[RP TownTalk] Management of street trees

[David Hiles]

My messages to this list are being moderated because I was judged to 
have violated the posting standards.
************************************

Walking the streets after the July 4 wind storm, I saw:
	1) a house and car damaged by limbs torn from a dying maple tree on 
Sheridan St
	2) a house without power because of the effect of a split in the trunk 
of a Bradford pear on Tuckerman
	3) a portion of Tuckerman blocked by a half dead Bradford pear that 
broke off into the street

As far as I know, nobody was hurt.  These events seem to occur 
everytime we have a big storm, and I think they happen more than 
necessary.  We have a lot of mature Bradford pears and silver maple 
street trees planted by the town many years ago.  These trees are 
notorious for dropping limbs.  They should be pruned correctly to 
reduce their tendency to be pruned by the wind.  They should be put on 
a list for replacement.  If replacement is done in a scattered but 
planned way, it should be acceptable.

It would be a good thing for the town council to establish a policy for 
the maintenance of street trees and then to establish conditions under 
which the town staff can effectively carry out that policy.  The policy 
could be adapted from a model ordinance or policy from some other 
jurisdiction.  I think starting from scratch might not be successful.

The street tree policy would cover things like which varieties are to 
be planted, where trees go in relationship to power lines, guidelines 
for proper pruning and for the removal (and replacement) of sick trees 
when they become a hazard.

Just to let you know, here are my tree-nut credentials.  (Other -nut 
credentials available on request.)  I visited the Maryland State Tree 
at least twice. In Riverdale Park, I've planted a Shumard oak, three 
northern red oaks, and a Douglas fir.  I paid for skilled labor to save 
the old oak next to my house when it lost a lot of limbs to a tornado.


WE are who we have been waiting for.
http://riverdalepark.blogspot.com/