Top Tree Care Tips for HOAs

HOA managers wear many hats. From budget planner and community mediator to maintenance coordinator and project manager, balancing demands is difficult. However, when it comes to tree care, a knowledge gap can turn routine landscaping into a tangle of safety concerns, regulatory hoops, and unforeseen expenses.

In regions like Colorado’s high plains, Utah’s desert edges, and the lush Pacific Northwest, environmental stresses only amplify these challenges. Drought,, invasive pests, and extreme weather events can threaten entire community canopies if not anticipated, and HOA managers are often left scrambling for solutions.

Demystifying tree care for HOA professionals, including clear strategies and expert insights, can help you safeguard not only your community’s trees but also property values, safety, and natural beauty.

Top Tree Care Concerns for HOAs

Like many aspects of an HOA manager’s job, tree care requires some juggling of priorities and assistance from experienced individuals.

For HOAs in Colorado, Utah, and Oregon, there are unique challenges associated with tree care. From the high-altitude sun and arid soils of Colorado and Utah to the wet winters and dense forests of Oregon, each region demands a tailored approach to keeping community trees healthy, safe, and attractive.

Further, HOAs must balance limited budgets with the need for regular maintenance, comply with local ordinances, and address safety and liability concerns, all while pleasing current homeowners and attracting new residents with the natural beauty.

Failing to address tree care issues promptly can lead to costly removals, property damage, or even personal injury claims. While some tree care concerns are universal, in the regions mentioned, prioritizing the tree care needs listed below can help ensure HOAs meet their goals.

Key Tree Care Concerns for HOAs

• Drought Stress & Water Management: Ensure adequate irrigation during dry spells without violating local water-use restrictions.
  
  
• Soil Erosion & Root Health: Prevent soil compaction and erosion on slopes common in mountain communities, which can undermine root stability.
  
  
• Pest and Disease Prevention: Monitor for region-specific threats, such as emerald ash borer, pine beetles, and fungal infections.
  
  
• Storm, Snow, and Wind Damage: Proactively prune and brace trees to withstand heavy snow loads, high winds, and ice storms.
  
  
• Infrastructure Conflicts: Manage root intrusion into sidewalks, underground utilities, and retaining walls.
  
  
• Liability & Safety: Regular inspections to identify hazardous limbs or unstable trees before they pose a risk to residents or property.
  
  
• Regulatory Compliance: Adhere to local and state ordinances on tree removal, protected species, and replanting requirements.
  
  
• Budgeting & Cost Control: Balance the cost of professional tree care services with the HOA’s long-term maintenance budget.
  
  
• Aesthetic & Community Standards: Maintain a consistent canopy appearance to uphold property values and community appeal.
  
  
• Wildfire Mitigation (where applicable): Create defensible space around structures in wildfire-prone areas of Colorado and Utah.

Top Tree Care Challenges for HOAs

Building on the concerns previously outlined, HOAs often encounter practical obstacles when implementing tree care programs. These challenges can slow response times, increase costs, and sometimes lead to reactive rather than proactive maintenance.

Over the last few years, several events have brought tree care challenges into the spotlight.  

• Where ash trees make up roughly 15 percent of the urban canopy,  emerald ash borer and other pests continue to impact Colorado’s communities. 
• Severe weather, such as the 2023 hailstorms in the Rockies, can cause billions of dollars in damage, toppling branches and uprooting young trees.
• In the Pacific Northwest, projections warn that 21-38% of habitat suitable for current species may shift or disappear due to climate change, leaving trees vulnerable to pests, diseases, and fires. 
• Urban expansion is predicted to drive canopy decline in 87% of U.S. urbanized counties by 2060, threatening long-term tree cover in our fastest-growing communities. 

Our neighborhoods and communities are a natural place to counter these larger challenges with smart tree selection and effective tree care solutions. Within those communities, however, there are still challenges for HOAs and their managers.

Get our Tree Selection Checklist here!

Key Tree Care Challenges for HOAs

• Invasive Pests & Diseases: It’s essential to manage threats like emerald ash borer and pine beetles before they decimate key species.
  
  
• Climate-Driven Species Mismatch: Replacing aging, vulnerable trees is a normal part of managing trees, but now, more than ever, trees must be replaced with species better suited to climate change, including hotter, drier summers or wetter winters.
  
  
• Storm Damage & Emergency Response: In communities, coordinating quick cleanup and safe removal after storms and severe weather is essential for safety.
  
  
• Complex Care for Mature Trees: Not only is the right equipment required for pruning, bracing, or removing large, mature trees, but also specialized tree care experts who have the experience and expertise.
  
  
• Budgetary Limits: HOA managers must balance long-term plans against HOA dues, other priorities, and a general reluctance to ask for special assessments.
  
  
• Regulatory and Liability Issues: HOAS must stay compliant with local ordinances, protected tree statutes, and insurance requirements.
  
  
• Stakeholder Coordination: Aligning all stakeholders, including board members, homeowners, and contractors, around planting plans, maintenance schedules, and replanting decisions can be difficult.
  
  
• Skilled Labor Shortages: Finding certified arborists and crews well-versed in regional species and best practices, who are capable of handling all tree services, rather than cobbling together multiple providers, can be challenging, especially during peak seasons.
  
  
• Wildfire & Smoke Management: Increasingly, wildfire mitigation is a top concern. HOAs must help create defensible communities and select fire-resistant species, especially in areas with higher risk.

For an HOA manager, with plenty on their plate, managing trees, tree services, and monitoring tree health can be overwhelming. Recognizing the challenges allows HOAs to better plan for them, and tree care tips can help communities overcome the challenges that come with building resilient, beautiful tree canopies that meet community needs. 

Top Tree Care Tips for HOAs

Trees are an investment, and managing them, like managing a community, takes a bit of strategy. If your goals include reducing long-term costs, beautifying the neighborhood, enhancing safety, or keeping your community happy and boosting home value, then implementing thoughtful tree care practices can help.

These best practices, when incorporated into your annual maintenance plan, will enable your HOA to stay ahead of pests, weather events, and regulatory changes. Better yet, it can also help you stretch your tree care budget.

• Develop a Multi-Year Tree Management Plan. Establish a rotating schedule for inspections, pruning, and removals. A long-term plan can help spread costs out over time and prevent emergency costs associated with tree removal.
  
  
• Prioritize Species Diversity. Avoid overreliance on any single tree species. Mixing drought-tolerant, disease-resistant, and native varieties reduces the risk of widespread loss from pests or climate shifts.
  
  
• Engage Certified Arborists Early. Involve ISA-certified arborists in planning and high-risk work. Their expertise can prevent costly mistakes and ensure compliance with local ordinances.
  
  
• Implement Regular Risk Assessments. Conduct quarterly or semi-annual inspections to identify weak branches, root issues, or pest activity before they escalate. This is one area where you can encourage community education and participation.
  
  
• Allocate an Emergency Response Fund. Set aside a portion of your annual budget for storm damage, sudden removals, or urgent pest treatments to avoid surprises.
  
  
• Coordinate with Local Nurseries. Partner with reputable, regionally focused nurseries to source healthy, climate-adapted trees and obtain planting warranties.
  
  
• Train Maintenance Staff and Volunteers. Offer basic tree identification and safety workshops so on-site personnel can spot early warning signs and understand when to call professionals.
  
  
• Use Technology for Tracking. Maintain a digital inventory of tree locations, species, age, and service history to streamline planning, budgeting, and regulatory reporting. Working with a reputable, local tree services company can help simplify this process.
  
  
• Promote Community Education. Keep homeowners informed about tree care schedules, the benefits of pruning, and water restrictions to foster support and reduce conflicts. Offer workshops to help homeowners identify issues and learn more about the trees in their community.
  
  
• Incorporate Wildfire Mitigation Practices. In high-risk zones, regular maintenance and care are essential. You’ll also need ot create defensible space by thinning lower branches, removing deadwood, and choosing fire-resistant species.

These tips can help your HOA maintain a safe, attractive, and sustainable tree canopy that withstands regional stresses and enhances the community's value.

How Working With the Right Tree Service Provider Can Help HOAs with Tree Care

Partnering with a local tree service provider gives your HOA the advantage of deep regional knowledge. Similarly, a provider with proven HOA experience knows the unique administrative and communication challenges that associations face, such as coordinating board approvals, scheduling around community events, and providing transparent quotes that meet reserve-study requirements.

Beyond familiarity with local climate and regulations, the right company offers end-to-end tree care solutions. From selecting and growing nursery stock adapted to your microclimate to precision planting and routine maintenance, a full-service provider ensures consistent care. This approach means fewer contractors to manage, streamlined invoicing, and a single point of accountability. Your HOA can focus on community priorities rather than tree care needs and logistics.

• Local Expertise & Species Selection. Leverage on-the-ground knowledge of soil types, water-use ordinances, and pest pressures to choose trees that will flourish with minimal intervention.
  
  
• HOA-Specific Project Management. Rely on experience navigating board approvals, CC&R compliance, and community-wide communications to keep projects on schedule and budget.
  
  
• Comprehensive Nursery Services. Access healthy, locally grown stock with warranties, eliminating the guesswork of sourcing from multiple vendors.
  
  
• Professional Planting & Transplanting. Tree health starts with ensuring correct planting depth, proper soil preparation, and proper establishment to minimize transplant shock and promote rapid root growth.
  
  
• Scheduled Maintenance Programs. Customize recurring pruning, health assessments, and pest treatments that align with your budget cycle and reserve studies.
  
  
• Safe, Efficient Removals & Stump Grinding. Handle hazardous or end-of-life trees with insured crews and specialized equipment, which helps protect property and minimizes disruption.
  
  
• Emergency Response & Storm Cleanup. When storms hit, local tree services mean you can count on rapid mobilization to remove hazards, mitigate liability, and restore safety.

Choosing a tree services partner with local roots, HOA experience, and full-spectrum capabilities means your association can build a resilient, attractive canopy while simplifying administration and controlling costs.

If you’re looking to ensure your community’s trees remain a source of pride now and for the next 50 years, the solutions seem clear: understand the concerns and challenges, employ tree care best practices, and partner with a reliable local nursery and tree services provider.

In Colorado, Utah, and Oregon, SuperTrees is here to help. With over 50 years of nursery experience, we work with trees from seed to sales and service. Starting with our air pruning technology, we ensure healthy trees, oversee their establishment, and provide ongoing care and tree services to ensure your HOA and community get the best from their tree investments.

If you’re ready to talk to our team and certified arborists, we’re ready to help you grow!