No person shall place or maintain upon the ground in a public highway of the city stone, cement, lumber, or other substance or material which shall impede the free passage of water and air to any tree or shrub in the highway without leaving an open space of ground outside the trunk of the tree or the base of the shrub of an area not less than 16 square feet. Before depositing any materials in any highway of the city near to trees or shrubs therein, the person so depositing the material shall place guards around the trees and shrubs as shall effectually prevent injury to the trees and shrubs.
(Prior Code, § 99.09) Penalty, see § 10.999