The Hancock Park Homeowners Association (HPHA) has taken the lead in replanting trees after approximately 20 dead or dying elms were removed along Rossmore and Las Palmas Avenues, and Muirfield Road.

Landscapers plant one of about a dozen trees on Rossmore Avenue. (photo by Gregory Cornfield)

HPHA president Cindy Chvatal said the homeowners association is helping with replanting because the city has limited funding.

“The trees have been there for a long time and some of them were dying. The drought finished them off,” Chvatal said. “The homeowners association paid for the stump removal and we are planting new liberty elms. At least a dozen have been planted already.”

Chvatal said the association is also working with Councilman David Ryu’s office to have the remaining trees trimmed. Ryu is coordinating with the city’s urban forestry division and Chvatal hopes the remaining trees on Rossmore Avenue between Wilshire Boulevard and Melrose Avenue can be saved.

“We hope the ones that are still alive can be salvaged,” Chvatal added. “We are working with urban forestry and hope the trimming will happen this spring. Our hope is we can keep them alive another seven to 10 years.”

Chvatal said the cost of stump removal ranges from $150 to $600 per tree, and the association has also hired an arborist to help with the replanting. The costs were covered by fees collected by the association. HPHA member Gary Nelson nurtured the liberty elm saplings in his back yard until they were ready for planting over the past two weeks.

Chvatal said she is optimistic the remaining elms along Rossmore Avenue can be saved and stressed the importance of watering, even if it is only one time a week.

These trees are 50 to 60 years old and after four years of drought some are in bad shape,” Chvatal said. “The big mature trees aren’t getting water, which makes them susceptible to disease. It was a double-whammy for these trees.”