Few residents notice Trent Bristol while he quietly cares for trees in Herriman, but his expertise has made a significant difference in the health of the city’s trees. December will mark Bristol’s fourth year as Herriman’s arborist. Prior to serving the city, he obtained a forestry degree from Utah State and was a forester for 25 years. In 2017, he received his arborist certification from the International Society of Arboriculture, and earlier this year, he was recognized as Arborist of the Year by the Utah Chapter of the ISA. 

To share some of his extensive knowledge with the community, Bristol will offer a basic tree pruning class, “Tree Time with Trent,” on Thursday, Oct. 26, at City Hall from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The class is free, and registration is not required. Pruning can be tricky, but he states that the most common mistake people make is planting trees too deep—these trees often struggle and can die within the first year or even up to five years later. “[Trees] usually come too deep from the nursery. They pile up the dirt to keep them from tipping over,” explained Bristol. The ideal depth, he says, is for the soil to be just above the tree’s first major root.

Another common pitfall, Bristol reveals, is planting a tree that is not suited to the climate. Residents may consult the city’s website, which offers a list of trees that thrive in Herriman. “I like to refer them to the list to diversify the tree canopy as much as possible,” Bristol said. He explains that if too many trees in an area are the same species, the tree population is vulnerable to species-specific diseases and insects. Bristol reveals that 47% of trees within Herriman borders are flowering pears. “Many people don’t know that the flowering pear is banned from being planted in park strips in front of residences,” he stated. “One issue is when branches get heavy, they break off and take half the tree with them, so it’s not a good street tree.”

Proper watering is also key. “Trees like to be watered deeply and infrequently, once or twice a week,” disclosed Bristol, recommending 10-15 gallons for the average small to medium-sized tree and 20-25 gallons for a larger tree. He notes that it is also necessary to check soil moisture once a week to ensure that the soil is moist but not saturated at least 12-15 inches below the surface. 

Bristol also offers a warning about evergreens, which he says never go truly dormant during the winter. They continuously lose water throughout the cold months and will start showing symptoms come summer. Unless there is snow on the ground, Bristol’s rule of thumb is that evergreens should be watered once a month during the winter when it is at least 40 degrees. If the temperature is below 40 degrees, he advises waiting for a warmer day.  

Don’t miss “Tree Time with Trent,” Thursday, Oct. 26, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at City Hall. λ