Liriope’s Muse: Tree Care Tips from a Master Arborist

If you live in a neighborhood governed by a Homeowners’ Association (HOA), you’re no stranger to their landscaping rules. These guidelines are usually designed to preserve curb appeal and property values, but when it comes to trees, the results aren’t always so pretty.

While the intentions may be rooted in aesthetics and uniformity, HOA landscaping requirements often conflict with modern arboricultural science and sustainable land management. The result? Rules that may be slowly harming your trees and costing you more in the long run.

Mandated Tree Types Can Be Problematic

One of the most common issues is the use of approved species lists that limit what you can plant.

On paper, these lists sound helpful ensuring the neighborhood looks cohesive. In reality, they often prioritize appearance over climate suitability, biodiversity, mature size, or long-term health. Fast-growing, ornamental trees may look great in a lineup but can be structurally weak, prone to pests, or downright invasive in Texas landscapes.

The problem: Trees poorly suited to local soil, climate, or pest pressures often decline early, leading to constant maintenance, costly removals, and replacements often at the homeowner’s expense.

Spacing Rules That Ignore Root Health

Many HOAs require specific planting distances between trees, driveways, sidewalks, or homes. This may create visual order but often ignores the needs of a tree’s root system and canopy spread.

The result?

• Compacted, suffocated roots from a restricted root zone.
• Structural conflicts like lifted sidewalks or cracked driveways (check out this blog to learn more about the relationship between trees roots and foundations)
• Trees competing for water and nutrients they desperately need

Without adequate space, trees struggle to establish strong root systems, leaving them more vulnerable to stress, pests, and even storm damage.

Pruning Schedules That Harm More Than Help

Some HOAs dictate that trees be trimmed annually or “shaped” to maintain a uniform look, regardless of species or actual condition.

While it might look neat for a season, this kind of cosmetic-driven one-size-fits-all pruning approach can severely compromise tree health. Over-pruning weakens a tree’s natural defenses, topping creates irreversible structural damage, and aggressive thinning leaves trees vulnerable to pests, disease, and sunscald.

Remember: Trees don’t need pruning on a schedule—they need selective pruning at the right time for the right reasons.

The Push to Remove “Imperfect” Trees

Some HOAs push for tree removals over slight leans, seasonal leaf drop, or minor bark imperfections, even when the tree poses no actual safety risk. This approach not only strips away valuable canopy cover and habitat but also forces homeowners to spend money on removals and replacements they don’t need. And once a mature shade tree is gone, you can’t simply plant a new one and expect the same benefits anytime soon—it can take decades for a young tree to provide the same shade, beauty, and environmental value.

How to Protect Your Trees from HOA Overreach

If your HOA’s rules are clashing with best practices for tree care, you have options.

• Get a Certified Arborist’s Opinion – A professional assessment can provide the facts you need to defend a tree against unnecessary removal or pruning.
• Educate Your HOA Board – Share scientific resources, invite a local arborist to speak, or present the long-term costs of poor tree management.
• Propose Policy Updates – Many boards are open to changes when presented with evidence and practical alternatives.
• Choose Trees That Work with Both Science and Rules – We can help you select HOA-approved trees that will thrive in your yard and support the local ecosystem.

How Eric Putnam BCMA Can Help

At Eric Putnam BCMA, Inc., we regularly advocate on behalf of trees—and the homeowners who care about them. If your HOA is pressuring you to remove a tree you believe is worth saving, we can step in.

Our team can provide a written report and an official letter from a Board Certified Master Arborist supporting the health and value of your tree. In many cases, this is enough to get the HOA to back off and reconsider their position.

You don’t have to face these battles alone. We’ve helped countless homeowners keep their trees and protect their landscape investments.

The Bottom Line

Trees are more than just decoration they’re vital parts of a healthy, thriving neighborhood. They provide shade, habitat, stormwater control, and even boost property value. HOA landscaping rules shouldn’t come at the expense of tree health or environmental sustainability.

With the right knowledge, and the right advocate, you can keep your neighborhood beautiful and protect the living assets that make it truly special.