Tree Upkeep: Rain or Shine

Jean Berger mulches an Elm in front of the Home for Aged Men

     Volunteers including members of the Tree Commission and Friends of Newburyport Trees could be seen around the city this week pruning and mulching the most recently planted street trees. Coinciding with Earth Day and Arbor Day, the crew set out on two consecutive Saturdays, April 23 and 30th to prune and mulch hundreds of trees while also assessing the health of each one. As some species survive better than others in certain conditions, occasionally it is  determined that a tree needs to be replaced. The information gained on these pruning visits provides useful data for future planning and tree selection.

    Too often, municipalities will replace trees with new saplings and fail to provide their proper care. The trees die and taxpayer money is lost. When trees are planted by the Newburyport Tree Commission, they are watered weekly from May to September except in times of heavy rainfall for the first two years when the their root structure is in the most important growth stage. (Arbor Day Foundation's 9 Tree Care Tips and Techniques) Deep watering is more important than frequency and the mulch helps the soil retain the water.

Paul Bevilaqua, Mary Jo Ficocello, Tim Heatwole, Dave Dylewski, Crispin Miller and Jean Berger ready to work

Another High Street Elm is pruned by Tim Heatwole. The tree has grown almost an inch in diameter each year since it was planted six years ago. 

Paul Bevilacqua and Sheila Taintor  mulching a Hedge Maple on Frances Drive. 

The Hawthorne on Lavalley Lane in the rear is not doing as well as the one in the foreground. The Tree Commissioners will be less likely to choose this species for future plantings. 

Tim Heatwole prunes one of the Tulip Trees that were planted by the Tree Commission all along the street side of Belleville Cemetery a few years ago.

Tulip Tree budding on April 23, 2016 at Belleville Cemetery

Cris Miller prepares to mulch a thriving Horse Chestnut Tree. It seems like just yesterday some of us were chucking chestnuts at our friends or lining them up in the street to watch cars squish them,  pre-video game pastimes, but the Asian Bark Fungus destroyed most of the old growth trees.

Byron Getchell pruning A Red Oak near the corner of Ferry Road and Moseley Ave. Byron works for Northeast Nursery and is on the Newburyport Tree Commission.

Byron and Cris discover dying Cherry Trees on Ferry Road and Roosevelt Ave. They needed severe pruning and in one case will need to be replaced by a different species. The homeowner at 9 Roosevelt Ave avoided this fate by calling Dave Dylewski two years ago to report that the tree appeared sick. Dave sprayed the tree and it is is now flowering beautifully. (pictured below)

Healthy Cherry Tree on Roosevelt Ave.

This Ferry Road Elm Tree was planted a few years ago but during the construction of a new sidewalk, some of its roots were severed. 

Mrs. Kirkpatrick uses a gator bag to release water slowly into the soil for her Kwanzan Cherry  Tree. She bought one and the city donated a second for this location on Moseley Avenue.

Jane Niebling is happy with the growth of this Trident Maple she planted at Park Circle. Thanks to Jane, after 57 years, I now know how to use pruning shears. She thought that it was something I should know as a tree volunteer. I was sort of hoping I could just keep standing around watching everyone else  but I guess those days are over.

Not all the trees are doing well at Park Circle. This Hornbeam Tree on Storey Ave should have received better care after it was planted. Friends of Newburyport Trees will provide helping hands from now on!

Friends of Newburyport Trees is dedicated to preserving and protecting the urban forest which includes this community garden at Park Circle. Last year, one of the residents had great success with his south facing garden in front of this building and was able to share surplus vegetables with residents in the Y.W.C.A housing units. Hopefully, the water will be turned on soon so that spring planting may begin! 

Ed Taylor, one of the founders of FoNT with Mary Jo Ficocello working on a High Street Elm.  Utility wires are always a problem for street trees. 

Mary Jo Ficocello prunes this Honey Locust that provides shade for pedestrians.

River Valley Charter School joined forces with FoNT and the Tree Commission to fill in this median strip on Perry Way with new plantings.

Students from River Valley Charter School learn about tree planting

 Finished Project on Perry Way! 

If City Council approves an order introduced by Councilor Barry Connell at the April 25th meeting, all trees that are removed due to hazard or disease will be replaced. Click here to read April 29, 2016 Daily News article about the Tree Replacement Order. The public can attend any upcoming meeting of the Neighborhood and City Services committee where the order will be discussed before being presented to the full council for a vote.

Please visit the new Friends of Newburyport Trees website!