Village of East Aurora Tree Board

06/19/2023

For all of you kind folks who've planted new trees this Spring.... if you're already doing these things, thanks! You're ahead of the class!

We've had a beautiful start to the summer season, but it's a stressful time for newly-planted trees!

If you haven't heard, we're well behind normal for rainfall already and it's shaping up to be pretty dry all summer. Please consider giving your new street tree at least 5 gallons of water a week to help it get started.

You can leave a garden hose on for a couple minutes, slowly pour a 5-gallon pail on the tree roots, or consider purchasing and filling up a water supply bag like a Treegator - those green bags you see at the base of young trees. The Village office (585 Oakwood) normally has a supply to purchase at cost. You may also wish to spread mulch around the base of your tree to help keep the ground moist, but please avoid burying the trunk of your tree "volcano" style. I personally love the inexpensive, excellent leaf compost you can buy from the Orchard Park Compost facility on Milestrip Rd. (you can't beat $23/yard if you need it in bulk!)

With your help and a few gallons of water this summer your new trees can outlive us all!

04/20/2023

Still a few trees left! Get in before Arbor Day next week!

Did you know the Village of East Aurora runs a tree planting program every Spring? If you live in the village, message the Tree Board here now and get a FREE street tree for your front yard!

East Aurorans of all ages enjoy the numerous benefits of our street tree canopy. Street trees save us all money, increase our property values, and improve our quality of life in countless ways. They live a hard life, however, and every year some are removed and need replacing. Many years ago the Village Board instituted a small line item to purchase and plant a number of trees every Spring.

Interested residents and property owners can request a new FREE street tree! Friendly members of your village's Tree Board will stop by to assess your yard for suitable planting locations and can offer suggestions for native trees that'd look great all year round. Within a few weeks, friendly employees of the Village DPW will come by, plant and stake your new tree near the street - after that, your only responsibility is to keep your new friend watered!

Reply here or send us a message (or email [email protected]) with questions, thoughts, or even better, to request a new (FREE) tree. Did I mention they're free?

03/21/2023

Just visited this beauty in a back yard in West Falls! Our (totally, highly scientific) measurement shows this Weeping willow (Salix babylonica) at 238" around! That's 2" more than George the Red Oak at Knox Park! George's measurement was last year, we may have to go see if he's put on any weight....

Anyone else have any girthy friends to share with us, please let us know! We had some coming and going last summer but we're ready to measure any other contenders!

03/16/2023

Let's Get Planting! (or maybe "We're Looking For A Few Good Front Yards"...)

Did you know East Aurora runs a tree planting program every Spring? Message the Tree Board here now and get a FREE street tree for your front yard!

East Aurorans of all ages enjoy the numerous benefits of our street tree canopy. Street trees save us all money, increase our property values, and improve our quality of life in countless ways. They live a hard life, however, and every year some are removed and need replacing. Many years ago the Village Board instituted a small line item to purchase and plant a number of trees every Spring.

Interested residents and property owners can request a new FREE street tree! Friendly members of your village's Tree Board will stop by to assess your yard for suitable planting locations and can offer suggestions for native trees that'd look great all year round. Within a few weeks, friendly employees of the Village DPW will come by, plant and stake your new tree near the street - after that, your only responsibility is to keep your new friend watered!

Reply here or send us a message (or email [email protected]) with questions, thoughts, or even better, to request a new (FREE) tree. Did I mention they're free?

02/01/2023

So what would it take for you to plant another tree or 3 in your yard??

European research finds that increasing urban tree coverage to 30% can lower temperatures by 0.4C

01/26/2023

Time to get rid of these obnoxious pest trees!

Ohio is the first of several states taking steps to eradicate the once-popular ornamental Callery pear tree, known for their white spring blossoms.

01/05/2023

Start the New Year off by planning for spring planting! DEC’s Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery has dozens of New York-grown tree and shrub species available for low prices now through May 12. Some species sell out fast so check species availability and see how to get your order at the DEC website.

Currently we have seedlings for:
🌳 Annual Spring Seedlings Sale: available for public and private plantings in New York State and bordering states
🌳 School Seedlings Sale: available for educators and youth club leaders. Eligible classes and clubs are encouraged to apply before March 31 and will receive free tree seedlings to plant in April/May.

Learn more and apply here: https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7127.html.

12/12/2022

So, would anyone like to see us try and create a map like this for East Aurora??

The database, which has delighted New Yorkers since 2016, has been expanded to include 150,000 park trees.

09/21/2022

Did you know that our beautiful black walnut trees probably do NOT kill plants under them?? I didn't!

Time to go plant more black walnut trees!

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) is a tree well-known for its ability to negatively affect other plants growing nearby, a phenomenon known as allelopathy. But is Black Walnut really as allelopathic as the Internet would have you believe? In this episode, the guys go nuts: delving into this question and

09/19/2022

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-10/the-queen-s-green-canopy-queen-elizabeth-ii-left-a-tree-planting-legacy

Hey you! Plant more trees! Even the Queen liked it!

A UK-wide tree-planting project marking the Platinum Jubilee will resume in October and run through March.

09/13/2022

https://nysipm.cornell.edu/whats-bugging-you/spotted-lanternfly/

Hey everyone - these little hungry beasts are out here. If you see 'em, squish 'em!

Spotted Lanternfly

07/27/2022

I'm disheartened to read this:
https://www.investigativepost.org/2022/07/25/buffalo-is-slowly-losing-its-trees/

Fortunately East Aurora's Village Board has consistently supported our tree planting efforts and I can proudly say we usually plant 3 to 4 times as many street trees as we remove each year.

Please continue to support our efforts, and PLANT MORE TREES!

Buffalo is cutting down trees at twice the rate it's planting them, and the loss is more pronounced on the East Side.

07/25/2022

The Tree Board has seven members and was established by the Village Tree Ordinance. There are also two ex officio members. The first board members were appointed in 1999.

07/25/2022

Hello friends!

We really hate removing big old trees. Old giants are just so valuable. They just take too long to regrow! We do, however, love maintaining them! Pruning old trees (removing dead limbs as well as reducing top weight) is a great way to keep them going for years to come.

Last week we finally received Village Board approval for an updated Tree Maintenance Policy! You can find it here, in the top-right corner: https://www.east-aurora.ny.us/government/tree-board

It's hard for us to keep an eye on 4,000 individual trees! If your street trees need help or you notice a tree in a village park that's looking a little questionable, just let us know!

The Tree Board has seven members and was established by the Village Tree Ordinance. There are also two ex officio members. The first board members were appointed in 1999.

07/05/2022

https://arbordayblog.org/treecare/how-to-properly-water-your-trees/

Lots of new trees planted around the village and town this year - let's keep 'em happy and growing as they settle into their new homes!

These new trees need lots of water, not just a spray through the air where most of it just evaporates or ends up on the neighbor's driveway!

Contact Village Hall if you'd like to purchase one of those "green bags" to make both you and your new tree's lives easier.

Guest post by John Lang of Friendly Tree. Now that summer is in full swing, watering your trees properly is one of the best ways to keep them healthy and stress-free. With much of the Southwest United States currently in drought conditions, consistent watering is key to happy trees. But did you know...

05/05/2022

04/27/2022

Too many "Tree Service" companies around that are basically a couple guys with chainsaws. Too many people think "oh just cut it down". Too many people want a big green fake carpet for... well, I'm not really sure why.

Take a few moments and consider alternatives before you do it! Talk to an arborist! (Hello, Bradley Tree and Landscaping!) You'll never get that tree back. Consider pruning the tree instead and giving it a few more years.

Mature trees simply take decades to replace - noone's come up with a way to make it happen faster yet!

Chainsaws, the saddest sound of Spring...

04/25/2022

Hey Everyone! Arbor Day is Friday!

That means, plant more trees! If you haven't, why not? Maybe we can help! (Seriously)

If you have, let us know:

Our survey will help tell us what kinds of trees are being planted around town. Answer if you live anywhere in the town of Aurora, not just the village! Your location isn't required, but we'd love to create a map showing where trees are planted - our goal is to plant at least 10,000 by the end of th...

04/19/2022

A tree-mendous contest, you say? Hmm...

Arbor Day is Apr 29....

04/05/2022

Spring is here, and that means planting season is nearly upon us!

You may see orange stakes in your neighbors' front yards, that means a new tree will soon be there, care of our friendly Department of Public Works and our friends at Boston Hill Nursery.

You can contact us here or at [email protected] to get your house put on our list - we might have a few spots left this Spring, or we'll get you in line for late in the year or early next.

In the meantime, we know LOTS of people plant trees this time of year, and we want to hear from you! We think we can plant *at least* 10,000 trees in the town of Aurora this year. Please report in and let us know what you're planting and where (if you feel comfortable telling us) so we can get your trees counted. Share with your neighbors (or just tell us what they've planted!). More to come!.....

Our survey will help tell us what kinds of trees are being planted around town. Answer if you live anywhere in the town of Aurora, not just the village! Your location isn't required, but we'd love to create a map showing where trees are planted - our goal is to plant at least 10,000 by the end of th...

03/31/2022

It is early, but you all know that once the sun is out, all of nature comes out in one day....READ This:
NO MOW UNTIL MOTHER'S DAY.
With grains in limited supply this year and next year, mother Earth needs all the pollinators to help feed our planet.PLEASE, no mowing, let flowers grow, let the grass grow, restore eco systems by doing nothing. Including: NO SPRAYING.,
LET IT BE......,that simple.

02/22/2022

Why plant trees??

So you can be part of our 2021-2022 Tree Planting Census! (more to come soon!)

The last of our 8 preferred species for this year is the tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera). One of the fastest growing, tallest trees found around Western New York, tuliptree can grow over 2 ft per year, and reach over 150' tall (in the right conditions of course!). Yellow-green leaves have a distinctive vase-like shape that's easily spotted from afar.

You can visit huge tuliptree specimens in West Falls on the trails behind JP Nicely Park and the Waldorf School leading down to Cazenovia Creek.

02/09/2022

Why Plant Trees?

The first hint of Spring is in the air, and if you've been around the village at all, you know early Spring means a great show along Center and Olean Streets as the cherries and crabapples come into bloom!

Crabapples are next on our list of smaller trees to plant this Spring - the flowers can be dark pink to white and will completely cover the tree in a magnificent display. They smell delicious, too! Fruit can cling to the branches well into winter and can be used to make a fantastic jelly!

Did you know that crabapples and sweet, fruit apples are basically the same species?? Snack apples were domesticated starting in Central Asia at least 4,000 years ago.

01/14/2022

Don't Throw It Out!

12 or 13 years ago we pulled a bunch of old trim while renovating our old 1917 home in the village. I've saved the wood (covered in thick white paint, on the left) through some rolled eyes and frustration, and finally got around to stripping it ('safe' orange-smelling stuff, in the middle) and running it lightly through my planer (on the right).

You can't buy wood like that from Lowes.... partly because I believe it's old American chestnut.

By all means, renovate homes in the village! The village looks fantastic for it. But please don't throw away that awesome old wood! Who knows what kind of treasure you might have!

01/05/2022

Why Plant Trees?

For fun! Our next "preferred" tree for this year is the American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), a great little tree with seed pods that folks will really notice - they very much resemble hop cones used for brewing beer, and while I don't *think* you can use hophornbeam for that, they're still fun to talk about! Wildlife in the village will certainly get after those seeds, and hophornbeam is a host for swallowtail butterfly caterpillars. It's a tough tree for smaller spots.

Contact us here or at [email protected] to get on our list for this Spring planting season. Our excellent workers at the DPW will put a free tree in your front yard!

01/03/2022

Why Plant Trees?

Older folks remember when stately elm trees arched over block after block, shading well-kept homes. Unfortunately, a disease killed almost all of them, and it's taken decades to hybridize new cultivars with the ability to resist that fungus.

So let's plant some of these new elms! The second large tree we'd love to plant this year, hybrid elms grow fast - as much as 3 ft a year. Spring flowers are followed by green, wafer-like seed pods which mature soon after flowering is finished; the seeds are quite popular with both birds and other wildlife.

12/21/2021

Why Plant Trees?

Because Mountain Ash berries are awesome!

(A cedar waxwing may have paid us off to say that)

Third on our list of 8 for this year, Sorbus americana is a small, light understory tree with pretty white spring flowers and dark green leaves that turn yellow, orange and reddish-purple in the fall. In fall it's clusters of bright orange berry-like fruit are eye-catching and loved by birds. Even better, the bright fruit stays on the tree and will stick around through the dark winter days and keep attracting attention.

Unlike other ash trees, mountain ash is actually a member of the rose family and *not* a host for the emerald ash borer!

12/19/2021

Why Plant a Tree?

For the future! Trees planted today can be enjoyed by our kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, great-great.... well, you get the idea!

Again, let us know (here or by email at [email protected]) if you'd like to get on our list for a free street tree planting next Spring!

Second on the list this year is the mighty oak - we love native white oak (Quercus alba or bicolor) and Northern red oak (Quercus rubra), each of which can live for hundreds of years and many generations of our kids. White oak is the exclusive host for *hundreds* of species of moths and butterflies - and more caterpillars equal more birds!

East Aurora is already host to some fantastic oaks, including a towering example at the corner of Center and, you might have guessed, Oakwood.

12/17/2021

Why Plant a Tree??

Reasons abound for planting trees! Trees add thousands to home values; save money with their summer shade; block harsh winter winds; help make walkers safer; provide endless habitat for the birds and bees; provide fruit to eat; suck carbon out of the air; tree-lined streets suffer less crime; East Aurora is a Tree City USA!

Pick whatever reason moves you and plant a new tree or 3 this year!

The Tree Board has selected 8 species for our Spring planting program to focus on for the next few years. Over the next few days we'll post them, one at a time and share some of the love we have for our tall friends!

First up: American Hornbeam

I always knew this as musclewood growing up - if you've seen one you'll know why - Carpinus caroliniana is a small, slow-growing understory tree native to hardwood forests of the eastern US and Canada. The tree is perhaps best known for its smooth and sinewy steel-gray bark and the muscle-like look of its maturing trunk and larger branches. Seeds, buds, or catkins are eaten by a number of songbirds and gray squirrels.

You can find hornbeam at Friends of Sinking Ponds Wildlife Sanctuary and along streams and wetlands all around East Aurora.

12/17/2021

Planning for next Spring's planting is underway now! Folks in the Southeast quarter of the village may be receiving a letter asking for permission to plant in front of your house.

But *anyone* may request a tree for this planting! First come, first served! We'll take a look at the front of your yard and figure out if a tree can fit, and we'll put you on the list.

We focus on Western NY native trees - those trees that might have been here before East Aurora was built - but can accommodate nearly any request.

Let's keep EA green, people!

11/10/2021

Tom Harris was one of the earliest Tree Board members. His friend Ben Little and the Roycroft Artisans' Schoolhouse Gallery held a fundraiser over the summer.

This morning, our friend Jared Webber and Bradley Tree and Landscaping planted two white oak trees from our friend Brad Schottin at Boston Hill Nursery by the playground at Parkdale Elementary School.

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. But since my time machine is broken, plant a tree today!

10/16/2021

As I listen to the flock of hundreds of starlings in the trees outside my window, I found this neat article and study on planting trees in cities. My favorite line, "they are beautiful utilities"! We don't have a city, but have lots of trees and we're working to plant more every year!

Let us know if the front yard at your house needs a tree. DPW will plant a 6 to 8 ft tree in your front yard *FREE* of charge to help keep EA green!

Also, don't tell anyone, but we're looking to offer *free* seedlings next Spring, for anyone who needs a new tree....

Keep on planting, EA!

Trees in cities have the ability to sequester carbon, provide shade, and mitigate flooding. But no one tree fits all environments.

09/11/2021

Someone on Mill Rd just let me know she's had 30 (!) trees planted this summer!

How many have you planted? Let us know!

08/25/2021

Something to think about while we're all planting new trees this fall!

I wonder if exclosures with wire fencing might be best... I also like the "plant 2 to get 1" plan!

https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/tree-planting-plastic-carbon-reforestation-b1907811.html

Even if collecting and recycling every sleeve were possible it would be worse for the environment, study finds

08/17/2021

Planning for next Spring's street tree planting is starting soon... If your home needs a tree out front, let us know! If your neighbor's home needs a tree out front, tell your neighbor to let us know! First come, first served and the list is already growing!

08/04/2021

Did you know that around 1900, New York's forests had dwindled to covering less than 20% of the state? And that conventions were held to determine what to do when the timber ran out - predicted within 50 years?? (see https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4982.html for some great history)

This morning I grabbed a couple historical aerial photos and compared them to today, for the Schopper - Boies - Falls - Grover block, around 500 acres.

You can see only a few chunks of woodland left in the 1920's, and even by 1951 there's not much change. But look at today! Even with a few more houses (maybe yours or mine?), acres of farmland has been allowed to regrow, so now it's over 60% wooded - over 300 acres!

Imagine what you can do when you add your trees to East Aurora and the town. All that lawn...who needs it!?

07/20/2021

As an upside to all this rain, we probably don't have to water our newly-planted trees quite so often!

And remember, if you HAVE planted new trees recently, LET US KNOW!

See here for more: https://eastauroratreeboard.medium.com/10-000-trees-what-c68a0cee4af1

So we’d been kicking this idea around for a few years…

07/12/2021

220 million?? In a day??! And all we want to do is plant 10,000 in a year.......!

We have our work cut out for us!

LUCKNOW, India (AP) — More than a million Indians have planted 220 million trees in a single day in a government campaign to tackle climate change and improve the environment in the country's most...

07/12/2021

A quick and friendly reminder that although we love our trees more than most, and we encourage pruning and cleanup to keep our trees looking great, we should avoid dumping our cuttings across the sidewalks of the village. Walkers shouldn't have to dodge traffic!

06/08/2021

We've all heard the rule that we shouldn't plant during the summer because it's too hot and dry. Here's a great little article on the difference between planting and transplanting. My favorite bit is the question: "Don’t you think trees at the garden center would be happier planted in the cool, dark earth rather than sitting on the ground in their pots or balls in the heat until fall?"

When you plant a new tree, let us know! We're still counting, and the planet needs all the help it can get!

The myth of “summer transplanting” I answer a LOT of gardening questions either in the “Ask the expert” section of our website or in person during my visits to the garden ce…