Arizona republican., 1908-01-16
WORK OF TRIMMING ! CITY SHADE FREES
It is a Bigger Task Than Many People Suppose-Some Erroneous Ideas Corrected.

, A great deal of transformation has been circulated concerning shade trees along the streets of the city and the
 pruning of them at this time of the year and that the wrong ideas may be corrected some facts secured of Street Commissioner Griggs Carr are given herewith
 | There is an understanding by some people that a property owner is not
 permitted to trim the trees along the
 sidewalk in front of his property and
 that this trimming is to be done by
 the city. This is only partly true. The
 city owns and controls the trees and will do it's best to trim them when | they need it. However 1t is a big job
 and an expensive one. for there are a great many trees in this town though ! there should be more. Instead of mak- | ing objection the city would prefer that every property owner trim the | trees in front of his holdings. provid- ! ing he does it with reasonable judg-
 ment and not in a way that en1angers their lives. But unless the property
 owner knows something about the business or employs a man who has at least fair judgment in the matter. it
 is hoped that the trees will be let
 alone until the city can give them at tention.
 Two incidents have been charged up to the citp street department unjustly. | both respecting the trimming of ash trees. One occurred last year and the ! other this year. The trees were top ped after the manner of the treatment sometimes given a cottonwood. As
 soon as the street commissioner heard of it he hastened to the place in each instance. but was just little too late. l The trees topped last year are fairing
 so badly as was feared. and it is hoped those topped this year will not be ruined, but experience has taught that | it is dangerous treatment for an ash tree and generally proves fatal to the
 tree within a year or so. To say the least it spells the natural contour of an otherwise very attractive tree.
 l Mir. Carr said yesterday that un- doubtedly there is a proper time to trim an ash tree and g proper way to do it. There may be a time when | it is safe to top an ash tree but he | confesses that he does not know when
 it is. has been unable to find out and
 still believes it is a very dangerous business. Wherever the stump. dies
 and the wood dries the worms assail
 the trees and if the pruning or cutting
 is done at a time when the sap is not starting and the wound does not heal there is an invitation given to the
 worms. These things are mentioned.
 not as technical knowledge of tree
 pruning but only as the result of some
 observation and as an intimation that 1 there is a lot of difference between an ash and an umbrella tree. Moreover. | the city department does not like to | be blamed for the crimes committed | against some of the trees in the town.
 In the trimming of umbrella trees there is also a great deal of skill and
 some sense required. to get the best
 results but the umbrella seems to be
 tree that can stand more abuse than
 almost any other and still make a | good showing Most any old way of
 getting the tops off anywhere between
 December and the time the trees leaf ! out will answer the purpose. though {. like everything else the trimming ! should be done properly. As a general ] rule the best time 10 trim a tree is 1 just about the time the sap begins to
 start in the early spring when the
 wounds heal over better. But owing
 to the fact that there is so much work
 of that kind to do, and so few capable 1 men can be hired to do it, MT. Carr
 begins his trimming as early as he
 dares to and keeps at it all winter.
 Several men have been thus engaged