inch caliper. This size tree is usually
detail.
available in sufficient quantity, recovers well from
-- Overview visual survey.
transplanting and grows rapidly once established.
-- Supplementary visual surveys.
Smaller-growing trees can be proportionately smaller
initially. However, small flowering trees should be at
least 8 to 10 feet high with trunks of 1 to 1 inch caliper.
B-4. Formulation of design guidelines.
(6) The selection, location and spacing of street
a. Goals and objectives. In order to develop an
trees must accommodate the safety requirement of
installation street planting program, it is necessary to
vehicles and pedestrians. Adequate sight distances must
establish specific goals and objectives. The specific
be maintained at intersections, driveways, cross-walks or
mission, priorities, existing visual assets and liabilities,
other locations where clear vision is important. Criteria
and planned changes for each installation should
for safety must include an analysis of road size and
influence the formulation of these goals and objectives.
alignment and speed and volume of traffic.
b. Overall design criteria and guidelines. After
B-5. Alternatives to linear tree plantings. Linear
design objectives for the installation have been estab-
lished, design criteria responsive to these objectives
arrangements are traditional for street tree plantings
should be formulated. Based on these criteria, overall
because they are simple, economical and dramatic. How-
design guidelines for the installation should be estab-
ever, in some areas, a less formal planting may be more
lished. Some general criteria and guidelines for street
successful. In more developed parts of the installation,
plantings are as follows:
planting spaces may be limited or irregular in shape
(1) Street trees should be placed between the side-
because of underground utilities. In this case, irregular,
walk and the building, leaving the strip between the
nonlinear plantings may provide flexibility to fully utilize
sidewalk and the curb free for underground utilities and
those spaces that provide the best growing conditions.
traffic and street lights. If there are no sidewalks, the
Trees should only be planted where there is adequate soil
distance between the curb and the trees should be at least
and space (fig B-I). Nonlinear planting designs may
four feet to prevent damage to trees from vehicles.
incorporate cluster plantings when sufficient space is
(2) In the design of a street planting, separate plant
available. These clusters may include tall, canopied
species may be used to identify distinctive details or areas
species, smaller under-story plants and ground covers (fig
B-1