Return to Home Page

Tree Report: Norway Maples Reign in the Avenues

Nov. 2--City Forester Bill Rutherford says trees in the Avenues are generally in pretty good condition. And the majority of them are Norway Maples.

Mr. Rutherford reported to the Community Council on a tree inventory he is completing citywide. Thanks to software created by Greg McPherson, which takes a scientific look at trees from every angle, so to speak, the city will be able to meaningfully assess the value of trees to citizens in the way of reduction in heating and cooling costs, stormwater diversion, absorption of pollutants and air quality improvement, and more.

So far in the city, Mr. Rutherford said, six community council areas' trees have been surveyed, and the projected benefits to the environment, espressed in dollars, is $3 million. This figure will grow when all areas have been surveyed.

It is projected that citywide, the city's trees gulp up 38 million gallons of stormwater yearly, taking that load off the storm water drainage system.

There was a time, Mr. Rutherford said, when Norway Maples were highly favored and the city bought just that species for all of its plantings.

Over time, however, it was discovered that this “monoculture” philosophy was leading to an explosion in a pest specific to that species. So now, the city buys a diversity of species of trees, he said. Because of that, what species will be planted by the city next year is not known at this time.

Mr. Rutherford said trees in the Avenues tend to be younger, with just one percent of them in the super-annuated category. Half are middle-aged, at 12 to 18 inches in trunk diameter.

Mr. Rutherford offered a tip on tree watering during the winter. Trees do indeed need watering in mid-winter, if, say, January is without precipitation, Mr. Rutherford said. But don't water at the trunk, where there are no young, thirsty roots. Water out at the drip line of the branches, where those thirsty roots are prevalent. Watering twice during a dry winter is not out of the question, he said.

In terms of numbers, the top ten trees in the Avenues are, in descending order, Norway Maple, Honey Locust, Green Ash, Pear, Siberian Elm, Box Elder, London Plane, Little Leaf Linden, Paul's Scarlet Hawthorne and White Ash.

Return to Home Page