Appendix D – 1
TREE REMOVAL, PRUNING AND LANDSCAPING APPLICATION
AUTHORITY: COVENANTS Section 6.01 (c)
“(c) Except as may be necessary for clearing area for buildings, structures and driveways, no stone walls or live
trees greater than four (4) inches in diameter at a height of four (4) feet from the natural ground level, shall be cut,
destroyed or removed and no change shall be made in the natural character of the land conveyed herein, without
the prior written approval of the Review Board, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. No trees
specially banded by the Association shall be removed without the prior written consent of the Review Board.” For
further information or explanations, see “The Landowners' Guide, Construction, Landscaping, and Painting in the
QLLA Community”.
LANDOWNER NAME:____________________________________________ QLLA LOT #:____________
(E-911) STREET ADDRESS: ________________________________________________________________
LOCATION OF SIGN DISPLAYING LOT # OR STREET ADDRESS: _____________________________
NOTE: YOUR LOT NUMBER OR STREET NUMBER MUST BE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED ON THE PROPERTY OR
YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE CONSIDERED INCOMPLETE.
MAILING ADDRESS: _____________________________________________________________________
EMAIL ADDRESS: _______________________________________QLLA MEMBER#: ________________
PHONE (HOME): __________________ WORK: ____________________QUECHEE: ________________
PLEASE STATE THE REASONS FOR THE TREE WORK. (Attach separate sheet if needed.):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
FUEL TANKS: Are there fuel tank/s located on the property?______ If yes please indicated type and describe
location including whether tank/s are inside, outside or buried: ________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
SUBMIT,
ON A SEPARATE SHEET OR ON THE BACK OF THIS FORM, A SKETCH OR PLOT PLAN SHOWING ALL
BUILDINGS AND THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF THOSE TREES TO BE PRUNED OR REMOVED.
GIVE THE NAME OF ANY FORESTER OR ARBORIST THAT WAS CONSULTED: (If none, indicate so)
_________________________________________________________________________________________
LIST NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER OF CONTRACTOR WHO WILL DO WORK:
NAME: __________________________________________________ PHONE:________________________
ADDRESS: _______________________________________________________________________________
Appendix D – 2
The RB requires that all trees to be removed or pruned be banded with identifying tape. Tapes are available at the
RB office during normal business hours for a nominal cost. Trees to be removed are to be banded with red or
orange tape, and trees to be pruned should be banded with green or blue tape. Indicate the date that all trees will be
banded and ready for review ____/___/____
Proposed starting date: _____/_____/____Allow 3 weeks for review, site visit and written approval by the RB. All
work, including replanting, should be completed within 12 months or a new application is required.
Note: a $25 fee is required for this application with the exception of dead tree(s). Also, based upon the scope of
your project, the RB may require submission of a tree replanting plan.
The Contractor(s) selected for this application is on file with the RB as an “Authorized Contractor” ____YES
NO [If NO, the Contractor must take the appropriate actions to become Authorized before work can begin]
____
THE SIGNATURE BELOW ATTESTS TO THE ACCURACY OF PRESENTED MATERIAL AND ACKNOWLEDGES THE OBLIGATION TO FURTHER SUBMIT FOR APPROVAL ANY CHANGES IN ANY
MATTER LISTED ABOVE. APPLICANT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE PROJECT IS BEING BUILT ON
PROPERTY WITHIN THE QUECHEE LAKES DEVELOPMENT, WHICH PROPERTY IS SUBJECT TO THE
QLLA GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, LOCAL AND STATE REGULATIONS AND THE CONDITIONS OF
THE REVIEW BOARD APPROVAL.
Landowner's Signature:

Date ______/______/_______
Yes please charge the requisite fee to my Club Membership Account #:_________________________
NOTE: AN ABUTTER LETTER(S) MAY BE REQUIRED DEPENDING ON THE IMPACT TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
For RB Use:
Membership Status: __________________________________________________ Date ______/______/______
3268 Quechee Main Street PO Box 1301 Quechee, Vermont 05059
Telephone 802.299.2108 Email Review.Board@QuecheeClub.com Fax 802.295.1527
www.QuecheeClub.com
Appendix D – 3
CARING AND TRAINING OF TREES WITHIN THE QLLA COMMUNITY
BACKGROUND
Standards and procedures are established to assure that the natural character of the development within QLLA will
be maintained as defined by Covenants, Bylaws and various Board resolutions. These Guidelines are intended to
assist Landowners and other interested parties to maintain and promote a natural Vermont landscape.
A natural healthy Vermont landscape consists of a variety of plants, bushes and trees of different size and age to
provide adequate enclosing and privacy for the homeowners and their neighbors. The landscape should also be able
to provide opportunities for close contacts with seasonal variations of plants and wildlife in Vermont.
The Guidelines will cover different situations and options available to meet required standards.
PROMOTE EXISTING PLANTS AND TREES
All forest management requires long-term planning. Tree removals, training (including pruning) and replanting
should all be part of the same process i.e. maintaining healthy and diversified tree stands. Although current rules
permit removal of trees 4 inches in diameter measured at the height of 4 feet, it is very important to recognize that
already established stands, if thinned and remaining plants are trained properly, will provide the most economical
and likely successful renovation. Different tree heights and ages promote a long-term healthy forest and landscape.
REPLANTING OPTIONS
When large open wounds have been inflicted in the forest landscape through construction or removal of trees,
restoration efforts are required. The restoration process will take several years and should be revisited at least each
third year to identify general health condition and fertilizing, thinning and training needs. The processes below are
designed to give the best guaranteed coverage and sustainability.



Plants 1-2 feet tall should be planted 3 -5 feet apart and be partly thinned every 3 to 5 years to provide
appropriate space for remaining trees.
Plants 5-7 feet tall should be planted no more than 10-15 feet apart and be partly thinned or, if they don’t
survive, be replanted in 3-5 years to provide appropriate spacing between remaining trees.
Evergreens should be planted where all season screening is required.
TRAINING YOUNG TREES
Properly trained trees are not only more aesthetically pleasing but are stronger than untrained trees, significantly
reducing the likelihood of limb or trunk failure as the tree matures. The 5-Step pruning for form and structure
follows:
1. Remove broken, diseased, dying or dead branches.
2. Select a central leader and remove competing branches. (Don’t mix this up with topping. Topping is
not allowed).
3. Select the lowest permanent scaffold branch. Scaffold branches are those that will remain permanently
and dictate the overall form of the tree. The lowest permanent branch should be strongly joined with the
trunk and have a maximum diameter of ½ the stem diameter at the point of attachment.
4. Select scaffold branches and cut back or remove competing branches. All scaffold branches should
share a strong union with the main stem, and their maximum diameter should be no more than ½ the
diameter of the trunk at the point of attachment. All branches that are weakly joined to the trunk should be
removed or cut back significantly, directing more growth to scaffold branches. Vertical spacing between
scaffold branches should be roughly 18 inches for larger trees (expected diameter of 12 inches or more) and
12 inches for smaller trees. As the tree matures it may be necessary to prune and/or remove some of the
original scaffold branches.
Appendix D – 4
5. Select temporary branches. Temporary branches should be selected and retained for several years in order
to maintain adequate foliage in the crown. Temporaries should be smaller and less vigorous than the
permanent scaffold branches so they do not compete. In order to prevent competing It may be useful to
prune temporary branches back to the third bud.
PRUNING
As a general rule, no more than 25% of the living crown should be removed in one year. Large defective limbs or
exceptionally vigorous trees may warrant more aggressive pruning. Roughly ½ of the foliage should be on the
branches originating from the lower 2/3 of the main stem. This rule can be useful in guiding your selection of
permanent branches. Prune during the winter months while trees are dormant except for branches that are diseased
or damaged. Those should be removed promptly. Use proper pruning techniques. Sloppy or otherwise incorrect
pruning is certain to do more harm than good.
All pruning must have the primary objective of creating a healthier tree or more healthy and diversified forest
environment - not a view.
TOPPING
Topping is not allowed. An owner may discover “topped trees” done in a prior period, but FURTHER
TOPPING IS NOT ALLOWED. Please contact the RB office with an application for remedies to this condition.
DEFINITIONS
Crown: Upper part of a tree, including the branches and leaves.
Pruning or Trimming: Removing plant parts for a beneficial purpose. (Includes thinning, heading, shearing and
pinching)
Scaffold branches: Main branches growing from the trunk and forming the framework of a tree.
Training: Removing tree branches for a beneficial purpose.
Topping: Undesirable practice of reducing the height of a mature tree by indiscriminately cutting back the top.