February 14, 2008
old trees get some good attention
Marion F. Macdonald has given us a write-up from the Jan.26 tree pruning in Libby Hill Park. The Church Hill Planters and the Friends of Libby Hill Park, in cooperation with the City’s Departments of Urban Forestry and Park’s and Recreation joined forces with some local professional arborists to prune some of the most special trees on Church Hill, in one of the oldest city parks in the country.
The last Saturday in January, 8:00am, was very cold and still, and the Park House felt like a giant Sub Zero freezer.
By 10:30, all that had changed. Libby Hill Park was the center of a tree care event. Neighbors were gathering and loading brush and dead wood into trucks to be hauled to the dump. Four teams of arborists were cutting out dead wood, crown cleaning and pruning for safety. The Park House was cozy, full of good things to eat and spirits were high.
By the end of the day, five trees had been cleaned up and made much safer – a job worth an estimated $4,000. As a bonus, a support cable had been placed in the tall slender gingko by the fountain. And these old soldiers who have persevered through constant winds, storm, drought and two world wars were given a new lease on life.
Thanks to all who helped – these tree care professionals, the city departments of Urban Forestry and Parks and Recreation, the Church Hill Planters and Friends of Libby Hill Park. Our next step is to spread mulch around these trees to protect them from the possible drought and certain heat of this summer. Mark your calendars and join us on Saturday March 29,from 9:00 until 1:00.
Special Thanks to the Tree Savers!
ArborCare - Joel Koci
Arborscapes - Billy Davis, Andrew Mason, Ben Shirley
Bartlett Tree Experts - Mark Fulcher, Michael N. James
Davey Tree Service - David Duenas, Alvaro Ordon, and Jose Barrios
This is great and positive.
However, what did you-al (the professionals and arborists) think of the recent tree trimmings by the city in C.H. Does the city or their contractors subscribe or required to follow any sanctioned tree-friendly or tree-saving techniques, when cutting trees to accommodate power/telephone lines?
Thanks Marion, neighbors and all the professionals for the pro bono work worth 4 grand. The trees look great, and will help to stabilize them for the nasty storms we get on occasion.
Trimming trees is pricey. We had a big ‘ol cherry pruned a few years ago and it was $800. Glad we did it though because that last wind storm (and a few storms in between) could have brought that tree right into our living room it was so unstable.
I was also cool to watch the pruner. He looked like a mountain climber with all of his hiking gear, etc.
I heard that some of the trees were being
removed because of safety issues.
That’s why that area of the park was taped off.I’m not sure if this is true or not.
There’s a huge crew doing major surgery to trees now in Libby Hill. I wouldn’t say it’s exactly “pruning” — looks more like major amputation to some of the tallest trees. Is this a part of the plans outlined above?
Some of the trees are being cut down by the city. At least one of them was totally rotten and a safety issue.