[RP TownTalk] Oak Trees

[Sarah Wayland]

> I remember when Queensbury between Rt. 1 and the Railroad tracks was lined
> with huge beautiful trees.  They were all cut down to put in new sidewalks,
> or so I was told.  I much prefer trees to sidewalks any day, and there are
> all sorts of solutions to sidewalk replacement that does not destroy trees.

I remember when this happened, and I also seem to remember that the
reason they were cut down is that they were actually dying (see
below.) The sidewalk installation was an independent event, though it
did happen around the same time.

The thing I have learned over the years about trees is that a tree can
look "alive" on the outside, and be dying on the inside.
Municipalities might view this differently than you might in your yard
because they are liable if the tree falls and hurts someone or
something.

This is why it is important to continue to plant trees, and not just
rely on the nice tall trees that currently shade your neighborhood.

All that said, I think my definition of "dying" and an arborist's
definition of "dying" do seem to be different. I am of the school of
keeping things limping along until there's really no hope. My yard is
a testimony to this approach. :-)

Sarah