Tending to trees wherever they are

   For the last year I've been seeing red. And not just figuratively. With all the construction of new schools and shopping centers along Lawrenceville Highway, what used to be an expanse of green is now nothing but red clay. Back when the lot at Bethesda Road was accented with majestic oaks, just driving past them put a perk in the drudgery of driving. Somehow the Publix parking lot doesn't do much for me. Couldn't they have kept at least one of those trees for old time's sake? 
   But as construction moved along, the most remarkable thing occurred. One day I noticed hundreds of trees miraculously appeared in front of the new J .A. Alford Elementary School. 
   A closer look revealed signs saying "These trees were saved and reused." Looking at their size, I thought there had to be some magic at work here. But not so, according to Laura Nurse, manager of community and media relations for Gwinnett County Public Schools. 
   It's a common practice that started in the late eighties. They wanted to be good stewards of taxpayers' money, so whenever they look for new school sites, they look for the trees that can be saved." 
   Though landscapers and professional horticulturists masterminded this project, it is something you can try at home.
   "You can transplant trees with trunks up to eight inches in diameter and there is no limit on shrubs. Just keep the root ball as big as possible, then fertilize and water appropriately," Nurse said.
   OK, I'm looking out my window as I write. I don't have a shovel big enough to get all the roots of the laurels outside my window, much less a tree. But then where I am with my landscaping at the moment is just keeping everything alive where it is. And for that I can turn to the Georgia Forestry Commission's newest program.
   GFC has created Operation GA Urban Tree Safety in response to the flood of calls concerning the five-year drought that's been followed, in case you haven't noticed, by nearly enough rain to float an ark.
   For homeowners, Operation GA Urban Tree Safety provides guidelines and a tree survey that people can downloaded at www.gfc.state.ga.us . or request at 678-476-6226. If a tree is in questionable health, GFC recommends hiring a certified arborist, for which they also provide guidelines. For community associations, GFC will send urban foresters to work with groups in setting up long-term maintenance programs.
   "GFC needs homeowners and neighborhood associations to understand that do-it-yourself pruning and cutting actions can be dangerous to themselves, others and the urban forest," said Susan Reich, GFC's urban and community forest director. "In addition, people need to be watchful that hired professionals are certified arborists and carry insurance." 
   Trees are an asset to the community no matter where they are. In terms of their importance, let's all help keep them in their place.


082003

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