Planting provided by the township’s Shade Tree Commission
By:Vanessa S. Holt
ROEBLING — There are some shady dealings going on in Roebling. In fact, there should be a lot more shade when the Shade Tree Commission completes the installation of more than 50 trees on Fifth Avenue.
“Over the years, disease has taken many of the shade trees on Fifth Avenue,” said Township Assistant Business Administrator Thomas A. Sahol, who assists in grant writing on behalf of the commission and lends administrative support.
The original trees had been placed by the Roebling family in the early 1900s, he said, but the tree stock has now diminished considerably.
By removing diseased and dead trees and replacing them with healthy new ones, the commission hopes to eliminate hazards posed by dead and dying trees.
The removal and planting of new trees was made possible because of a $12,500 grant from the State Division of Forestry.
Combined with the township’s contribution of $6,700, the commission was able to remove 27 trees and installed a total of 52 new trees.
Flowering pear trees were the first to go in. Ash, oak and velkova trees will also be installed to replace the largely monocultural planting of maple trees that previously grew there.
A variety of tree species is important to ensure the survival of all of the trees because the mixed growth is more resistant to disease that way, Mr. Sahol said.
Residents on Fifth Avenue were supportive of the effort, said Mr. Sahol.
Volunteers who helped in the planting last week were Councilman Harry Robinson, Shade Tree Commission Chairman Michael Geary, Director of Public Works John Purakovics, commission members John Shields Jr., Don Jones, Chris Chanti, and Public Works employees John Herbert Jr., and Charles “Butch” Marshall.
M. E. Keating contractors of Roebling donated storage space for the trees, as well as the use of a tractor, trailer and backhoe for tree installation.
Use of a Bobcat loader to move soil and trees was donated by the Wainwright family farm in Florence Township, and an all-terrain vehicle was donated by Wainwright Lawn and Garden Supply.
In addition to planting trees, the Shade Tree Commission makes periodic reviews of the tree cover along streets and in parks in the township, and makes recommendations to the mayor and council on tree-planting projects.
They also comment on residents’ requests for trimming and removal to make sure removals are consistent with industry standards.
“Trees in decline are monitored so they don’t become a hazard,” said Mr. Sahol.
Annual tree plantings take place in the spring and fall.
The commission also reviews planning board applications and comments on the planting of trees in new developments.
To gain a better understanding as to what kind of trees are in the township, and to help identify any potential disease path, the commission is keeping a “tree inventory,” taking stock of the varieties already in existence here.
The commission has been taking a much more active role in the past two years, said Mr. Sahol.
“They also do installations of 40 to 50 trees a year,” he said.
Plantings are normally quiet events, he said. “You just see a tree appear one day.”
A certified tree expert, Bob Phillips, sits in on the commission meetings. Mr. Phillips is one of a very small number of such individuals in New Jersey.
“Not many people have that certification,” said Mr. Sahol. “Tree experts are getting rarer.”
Mr. Phillips will review the ongoing tree installations to make sure they were installed according to standards, said Mr. Sahol.
The most expensive part of any tree planting is the cost of the trees themselves.
“These trees were in the $11,000 range total,” said Mr. Sahol. “The taking down of the 27 trees and removal of the roots, was about $5,000,” said Mr. Sahol.
The tree varieties that will be planted on Fifth Avenue will grow to 30-60 feet over time, and eventually will form a nice canopy for the street and the homes.
The Shade Tree Commission has been in existence since 1988.
“Look for good things to come in the future,” said Mr. Sahol