No person shall abuse, destroy, or mutilate any tree, shrub, or plant in a public planting strip or any other public property, or attach or place any rope or wire (other than one used to support a young or broken tree), sign, poster, handbill, or other thing to or on any tree growing on public property, or to cause to permit any wire charged with electricity to come in contact with any such tree, or to allow any gaseous, liquid, or solid substance which is harmful to the trees, to come in contact with their roots or leaves.