I just wanted to email a few comments. I only learned of the recent discussion after seeing a sign posted in a store after a horrifying walk down main street yesterday. I have some professional comments to make about the work I have seen in Beacon lately, and hope it will help you at your info session tonight. I have an evening class (I am student at Columbia now).
I have worked as a professional forester for 10 years and an urban forester for 5 years, and have rarely seen such shoddy tree planting work as I have seen this week. As I understand it, this kind of tree removal issue is common, and unless you have a knowledgable person review contracts prior to removals, many, many tree companies will overcut to make some cash. Given the very damaging pruning work I have seen on Main Street in recent years, I am not surprised to have found our city stuck in this situation.
In terms of the current planting job, however, I hope that these comments can be included somehow in the discussion. I am only too sad that I cannot be there. There are professional standards for tree planting work, and this contractor is not following them. What I see them doing that will ultimately harm the trees and likely cause their death over the next few years are, in order of threat to the trees' survival:
- The trees are being planted too early. No trees in Beacon should be planted before the leaves have dropped (or "hardened off") for the winter. Period. This alone indicates to me that this is a shady company. This alone can kill the trees.
- There is burlap around the root ball of the tree. This was not pulled back. According to any basic tree planting test, this burlap MUST be pulled back, otherwise it inhibits the ability of water to get to the root ball, thus starving the plant of needed water. This alone could kill the tree, too. 3) The trees were not planted in soil, but in fill!! Soil has a balanced mix of organic matter and air, along with minerals. Fill is considered "dead" and should never be used as a planting medium. This alone can kill the tree.
- The trees have been planted too deep. This is serious and can kill the tree. 5) The trees were lying out in the sun at time of planting. They should have been tarped. This can cause serious damage to the tree.
- The trees did not appear to be watered at time of planting, nor were they mulched. Neither were they staked. This is basic tree care.
- No contractor should place construction material in a tree pit. This compacts soil and contributes to tree decline.
The company clearly is not professional and I would say that they do not have much of a leg to stand on in terms of their inability to perform even a mediocre job in this tree installation. I have worked with numerous contractors, and find that without very defined specs in their contract, they will not do a professional job unless they are a highly reputable company - hard to find up here. However, I have NEVER seen such a poorly executed job, and I have worked on hundreds of jobs.
If anyone would like any help setting up contracts with a tree planting contractor in Beacon, I do forestry consulting. Normally I charge a few hundred dollars a day, but in this case will help you out for free if it will help you set up a proper contract to ensure that the trees that go in are soundly installed. You need specs defining tree installation requirements, tree care, and after-care.
If Beacon wants to do an urban forestry plan, I am available to coordinate something like that, but I would have to do it for a fee for it takes a considerable amount of time and resources. I have worked on a number of plans, have references and live in the community. Such a plan could help prevent disasters like this, and help ensure that Beacon retains a strong, living canopy cover that meets the interests of businesses and residents alike. It could also address issues like the Route 9D work, which I fear has caused damage to trees that will result in trees falling in 2 - 4 years from now.
If you want to talk more about a forestry plan. Or, if you only want advice on this predicament and working through existing contracts, I am available this Thursday or Friday. Beacon has two urban forestry professionals living in town - myself and Lou Sebesta. Between us, there is a great deal of experience with trees. I hope the community relies on us, for we both love the city and its trees.
I am sorry I cannot make it tonight.
Megan
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