A TOUGH WINTER ON STREET TREES

RED OAK PLANTED TWO YEARS AGO PUSHED OVER BY PILED  SNOW...

,,,TREE PLANTED LAST YEAR TIPPED BY SNOW LOAD...

YOUNG BUCKEYE UPROOTED BY SNOW PLOW

WHITE PINE WITH BRANCHES BROKEN BY PLOWED SNOW

Palm Sunday, 8:45 AM.  35 degrees F, wind N, calm with occasional gusts. The sky is covered  with a low overcast. The humidity is high, at 95%, and the barometer is trending down, now at 29.82".  It looks like rain.  Neighbor Tina, who works on Madeline Island, is still taking her snowmobile to work. She says she will probably do so for another week or so, depending on the ice conditions.
   Now that the high snowbanks are melting it is becoming obvious how much the trees along city streets have suffered from plow damage and snow load.  Young trees are most vulnerable, and can be tipped over or broken even if well staked.  One can't usually fault the snow plow drivers, as the snow has to go somewhere.  And it becomes obvious after a winter like this last that some locations just are not suitable for street trees.  Homeowners and landscapers have to keep in mind the realities of snow plowing and piling along driveways and garages as well.
   But one can't give up; the damage has to be repaired and trees replaced, or our streets would soon be treeless and forlorn.