Trees

Dear PoP – My Neighbor’s Adult Son Killed a Tree, What Do I Do Now?

By Prince Of Petworth

“Dear PoP,

I’ve got a bit of a neighbor dilemma, and am hoping your readers should shed some light on the situation.

I live next to two elderly ladies — we have a cordial relationship that I would like to maintain. Their son (let’s call him Sam) visits every couple of weeks and tends to things around the house. We also have a good relationship. Last year when the city went around and planted trees, a tree was placed in the tree box in front of their house. A few weeks later, I noticed the top of the tree had been cut off (effectively killing it.) Another one of my neighbors (no longer lives on the block) mentioned Sam had killed the tree. I was perhaps a bit peeved, but no big deal I suppose.

Now this year roles around and the city once again plants a tree in the tree box in front of my neighbors’ house. Yesterday I am in my back yard gardening and Sam mentions that he plans on killing off the tree. He notes that he generally hates trees and is convinced that the tree will eventually damage the water intake pipes to the house. I uneasily suggest that he should not do this. But. admittedly, I don’t press him. Today I am leaving for work and find he has once again decapitated a city planted tree (see picture attached.)

What should I do? Should I do anything? Who would technically enforce this type of violation? I have had disappointing experiences with the DC Department of Forestry in the past, so I’m not sure they would be of any help. I’m not sure talking to him will do much good, if he is convinced that this tree was going to be ruinous for his future inheritance. Also, if I do ‘tattle’ I am certain he will know it is me. Is it worth it to kill this relationship over a tree?”

It’s very rare that I’m speechless after receiving an email – but I am stone cold speechless. I am genuinely eager to see what others think because quite frankly I’m unable to give helpful advice that is not skewed by the emotions I have after seeing the above photo. For those who give advice – obviously there is an emotional reaction – but try to keep in mind that the reader needs to maintain neighborly relations. Keeping that in mind – what would you do in this situation?

Blooming and Snow

By Prince Of Petworth

As many predicted it was a truly bizarre weather weekend but I think we scored on Sat. There were great blooming trees all over the city. I saw more spectacular than this one but I was amazed by how they were training the trunk to curve. Very cool.

If you get any good shot be sure to upload them to the PoPville flickr pool here.

And below’s wild contrast of snow and the cherry blossoms is from PoPville flickr user schmiddi:

Haydee’s Tree Returns in Mt. Pleasant

By Prince Of Petworth

Back in July the owner of Haydee’s had the tree cut down after an apparent miscommunication of whether or not it was actually legal to do so. Thanks to a reader for sending in the shot above of the newly planted tree in front of Haydee’s at 3102 Mount Pleasant Street NW.

Dear PoP – Tree Trimming

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo of my former Mulberry tree with a cracked branch

“Dear PoP,

We have a large elm tree that is in need of some tlc, and wanted to see if your readers have any insights into what we should do. We got some arborists to come look at it, and most of them said that there’s nothing really wrong with it, and it just needs to have the dead and unhealthy branches trimmed. The estimate for that alone ran around 1200-1300 dollars. We think a plain old tree trimmer might be cheaper, but probably wouldn’t do as good a job and would probably just take off the clearly dead branches. So we were wondering if anyone knows, does thorough pruning help increase the health and life of the tree, or would it be fine to get a tree trimmer to come and take off the clearly dead branches. Also, does that estimate sound reasonable?”

From personal experience I know that tree maintenance is very expensive. But the shade and comfort the trees bring is worth it. Any amateur arborists care to take a crack at this one? For those who’ve had their trees trimmed – how much did it cost?

Casey Trees New Headquarters in Brookland

By Prince Of Petworth

Thanks to a reader for sending the heads up. The Casey Trees Web site says:

In 2008, after a three year search, we found a suitable match in Brookland. Two properties located across the street from each other – 3030 and 3015 12th Street NE – will serve as our new office and tree yard respectively.

For our office, we are retaining and renovating the existing 4,000 square foot structure and adding an additional 4,500 square feet. The final building will feature a large conference room to accommodate our year round education programming, a staging area for planting materials and volunteer activities and other amenities including an elevator.

We have designed the exterior to include a rain garden, a bio-retention planter and a greenroof. We intend to use these exterior elements to demonstrate how even a small building, if designed correctly, can help slow and filter stormwater from the site and street, reduce energy consumption and produce several other environmental benefits.

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