As long as the wrong trees are planted in the wrong place, utilities will be obligated to prune them or remove them altogether. To minimize this, many utilities have developed tree lists suggesting alternatives to such favorites as oaks, maples, London plane trees, and other tall-growing species. The recommended species are selected for low maintenance, insect and disease resistance, availability, and beauty. Mature height must be 25 feet or less. Normally, the utility's vegetation management budget is significantly larger than the community's urban forestry budget.
Cooperation allows both organizations to extend their resources.
In large and small communities alike, utility efforts represent the most significant force for change in the urban forest. Where a community lacks resources, a cooperative effort may represent the only way to manage the urban forest. In many communities, a history of cooperation exists between the local utilities and government agencies. For example, cooperation was common during efforts to remove elm trees during the peak of the Dutch elm disease in the late 1960's and early 1970's. If such a relationship does not exist, one should be initiated immediately.