Work crews are in WestWinds this week to plant the replacement street trees! Today flags were placed in the mow strips at the approximate locations where the trees will go in. There are two varieties - Japanese Lilac and Paperbark Maple. The "AG" flags indicate Paperbark Maples and "SR" flags are for Japanese Lilac. Double-click the image at right to embiggen it. Trees will be planted as close as possible to the original locations - they can't go into the exact same places. These will be small trees with non-invasive root systems and a shorter height at maturity. Summary of work to be performed:
Tree planting is expected to take 1-2 days.
Newly planted trees will be deep-watered and fertilized, staked and guyed (ties).
A protective root barrier 12" deep and about 4' wide will be placed between the root ball and the new sidewalks.
Soil, straw, and seed will be used to finish off the planting.
Trees are warranted for 1 year after planting (but not if they die for lack of water!). Legally, each homeowner is responsible for repairs and maintenance of the mow strip and sidewalk in front of their house.
Tree Care After Planting
With the trees being planted in Spring, regular deep-watering during the hot summer months is really important. The trees are warranted for a year, but if they die due to lack of watering the warranty will not apply. The landscaper suggests:
Water once a week during weeks with little/no rain, applying 5- 10 gallons of water into the saucer around the trunk. If there is significant rain that week, you don't need to water.
Aim for alternating wet and dry cycles to encourage roots to reach down for water.
Don't overmulch or apply volcano mulch!
They do sell watering rings at Amazon - the landscaper said they are fine if you don't leave them in place for too long. Leaving them up for years encourages insect/termite infestations, but if you think you'll forget to water regularly they could be a good short-term solution!
DID YOU KNOW? The County doesn't usually replace street trees. WestWinds is the only community to get replacement trees - we are being studied as a test case for future county sidewalk repairs. Many thanks to the Frederick County Dept. of Transportation Engineering for keeping us in the loop!