On Mon, 31 May 2004 06:40:45 -0400, "Mike LaMana"
fake@MikeatHeartwoodConsultingdotnet wrote:
Here here John!! Good post.
I would just add that older trees ought to be thoroughly assessed for
failure risk by a qualified arborist / tree biologist, and not not merely
for need of pruning. Latent decay, poor root structure, etc. can often sneak
up on a homeowner in the guise of a tree with a healthy canopy.
Also, I would encourage folks to replace like-with-like. A thunder cloud
plum or weeping cherry is not a adequate replacement for a 90' oak or
tuliptree! Years of this sort of replacement leave behind streets that look
like most of New York City. I fault landscapers as much as their customers
for not taking the steps needed to preserve urban forest integrity and
local -sense-of-place.
Off the soapbox...
--
Mike LaMana, MS
Heartwood Consulting Services, LLC
Toms River, NJ
www.HeartwoodConsulting.net
I live in Boise, The City of Trees, and we unfortunately have Dutch
Elm Disease here and slowly all the stately elm trees that arched over
the more ritzy boulevards are succumbing to the disease. We also have
had a lot of black locust trees that have toppled in wind storms
revealing hollow trunks, the result of borers of some sort.
The city is offering trees to people in those areas where there are
"parking" stirps where trees have been removed, or people who have
yards that don't have sidewalks through them. Most of the trees are
smaller trees, with smaller leaves. Ash is one, I can't remember all
of them, but the one that I liked and so it stuck in my mind was a
Tulip tree. There was a pretty big one growing next door that had not
been well cared for..had a dead stub in the middle where a large limb
broke off, and they had a boy who thought it was great fun to beat on
the tree with his baseball bat. The tree had to be removed. I was
sad to see it go as I'd never seen one before and loved the bark on
the tree, then saw the flowers and was amazed.
Then I saw not long ago, they were poplars! Other poplars are not
such great things to be growing as they invade ditches and sewer
lines. The neighbors in that house now, planted a cottonless
cottonwood within 10 feet or less of our irrigation line!! I'm
figuring it is going to be a big problem over time. At least until
the beetle that killed the lombardy poplars on the other side of me,
maybe kill these.
However, getting back to what I started to say, the city is not
encouraging any trees other than medium sized trees for street trees.
We don't have a great many oaks, there were a bunch at a junior high I
went to, but I've not checked to see how much they've grown since
then. Most of the maples growing here are silver or norway maples. I
was thinking of planting a maple, but the norway maple next door died.
It had whole limbs dry up all of a sudden. They cut off the bad
areas, then another branch did the same.. all of a sudden dried up.
Finally, just before all the other trees started getting hints of fall
color, the whole tree dried up, leaves still green, dead. Leaves kind
of stayed on the tree until winter winds blew them off. I'm thinking
it was anthracnose or some other fungal disease, as anthracnose got my
Black Krim tomato plant, and others over the years. So, I've never
planted any trees. I can't afford to buy a tree that would provide
shade any time in my lifetime.. I'm almost 53. I could plant silver
maples, but then it'd get too big and drop branches on house and car!
They need specific and special trimming or they become major hazards.
I'd like to see more of a variety planted here. While it doesn't have
a lot of beech, hickory, oak here, I don't know why they couldn't be
grown here. Zone 6
"John A. Keslick, Jr." wrote in message
...
Before older trees are removed, new trees should be planted if space is
available. The older tree should be pruned to keep it safe. If the tree
is
growing in a low risk area, and if it is being used by wildlife, it should
not be removed. Always consider wildlife when making decisions on
removal.
Always try to convince a customer that it is best to plant some new trees
before the old tree is removed.
--
My name is John A. Keslick, Jr. and I am from the Philadelphia area. I am
a
TREE BIOLOGIST and a WRITER. I would like to become involved in
Environmental, Forest Health and Tree Biology links and issues. I have
some
links which you may enjoy that I can offer.
---------------------------------------LINKS---------------------
TECHNO TREE BIOLOGY DICTIONARY online at
http://www.treedictionary.com
Articles written by DR. ALEX L. SHIGO, one of the foremost authorities
worldwide on tree systems today online at
http://www.chesco.com/~treeman/SHIGO
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