CFA Forester Jim Waters Helps Roxbury Main Street Maples

The elegant, colorful maples lining Roxbury's Main Street are a point of pride for its villagers. Unfortunately, the hamlet has too many of its arboreal eggs in one basket. Planted simultaneously in days of the horse and buggy, many of Roxbury's sugar maples have grown decrepit and even dangerous. And that's where the Catskill Forest Association (CFA) can help. "They're beautiful, but planting all the same species of tree at the same time was not a good long-term plan." said CFA forester Jim Waters, as he finished ranking the original trees (and a few replacement trees planted since) on Roxbury's Main Street.

The oldest maples were part of four columns of trees that once shaded walkways on either side of the hamlet's main road. Years ago, when motor cars came along, the roadway was widened, and the two inside columns of trees came down.

Roxbury obtained a grant from the Catskill Watershed Corp. to seek help with these aging beauties so that it would not be forced to cut them down willy-nilly or leave trees standing that might present a public hazard. The grant, which runs through the end of this year, will help fund replacement trees (not removal costs) and also funds Waters' services to help Roxbury make a sound long-term plan for Main Street's arboreal future.

Waters used simple, objective measures to rank trees' health. While not a comprehensive or internal exam, Waters' 1-10 ranking and his experienced forester's eye quickly distinguishes which trees need to come down before they fall down (1), which trees are still in the bloom of health (8-10_ and which are at a turning point and need to be re-examined in a few years (4-6). Several bug-eaten trees may spring back next year from the caterpillar infestation and were placed on "wait and see" status (2-4).

"When you have trees that are all the same age and species like this, a single disease can wipe them all out at once, as you saw with some elms and the chestnut. And the trees start aging and dying at the same time," said Waters. Waters realizes that trees are an emotional part of the landscape and spoke individually to several homeowners who stopped to ask about the health of their trees.

Loss of life and limb can be tramatic.

When decades-old trees have to come down suddenly for the sake of public safety, as was the case with the large spruce trees at Margaretville Central School, the suddenly barren landscape can be shocking and upsetting for neighbors. By planning ahead, Roxbury hopes to protect the public while keeping the leafy splendor of Main Street intact.

In his report to the Roxbury Town Board, Waters will help the town 'mix it up' by suggesting a healthier variety of species that can thrive along the busy road and be staggered in age with different biological strengths. He suggests that homeowners plant replacement trees now before their older trees come down. This will give younger trees a chance to mature rather than suddenly denuding their lawns.

Waters measured the diameter of each tree with a special tape measure that does the math from the tree's circumference and then noted broad characteristics of tree health. CFA's recommendations will be considered by the town board in consultation with homeowners.

Homeowners seeking healthy alternatives for replacement trees will have plenty of choices: our area is home to more than 40 species. Waters suggested apple trees, ash, oak, red maple or the elegant, graceful linden, depending on how fast you want the tree to mature and the amount of shade coverage you want. Birches are also beautiful but require some hands-on maintenance for a healthy start.

For those who would like advice for their own trees, Catskill Forest Association offers a family membership for $50 a year, and you don't have to have a 'forest' to seek advice from t he two full-time foresters on staff. For a $100 & mileage fee, CFA will perform an on-site review and make suggestions including the most economical and safe means of removing dead or dangerous trees. While $100 is not cheap, it sure beats fixing a hole in your roof. Contact CFA for more information.

Homeowners along Roxbury's Main Street who want to learn more about the tree replacement program should contact the Roxbury Parks Department at 607-326-3722.