Oh, good to know I'm not going to lose the red bud to disease in a few years! But that's too bad about the spruce and pine. You ended up losing 3 trees!
Yardening Fall 2013
So, we ran a bright yellow ropeline from one corner survey marker to the other, and yes indeed those 2 cherry trees are well inside our property line, unless they can prove to me that our line is the only one that doesn't run straight. I'm glad I sat on them that day, but I'm sick about all the ones that went down all along that fence row. We did lose a couple of larger trees at the other rear corner, plus a bunch of smaller ones that were inside our line after all (those are the ones I understood would not be removed, and then I returned from taking Joyanna to nursery school and they had cut almost all the way to those 2 cherry trees).
I went out this evening and took photos, using a measuring tape to show the diameter of all those little trunks. :-( I'm hoping they will make a reasonable settlement offer so we don't have to go to court. I've started looking online to get an idea of what "reasonable" should be...
Meanwhile, they dug that trench for the silt fence, and it sure is more than "2-3 inches" (the reassuring number I was given when I called), more like 10-12 inches. Fortunately, it was run 30 inches or more from the base of our remaining trees, so I don't think there was significant damage to their roots -- nothing over 1/2" diameter cut that I could see. Happened to catch the guy driving past that had done the trench & posts, and he said the regulation said the fence had to go down 8 inches.
You can bet I'll also be asking if they are planning to replace the trees they cut on their side according to how large they were (eg, replace with same total diameters, not just 1 sapling for 1 tree).
Glad I can come here and vent. Most of my neighbors don't seem to get it. Thanks
hi, Critter. Good for you for checking this out, and I think they should definitely replace your trees! It's a shame to lose mature, beautiful trees like that. :-(
So sorry you need to go through this. These types of issues are always upsetting.
I have never understood why, with new construction, the construction crews take out the existing trees rather than try to work around them. Having some mature trees should boost the sale price -- or so you'd think.
Like I told the man with the chain saw, we paid 10K extra for this lot because it came with a line of trees along the back!
In particular, it's really short sighted to remove trees at the very farthest edge of the property... there's not even any "working around" needed to save them, just a little common sense!
Happy---
This is more to your question of WHY developers like to remove trees when building
new homes on an undeveloped, woodsy properties.
And--Jill--I do not know how big, or what kind of trees yours were that they took down.
BUT... The area our homes were built was an old farm with many, old, mature, tall Oaks.
White Oaks--I believe...This farm was ALL wooded...a forest, if you will.
Almost all the trees were removed as the development was built--
or the heavy equipment could not navigate to dig up, dig down and build the houses.
Sad, but necessary. But-building in a development--it is very tight quarters..
Some future owners insisted that they wanted some of the mature Oaks left on
their property for "scenic" reasons--or some shade. And--so they did.
***FYI---Trees that grow in a forest do not form very strong, spreading roots,
as they do not have to stand on their own to weather high winds and storms.
They are all a "group"--supporting each other. The wind blows over them all--
and none of them fall.
Now--you tear down the forest--and leave some isolated trees standing because
the new owners wanted them, is NOT a good idea.
Two weeks after one new owner moved into their new house in the new section
right behind mine (1971), one of these oaks fell on their house in a storm and took out
part of the roof and corner of the house.
Just to the East from me, a couple homes away, another one of the oaks toppled down.
Luckily--not on the house. The cost of removal was not small.
After all this--the house just next to it paid--I am sure hundreds of $$, to trim the tops
of their 'saved" Oaks so they would not fall. All has been well since then.
Gita
Jill, my Goodness!! What a sad and pathetic, and yes, avoidable situation you are having to endure, I'm so sorry to read about what you are having to go through!! =( It sure would be nice if the builders had enough integrity to be HONEST with you guys (existing home-owners) from the get-go.
We often get builders in at work, buying trees for construction sites... I guess they prepare in advance for what they know should be put (back) in there before anyone even says anything. They come armed with lists of Types (of natives), quantities, sizes etc. I talk with a lot of them about the sites they are working on, and it seems as though they know the laws and the desires of the surrounding area's residents; they come in ready to NOT muck up the works, but to install new certain-sized trees before anyone's hackles get up. Would be nice if it worked that way across the board... or the country. < =/
Gita has good information there- or at least things I've heard also.
And speedie offers some hope...!
I said I woudln't bother- but I needed a half hour gardening task yesterday so I have ten little pots of coleus cuttings now...and still don't know where my light shelves will go this year- erg.
Is anyone planning on saving their castor bean seeds this year?
I need to plant a conifer where the castor bean is right now, so I can't wait until the beans are ready to be harvested. I've read that you need to wait until the first hard frost, and that's usually not until November or even December. I was hoping to get this conifer in the ground in the next couple of weeks.
I have red castor, I'll save. I have some of last year's which are probably good too.
Thank you, Sally! The one I have is also from you, and it's gorgeous! I need to give it more room next year.
Happy Birthday, Sally!
You're welcome ss g.. I got them from Holly/Ric.
THanks Darius- cute picture!
Cute picture, Darius!
Happy Birthday Sally!!
The silt fence is now in place, so that should keep everybody off our property from now on. Engineering company guy is coming out at 3 with his survey team to figure out how this happened.
I have a general idea of what our compensation should be for those trees; hopefully the builder will settle without a big hassle. Construction will be ongoing behind us for a year or two, I'm sure, and I would really like it to be an amicable relationship with a rough start rather than a running battle.
Critter, Sorry about your trees. Hopefully everything will be rectified quickly. Get your mouse traps (or whatever your preferred method of rodent deterrent is) ready! I have heard that new construction like that sends all the critters out of the fields and into the nearby warm cozy houses. :/
Good reminder. Yes, we sure were overrun with voles & mice when there was construction nearby another time or two.
Jill, if you can, have another adult with you just so what is said can't be disputed later by the company. Get names, make notes immediately after, send follow up email of what was said, etc.
Will be thinking of you while out on my route!
Good luck with your meeting, hope it all goes well.
SSG, I may have gotten my Castor seeds from Sally this past year and they grew very well for me. We have trouble getting them to maturity before the frost. They weren't ready when we left but hopefully they will be ready and in good shape when we get back home. We also have trouble getting the Hyacinth Beans to mature so if anyone has those please save them for us. I am really hoping that the frost holds off till we get home. I didn't have a chance to make the leaf castings before we left and I really want to do that this year.
Good luck with the meeting. It sounds like you have done a ton of work preparing and documenting, and hopefully this will serve you in good stead. Glad the silt fence is up now. Will they compensate for cost of purchasing *and planting* a similar tree?
This message was edited Sep 26, 2013 6:06 PM
voles, mice, snakes, spiders...all fleeing from the field...
And sorry to point this out but depending on how they sell and how the lots look, you'll be hearing construction for several years- two, your bare minimum I think.
I have the heebie jeebies just thinking about it.
This message was edited Sep 25, 2013 6:11 PM
Well, I had a nice surprise late this afternoon when I stopped at the home of some elderly friends--and they had a baby peach tree for me! He grew it from a peach pit. I thought it was very sweet.
That's very sweet; I don't know how you'll tell them it is NOT a peach tree....
; ^)
Don't tell them. If they ask, tell them its doing great.
You can plant a peach pit and get a tree, I've had several by accident.
Sally, you beat me to the punch. I was going to say the exact same thing! :( I have no idea what it is, but peach leaves look a lot like cherry leaves. Also when you rip a piece of the peach leaf off, it smells like peaches. I love that smell :)
Karen, is it a wild amaranth of some kind? It's a weed/wild plant.
well, he's 92 years old... ;-) What if I put a peach pit into the soil next to it. Do you think it would grow?
it could. I find them just because they end up in the compost or just tossed into the garden. Sometimes you find the peach pit shell sometimes just the seedling with the seed, stuck to the stem, that looks like an almond.
It does look like Pigweed. Pigweed = amaranth. Pigweed is a fitting name for it, it's definitely a big ugly weed. :(
Cat, Yes but don't do it inside, apparently the seed needs to be stratified (subjected to cold) for a while before it will germinate. If you put a pit in the ground now, it will germinate next Spring. If you are serious then you can find lots of resources online for how to do it. Here's one: http://www.gardensmart.tv/?p=articles&title=How_To_Grow_Peach_Seed
Thanks for the tip about peach seeds needing cold to germinate. Guess I need to buy a peach or two to eat! ;-)
Well, pigweed does attract beneficial insects, so it is good for that! :-)
of course, I guess it is also classified as a noxious weed...
This message was edited Sep 27, 2013 9:40 AM
Cat, you must be one of those "Glass is half full" types, eh? :)
I spent a summer hoeing pigweed out of an experimental soybeans field so I kind of hate that stuff now. Also morning glories. I see those first little forked leaves and I practically have instant lower back pain. It was a good summer but I was programmed to hate those plants. :)
LOL! It's just that his gesture was so sweet and kind--he heard my daughter asking whether if she put a peach pit in the ground would it grow to a peach tree, and wouldn't that be so cool--it was very heartwarming, and so I *want* it to be a good thing.
Totally hear you about morning glory--I've been waging a battle with it all season. Certainly don't want a second plant like that growing in my yard!
I believe it is Mulberry Weed -- http://www.caes.uga.edu/Publications/pubDetail.cfm?pk_ID=7313 -- I believe it was Sally who identified for me in a different context.
Get rid of it as soon as you can -- don't compost it -- it is very very very invasive. Very seedy.
thanks, Happy. Yes, it looks just like the photo.
Hey guys, let's all help Fritchie21 by giving her suggestions on her MIL's Shady garden.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1335633/
Hm, the leaves look different to me. Mulberry Weed seems to have a heart shape leaf (cordate) while the leaves on this plant look more like teardrops (lanceolate). Look at the way the leaf begins at the petiole.
Maybe this Mobot picture of Mulberry Weed will help.
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/Portals/0/Gardening/Gardening%20Help/images/Pests/Annual_Weeds630.jpg
Do you think it might be this? Three Seeded Mercury (Acalypha)
http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/acalypharhom.html
That or pigweed.
I just learned those fancy botanical words today thanks to Wikipedia.
Maybe Gita can ask her Dr. O!
Typ, I think the Three Seeded Mercury (Acalypha) is the closest match yet. Yes, the leaves look more lanceolate than heart-shaped.
I got a Carolina jasmine!
I want it to cover an unattractive outdoor staircase. But now that it's been planted, I can see how it could take over everything if I let it! It's supposed to be evergreen. Does anyone else grow this vine?
Definitely looking forward to sweet smelling late winter blooms. :)
oh, that's wonderful, SSG! Photos please!! :-) I'm looking forward to Sally's winter jasmine, too...
gosh, I hope you're not disappointed- Winter Jasmine IS cute with the early bloom and green stems, but it isn't like POW fabulous lol. well maybe it will be better if you have it in some sun, I've never grown it really on purpose and given any extra help.
Got out the elderberry stump, amended a large area, replanted some iris, Bradbury monarda, Mock orange, . I'm going to have some rearranging to do in spring what with shade things versus sun things. I should have put a Tiarella in this space but ran out of time.
My Amsonia lives on! I'll give it a better place if we get some rain.