Parkway Trees
HELPFUL HINTS
WINDERMERE HOA STREET / PARKWAY TREES
Street trees are a valuable asset to our Windermere community, benefiting all neighbors, wildlife and the environment. Street trees:
- Enhance the beauty and value of our homes and neighborhoods; and
- Are a proven means of noise reduction and traffic slowing, improving safety for our families.
Windermere was purposefully designed to benefit from street trees planted in the rights of way between the sidewalks and streets in front of our homes. This intent is clearly documented in:
- Hamilton County and Fishers development documents and approvals, with street trees required per legal descriptions and restrictions associated with each property, as defined in plats; and
- Windermere HOA Covenants, Section 13.3 Parkway Trees, defining property owner responsibility to maintain and replace parkway trees. The Windermere HOA is obligated to enforce Covenant requirements of Section 13.3.
If your property has a missing, diseased or dying street tree, please make plans for replacement during the Spring or Fall. As you make plans, please note:
- No HOA landscaping approval is required – this is maintenance/replacement.
- If you receive HOA notification that street tree replacement is required per covenants, please reply with timing by which you will replace the tree.This will prevent further notices or enforcement action as long as your plan is followed.
- Replacement trees must have a minimum 2” caliper per Windermere HOA Community Guidelines and Standards (section 17).
- Most Windermere properties require a minimum of two street trees, with most corner lots requiring four (two on each street). Some properties may have different requirements due to lot configuration. If you have a question, please review your property plat (see links below), or contact Windermere HOA.
- Contact Before You Dig by dialing 811 or accessing www.indiana811.org to identify areas where utility lines cross planting strip and avoid those areas.Water mains under rights of way may require a hand dig (mains are located well below typical tree planting depth).
The City of Fishers REQUIRES residents obtain street tree permits before planting. Windermere HOA has worked directly with Fishers Planning and Zoning to make sure Windermere plat requirements are understood, and that Windermere street tree permits are approved as long as tree selection and placement meets Fishers requirements.
- Apply for a street tree permit at:https://fishersin.viewpointcloud.com/categories/1074/record-types/1006486.
- It is IMPORTANT specify permit is for REPLACEMENT TREE(s), as previously approved and required by Windermere property plat(s). You can find your plat and/or provide the city a link to your plat by clicking the appropriate link below:
https://WindermereFishers.com/plats
- Trees must be on the Fishers approved street tree list, which Fishers Planning and Zoning has summarized below, and can also be found (along with trees not allowed) starting on page 23 at: https://fishersin.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Planting-Guide_Approved-2021.pdf
It is best to select a tree with a small or medium sized planting area, that can be pruned to assure appropriate clearance (at least 7’) over sidewalks, thrives in dryer conditions (or with irrigation if available), and has a root type minimizing risk of sidewalk damage. These guidelines were not always followed when Windermere was first developed – we have better information available today. Some small to medium planting area species from the Fishers approved list include:
- Downy Serviceberry - https://www.arboretum.purdue.edu/explorer/plants/72/
- American Hornbeam - https://www.arboretum.purdue.edu/explorer/plants/114/
- Eastern Redbud - https://www.arboretum.purdue.edu/explorer/plants/133/
- Sweetgum - https://www.arboretum.purdue.edu/explorer/plants/355/
- Hophornbeam (Ironwood) - https://www.arboretum.purdue.edu/explorer/plants/457/
- Common Hornbeam - https://www.arboretum.purdue.edu/explorer/plants/111/
- Cornelian Cherry Dogwood - https://www.arboretum.purdue.edu/explorer/plants/175/
- Amur Maackia - https://www.arboretum.purdue.edu/explorer/plants/21466/
- Littleleaf Linden - https://www.arboretum.purdue.edu/explorer/plants/681/
- Silver Linden - https://www.arboretum.purdue.edu/explorer/plants/72/
Note that species diversity is helpful and reduces risks such as the ash borer that has decimated so many Windermere trees. Once you’ve planted your tree, please assure it is properly watered. Transplant shock is common, and it may take 2-3 years before roots are well-established. You might want to have your soil tested to assure it matches your tree selection, and/or to understand what soil treatment/fertilization program will help your tree thrive.