They are almost taken for granted at a time of the year when the beach, the backyard, the park or a pool beckon. Shade trees — privately owned and public ones — are a resource in communities big and small that make the difference between a bleak-looking street devoid of shade or a neighborhood enhanced by big leafy trees overarching yards and sidewalks.
Trees withstand an amazing amount of stress in modern communities with car exhaust a constant presence and the normal round of New England storms and weather variations. Some are well tended by local public works departments and residents. Others are neglected afterthoughts damaged by blight or collisions and left to survive as best they can.
It is never too late for town and city officials, beginning with parks supervisors, to review local tree maintenance and planting policies and determine if public trees are receiving adequate care and attention.
Tree surveys undertaken midsummer can pinpoint older or injured trees poised to pose threats to homes or power lines during winter storms. Outreach by parks and public works officials to residents can provide people with advice, maybe even assistance, in ensuring trees located on private property are properly tended and, if necessary, removed to eliminate safety hazards.
Anyone who has ever paid to have a tree trimmed or removed knows the significant cost involved in the project. Preventative maintenance initiated by communities can save money in the future by pinpointing trees that need attention now.
City budget makers and public works supervisors invariably declare they are doing the best they can with budget constraints and maintenance schedules to tend to problem trees. Maybe there are ways to draw in state and county resources to bolster city and town tree tending budgets.
There might also be opportunities for utilities to play a role in summertime tree tending. After all, trees identified as compromised and pruned during the summer are trees that don’t fall down or ensnarl power lines during a blizzard.
With roads and sidewalks perpetually in need of maintenance, tree care sometimes gets pushed onto the backburner. But cities and towns don’t need to spend money in order to make local residents aware of tree maintenance policies and there is minimal cost associated with holding a meeting to discuss ways municipal government can help property owners preserve trees on private property.
Urban and suburban forestry, for lack of a better description, is a balancing act that requires efforts to keep existing trees alive while planning and planting for the future. The trick is to not wait until age, weather and human-made damage take too great a toll on trees.