The following is an article that appeared in the Verona Observer on May 28, 2009. Ellen sent it to me and her words inspired me to work in the No Net Tree Loss petition with so many caring neighbors. Thank you Ellen for witting those words. The final total number of trees removed was 12, I hope we plant many more in Morningside Road, there is plenty of space available---
To the Editor:
I find it astounding that Verona continues to be named a “Tree City USA” by the Arbor Day Foundation since it is currently in the process of removing nine old trees on Morningside Road between Lakeside Drive and Forest Avenue.
Watching this is absolutely heartbreaking to me. I lived most of my life in urban Hudson County and moved to this town sixteen years ago. It was a charming area with quaint homes and beautiful mature trees. Since I moved here, many of the old trees have been lost, for a variety of reasons, good and bad. Of course everything has a life span, but the most upsetting part is that many of these trees have not been replaced.
The trees being removed now were not unhealthy. Morningside is currently undergoing a street renovation. As the concrete curbs are replaced with Belgian block, the roots of these trees were cut and their stability has been compromised. It was known this would happen before the work began.
I can’t rationalize the thinking behind this. Does defacing a tree lined street for the sake of better looking curbs make sense? And at what cost to the taxpayers?
It seems to me a “Tree City” would have made saving these trees more of a priority.
Ellen Kramer, Verona
There is plenty of information on how to protect trees from construction, we should put it into practice:
ReplyDelete"For all digging operations, insist that exposed roots be cut cleanly to promote quick wound closure and regeneration. Vibratory plows, chain trenchers, and hand tools do a better job at this than bulldozers and backhoes."
"If possible, avoid widening streets or sidewalks when they are replaced. If curbs are slated to be replaced, hand-form the curbs adjacent to tree roots, rather than excavating with machinery for mechanical forms. Excavation with machinery destroys major branch roots, even if the new curb remains in the same position as the old curb."
Source:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/housingandclothing/DK6135.html
This "information" basically says to avoid widening the street or sidewalk. In this case the street and sidewalks have stayed the same but the trees had grown beyond them.
ReplyDeleteNo amount of hand tools or special trenches can help this, you either reduce the sidewalk or street size or cut away the roots that are in the way. If you cut the roots on a large tree, it can become unstable and dangerous. If you change the sidewalk and street to conform to it, eventually the entire block will look like a Dr. Seuss book.
Its unfortunate that trees have to be cut down, but we need to be responsible adults.
I understand that the Town Engineer is doing his job. But I would prefer that in the future the Shade Tree Commission members are given the opportunity to do their job to minimize tree removals. Otherwise we'll certainly end up like Dr. Seuss book "The Lorax". Loosing one third of our public trees in a street project doesn't sound responsible to me.
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