Major Tree Work and Planting Coming this Fall

The Village Board will take Question and Answers during this agenda item at the September 20th Village Board Meeting at Village Hall.

A message from the Tree Commission:

The Village of Rhinebeck Tree Commission with the generous support of the Frost Memorial Foundation, the Village Highway Department, and our community volunteers will begin Phase 2 of the “re-treeing” of the two main corridors leading into the Village.

This past spring 2022 in Phase 1, we removed hazardous and dead trees from E. Market Street and replanted with species more appropriate to the spaces where they were planted so they can mature without interfering with wires and sidewalks. We also planted, where space overhead allowed, larger shade trees which will offer shade canopy, carbon sequestration, and wildlife habitat for future generations.

This fall we will be doing the same along Montgomery Street from the Delamater Inn north towards the Hospital. We will again be removing trees and stumps along this route that are dead or have been made very hazardous by the repeated drastic pruning every four years by Central Hudson. Additionally, all older maples have been stressed in recent years by the very hot and dry summers causing a lot of dieback in their canopies. Unfortunately, about 50 years ago Norway maples were chosen to be planted along our Village streets in large numbers and due to their large stature, form, and shallow roots this tree species over the last couple of decades has interfered with overhead utility wires and heaved sidewalks.

We will be replanting diverse shade trees in medians with no overhead electric wires as well as in large lawns away from the wires. When replanting in more constricted spaces, smaller flowering trees have been chosen for these sites. We are steering away from species like the Norway and sugar maples that fare less well as our summers heat up and are adding species that are better suited to warmer zones like oaks and sweetgums. Increasing the diversity of our tree species will increase our urban forest’s sustainability over time, add more wildlife and pollinator value, and greater interest over all four seasons.

This fall 21 trees will be removed and 35 new trees will be planted. (5 of the 35 new trees will be planted in the spring for better success due to the species chosen.)

We are delighted to report that 15 of the 35 trees to be planted will be larger scale “balled and burlapped” trees planted by contractors. Although some of the trees we are planting are slower growers by nature, many grow quite quickly. Remember- we are planting not just for today, but for the future—and some of the slower growers like oaks live the longest.

As during the East Market St. phase of tree renovation, all the property owners abutting these trees have been consulted and are in agreement with our removals and replanting. If a property owner did not wish their tree(s)removed or any new tree(s) planted, their wishes were honored.

All the trees to be removed have been banded and attached with flyers to inform the public. We don’t want people to be taken by surprise when the project happens.

Anyone interested in helping with our tree planting on Saturday October 29th, please notify the Tree Commission. We hope you are as excited as we are about this project as we strive as a community to make our community forest ever healthier and more beautiful.

For more information and photos, please see the Tree Commission’s webpage.