We are not talking about taking an ax to a tree; we are talking about actions taken without thought, care or knowledge of what we are doing. Town trees face more physical threats than those in forests to survive, with more air pollution, utility lines and confined growing spaces. For downtown trees especially, we humans are the culprits behind several causes of their demise.
There is the pooper scooper law, but did you know that dog pee poses a direct threat to plants? Man’s best friend is not a tree’s or any other plant’s best friend. Dog urine is toxic to trees and other plants. Studies by ecologists at universities in Belgium and Helsinki have found that dog urine turns acidic as it breaks down, harming the bark and roots. Dog urine is also very high in salt. A buildup of salt around the trunk of a tree can lead to dehydration of a tree because it can’t absorb enough water. Combine that with the salt buildup from sidewalk salt we have to put down in winter, and you have a serious threat.
Male dogs are genetically attracted to vertical objects to pee on, but with a little guidance from their owners, they can be led to better choices than the trees and other plants on our streets and in our parks. What are those better choices? Some place away from vegetation, such as a gravel or dirt area. Actually, the classic fire hydrant is not a bad choice, since they are usually made of cast iron and corrode more slowly than other types of metal such as signposts and lampposts, which have been known to topple from corrosion caused by dog pee. Maybe we need to come with a few ”pee poles” for our downtown and parks.
So please, let’s be responsible pet owners and save our trees. Our dogs don’t know better, but we do.
Another threat to our environment is cigarette butts. They are just about everywhere we look outside — on the sidewalks, along the curbs, in the flower beds and down inside the tree grates — everywhere but where they should be, in the trash. Name dropping may be socially acceptable but butt dropping should not be. They are not just unsightly litter but can actually be harmful to plants. Research at Angila Ruskin University in Britain found that chemical leaching into the environment from a bioplastic in cigarette filters inhibits germination and slows plant growth.
Plus, just think of the message that these butts scattered everywhere sends to our young people: that it is acceptable to both smoke and litter with the butts. It may be just a little butt, but it’s litter that takes many years to break down.
Then there is just plain physical assault on our trees. What Mother Nature does can sometimes be brutal, but so can we humans. In the winter, sidewalk trees get bumped by car bumpers or plow blades. There are several trees downtown with plow damage, in addition to the damage done by sidewalk plowing. This creates breakage that opens the tree up to bacteria and fungi in the spring and makes it even more susceptible to damage from dog pee.
Town and park trees are also not jungle gyms for children. Climbing a tree, swinging from a branch or carving initials in the bark, are all forms of physical abuse to trees. We adults must set the example as to how to treat our trees and sidewalks.
So why bother with these green spaces, you may ask, since they are so susceptible to damage and are so much work and expense? Because trees and green spaces in towns do not just add beauty, but also provide cooling shade, cleaner air, noise buffering, erosion control, habitat for birds and small animals and stress reduction as people come outside to recreate amongst them. Please help the town and Canopy Crew protect and care for our green spaces so they don’t become gray spaces.
These tips and ideas are brought to you by the Houlton Canopy Crew, committed to trees and gardens. If you are interested in joining our crew, call Angela Wotton at 254-4126. We welcome new members.
