Seasons The Greening of Maplewood
Winter 2011-2012 Protecting Trees In Maplewood
By Virginia Gaynor, Natural Resources Coordinator The name Maplewood, as the story goes, was picked from a book of city names late one night. From an ecological view, the name doesn’t quite fit – this area was historically dominated by oak savanna and oak woodland. But today, maple trees are plentiful in the City. Trees add beauty to our City, help cool buildings, provide habitat for wildlife, filter air pollutants, reduce stormwater, and have a host of other benefits. This issue of Seasons features the City programs that work together to protect and preserve trees in Maplewood. Disease Tree Inspection Program. Maplewood inspects public and private lands for three tree diseases: Dutch Elm Disease (DED), Oak Wilt, and Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). To date, EAB has not been found in the City (see EAB article on page 3). DED and Oak Wilt have been present in the City for years. Proper management will help control the spread and save many elm and
oak trees, but it won’t eliminate the diseases. Trees with these diseases are condemned and the landowner (public or private) is required to remove them. Planting Trees. To promote tree planting throughout the City, Maplewood launched a Tree Planting Rebate Program several years ago. It provides cost-share rebates to homeowners who plant deciduous shade trees in their yards. In addition, the Friends of Parks and Trails of St. Paul and Ramsey County host a tree sale each year where residents can purchase trees for their yards or donate trees to their community. Over the years, Maplewood has received several trees through this program. Each year City staff or volunteers plant trees on at least one public site. In 2011, Eagle Scout candidate Andrew Thibideau planted trees and shrubs at Beaver Creek Neighborhood Preserve. Managing Boulevard Trees, Park Trees, And Woodlands. City staff and contractors care for trees on public lands. They remove dead and dying trees in parks and boulevards. In natural areas they monitor and manage tree
diseases, but some dead trees are left as part of the natural cycle—dead trees provide great wildlife habitat and eventually return nutrients to the forest. The City also removes buckthorn on at least one site yearly. Two Neighborhood Preserves were the target of removal in 2011Beaver Creek and Prairie Farm. To support homeowners in their buckthorn management efforts, Maplewood was one of the first cities in the metro area to offer curbside buckthorn pick-up each fall. This year, our public work crews picked up 160 cubic yards of buckthorn from 21 sites. Tree Education. Maplewood Nature Center provides tree education for youth, families, and adults. Offerings run the gamut from puppet shows, to an Arbor Day Celebration, to tree identification and tree care classes. To learn more about Maplewood’s tree program and education, visit www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/trees.
Environmental Benefits Of Trees
Remove Air Pollutants and Absorb CO2
Cool Buildings in Summer
Provide Habitat
Reduce Stormwater Runoff