National Landowner Survey Urban Telephone Survey

_{Urban Survey Telephone Guide}

OMB # 0596-0078

Expiration date: to be updated

INTERVIEWER INTRODUCTION

Interviewer text:

Hello, this is <NAME> calling on behalf of the <STATE> Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. We are conducting the National Property Owner Tree Survey for the U.S. Forest Service and you were selected to participate. Several weeks ago you were mailed a copy of this survey. We have not received it and were hoping to collect the data by telephone today. Your cooperation is extremely important to the accuracy of the survey and your individual report will be kept confidential (under Title 7 of the U.S. Code and CIPSEA (Public Law 107-347)). Response is voluntary.

Paperwork Reduction Act Notice

A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with an information collection subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 unless the information collection has a currently valid OMB Control Number. The approved OMB Control Number for this information collection is 0596-0078. Without this approval, we could not conduct this survey. Public reporting for this information collection is estimated to be approximately 10 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the information collection. All responses to this information collection are voluntary. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this information collection, including suggestions for reducing this burden to the U.S.D.A. Forest Service email address [email protected] and include the OMB Control Number in the subject line.

The rest of the interview time is allotted to going through the survey and recording property owner’s answers. These interview questions will a subset of the National Property Owner Tree Survey (below), with the interviewer reading the questions and the property owner responding. Interviews will not go beyond the allotted time (25 minutes).

1. 1. Is your property residential?

• Yes

• No

^{If this is a residential property, go to question 2.}

If this property is industrial, commercial, a vacant lot, municipally or publicly owned, or other non-residential uses, no additional responses are needed. Please return this survey in the postage paid envelope provided.

General Questions About Your Property

2. What type of residential structure is on your property?

• Single family home, detached

• Duplex/townhouse/row home

• Apartment building

• Other (please specify):___________

3. Which category best describes who owns your property?

Which category below best describes your ownership?

Select only one.

• Individual

• Joint, with husband or wife

• Joint, such as with other family members or friends

• Family partnership or family LLC or LLP

• Family trust or estate

• Corporation or business (for-profit)

• Corporation or business (non-profit)

• Other (please specify):________________________________

3. Do you or your company rent your property to others?

• Yes

• No

3. How many total properties do you or your company own, including this one? ______properties

3. Do you reside on your property?

• Yes

• No

3. In what year did you or your company acquire your property?

______year

Property Features

3. How many, if any, trees are on your property?

• 0

• 1-5

• 6-10

• More than 10

• I don’t know

3. Which, if any, natural features does your property have?

Select yes, no or don’t know for each item

Yes No/Don’t know

£ £ Backyard

£ £ Front yard

£ £ Side yard(s)

£ £ Trees and/or shrubs that were planted

£ £ Trees and/or shrubs that grew naturally

£ £ Vegetable/fruit garden

£ £ Flower garden

£ £ Stream, pond or other natural water feature on or abutting property

3. Which, if any, built features, does your property have?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Recreational feature, such as tennis or basketball court

£ £ Water feature, such as a pool or pond

£ £ Driveway

£ £ Patio, porch, or deck

£ £ Shed or other storage building

Activities

3. Which, if any, of the following have occurred on your property in the past 5 years?

Select yes, no/don’t know for each item

Yes No/Don’t know

£ £ Eliminated or removed invasive plants

£ £ Installed a rain barrel or rain garden

£ £ Installed a new lawn

£ £ Planted shrubs, flowers, or ornamental grasses

£ £ Planted one or more trees

£ £ Pruned trees or did other tree care

£ £ Removed one or more trees

£ £ Worked with neighbors to minimize tree risks from their property

£ £ Contracted the city/town about trees near the street

£ £ Contacted the utility companies about trees near the wires

£ £ Treated trees for pests/diseases

3. Which of the following, if any, have occurred on your property in the past year?

Select yes, no/don’t know for each item

Yes No/Don’t know

£ £ Composting yard and/or food waste

£ £ Gardening

£ £ Mowing the lawn

£ £ Applied fertilizers to lawn

£ £ Applied fertilizers to trees

£ £ Used chemicals to control weeds or insects

£ £ Watering lawn, trees, or other plants

3. Which, if any, of the following social/recreational activities have occurred on your property in the past year?

Select yes, no/don’t know for each item

Yes No/Don’t know

£ £ Recreational activities, such as games, sports, or children playing

£ £ Social activities, such as cookouts or parties

£ £ Birding

£ £ Other (please specify):____________

Programs and Organizations

3. In some communities, there are groups of residents who volunteer their time to help maintain public green spaces (even tho this might not be the main reason for having the group). The volunteer work may involve activities like tree planting, litter removal, habitat restoration, trail construction, stream restoration, or working in a community garden.

a. How familiar are you with groups like these in your property’s city/town?

• Extremely familiar

• Moderately familiar

• Somewhat familiar

• Slightly familiar

• Not at all familiar

b. Have you or your company participated in a group like this in the past 5 years?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t know

3. In some areas, there are programs that help property owners cover the expense of planting new trees or caring for existing trees on their property.

   1. How familiar are you with programs like these?

• Extremely familiar

• Moderately familiar

• Somewhat familiar

• Slightly familiar

• Not at all familiar

1. In the past 5 years, have you or your company used a program like this to help plant new trees or maintain existing trees on your property?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t know

Sources of Information and Assistance

3. How familiar are you or your company with the services provided by the following professionals?

Select one box for each item.

	Extremely familiar	Moderately familiar	Somewhat familiar	Slightly familiar	Not at all familiar
Government tree care professionals
Private tree care professionals
Landscape designers or contractors
Extension agents/educators
Master gardeners

3. Who, if anyone, do you trust for providing you or your company with information about caring for or planting trees on your property?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Tenant(s)

£ £ Neighbor(s)

£ £ Family member(s) or friend(s)

£ £ Extension agent or educator

£ £ Other state employee

£ £ Local government employee

£ £ A non-profit organization

£ £ Employee at lawn and garden center

£ £ Landscaping or tree care professional(s)

£ £ Other (please specify):______________

£ £ No one

3. a. In the past 5 years, have you or your company talked with anyone or received information/advice about how to maintain your property’s landscape?

• Yes

• No

If yes, please answer b, c, and d

If no, skip to question 19

b. What was it about?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Trees

£ £ Vegetable/fruit gardening

£ £ Lawn care

£ £ Storm water/runoff management

£ £ Ornamental flowers and shrubs

£ £ Weed, pest, or disease control

£ £ Other (please specify):_________

c. How did it happen? Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Talked to someone in person

£ £ Talked to someone on the phone

£ £ Received a brochure or other written material

£ £ Attended a workshop in person

£ £ Attended a workshop - virtually

£ £ Went to a library

£ £ Read product labels

£ £ Went to a lawn and garden center

£ £ From the Internet or social media

£ £ Other (please specify):____________

d. Who was involved? Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Tenant(s)

£ £ A neighbor

£ £ A family member or friend

£ £ Extension agent or educator

£ £ Other state government employee

£ £ Local government employee

£ £ A non-profit organization

£ £ Employee at a lawn and garden center

£ £ Landscaping or tree care professional(s)

£ £ No one. I found the information myself

£ £ Other (please specify):___________

3. How would you or your company prefer to get information or advice about the care of the trees/shrubs/grass on your property? Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Talk to someone in person

£ £ Talk to someone on the phone

£ £ Written materials, such as brochures or other publications

£ £ Read product labels

£ £ From the Internet or social media

£ £ From a lawn and garden center

£ £ Attend a workshop – in person

£ £ Attend a workshop – virtual

£ £ Go to a library

£ £ Other (please specify):________

£ £ I don’t want/need information or advice

Concerns

3. How concerned are you or your company about each of the following on your property? Select one box for each item.

	Great concern	Concern	Moderate concern	Of little concern	No concern	Not Applicable
Tree roots interfering with building foundations, pipes, or septic systems
Live trees or branches breaking and causing damage or injury
Dead trees or branches breaking and causing damage or injury
Trees or branches breaking and causing a power outage
Trees blocking solar panels installed on the property
Damage from storms
Climate change
Trees blocking scenic views
Trees attracting pests (e.g. animals, insects)
Trees creating a fire hazard
Trees irritating allergies
Trees requiring a lot of water
The expense of tree care

Trees

20. Who performs the tree work on your property, if any tree work is being done?

Select yes or no for each item

Yes No

£ £ Me

£ £ My husband or wife

£ £ My children

£ £ My parents

£ £ Tenant(s)

£ £ Another family member

£ £ A neighbor

£ £ Landscaping professional(s)

£ £ Tree care professional(s)

£ £ Home Owner’s Association or Co-op

£ £ Other (please specify):___________

21. Is the wood from your property used?

• Yes

• No

• Don’t know

21. How important, or not important, is it to you or your company that trees removed from your property are used as urban wood products at some point?

• Very important

• Important

• Moderately important

• Of little importance

• Not important

• Not applicable

21. Please indicate your or your company’s level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements about the trees on your property. Select one box for each item.

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree	Not applicable
The trees on the property are healthy and attractive
Trees interfere with the enjoyment of the property
Trees create more work for me
I/we have the knowledge to properly care for the trees and shrubs on the property
Felled branches, leaves, and seeds from trees make the property look messy
I/we have the physical ability to property plant and care for the trees on the property
Trees provide privacy
Trees provide energy savings for the home
Trees improve the look of your property
Trees provide shade and cooling
Trees reduce the noise from the road
I/we know who to ask for help on how to properly plant and care for trees on the property
Trees reduce my stress level
Trees leave a legacy for future generations

21. Please indicate your or your company’s level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements about your property. Select one box for each item.

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
Good landscaping increases property value
Animals are a problem for the trees, lawn, and/or garden
I/we enjoy seeing wildlife
I/we care about what neighbors think of the appearance of the yard

21. Please indicate your or your company’s level of agreement or disagreement with the following statements about the trees in your community. Select one box for each item.

	Strongly agree	Agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree	Strongly disagree
The community should invest more in tree plantings and tree care
Having trees in a neighborhood makes it a better place to live
Having diverse trees in the neighborhood is important
The health and condition of trees in the neighborhood should be considered when new buildings are constructed or street improvements are made

General Questions About You

21. What is your age?

_______Years

21. What is your gender?

• Male

• Female

21. What is the highest degree or level of school you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade

• High school/GED

• Some college

• Associate degree

• Bachelor's degree

• Advanced degree

21. Are you of Hispanic or Latino origin?

• Yes

• No

21. What is your race?

Select one or more.

• American Indian or Alaska Native

• Asian

• Black or African-American

• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

• White

21. . What is your household’s annual income?

• Less than $25,000

• $25,000 - $49,999

• $50,000 - $99,999

• $100,000 - $199,999

• $200,000 or more