The Dreaded Cottonwood

It's that time of year again. The great menace known as the cottonwood tree (Populus deltoides) consumes many a springtime backyard outing, takes out a air conditioning unit, or just drives a person to persistent frustration year after year. For all those who have called us, and other departments and councilmembers in the city, we DO hear and feel your pain. The frustration of these situations is shared.

Please understand that we recognize the problems, but our city ordinance does not give us a way of fighting this issue. Article X, the tree preservation ordinance, does not say the tree is NOT protected. Therefore it IS protected. Therefore, the city cannot remove the tree, and the city cannot allow the tree to be removed, with or without a permit, merely for doing what cottonwood trees do by nature.

These trees are native to North Texas and they grow rapidly with a vengeance. They seed out in massive volumes each year. That they reside in places not suitable to your home is not a situation the city has the means to regulate at this time.

The cottonwood is a cousin to the aspen and becomes one of our regions' largest tree species. The tree is not what I would consider for the non-protected tree list except that they become such a nuisance to some homeowners in an unfortunate location. The tree is a fast grower and is magnificent to view in old abandoned fields. Regrettably, they become a source of contention with homeowners who find them near their home and next to their swimming pools and barbecue pits. The air conditioning units are the most expensive victims to the white seeds floating from these trees.

For now, I can only tell you this. If you have a neighbor (on a lot with a single family or duplex use and under 2 acres) that has a cottonwood tree 'polluting' the neighborhood, you should discuss if there is a means of changing the situation with that owner. If the tree is in the parkway or on other public land, the city will not remove the tree unless it is specifically, and directly, a potential physical hazard to people or adjacent properties.

The city cannot issue a tree removal permit for you to remove it without proper justification. You can submit a application for tree removal ($60 minimum fee) to the city arborist and seek approval to remove it yourself but we may not be able to issue you the permit for the reason of the tree doing what the tree does naturally each year. We can look at the tree to assess if there are any other issues that might help determine the status of the tree.

Meanwhile, please know that this is always on the arborist's agenda for any future discussions for future Article X adjustments. We are seeking ways of producing answers that are favorable to everyone.