Post Messenger Recorder -

The Village of New Glarus Arbor Day tree planting event is scheduled for May 2, 2019. This annual event brings together adult and teen volunteers to plant trees in the public terraces and parks throughout the community. This year marks the twenty-third year of our community tree planting event, and an average of 47 new trees have been planted each year.

Homeowners interested in having a terrace tree planted as part of this program must sign up and pay the cost for their chosen trees by March 31, 2019. Order forms can be requested by calling (608) 527-5833 and providing your mailing address. The price of the trees varies from $16 to $90.

Tree planting is not the only part of the villageʼs forestry program. In the past weeks, a contractor hired by the village removed a number of diseased and structurally hazardous trees. Additionally, the village public works department is removing sixteen of our downtown trees.

Some of the trees removed were infected with Emerald Ash Borer, which eventually results in a treeʼs death. The village has made efforts to save ash trees in our parks with an injected treatment. Homeowners with ash trees in their terraces were also invited to participate in the treatment program, and a number of residents have accepted the responsibility of trying to keep their terrace ash trees in good health.

The downtown ornamental pear trees-and several others throughout the village-are infected with a disease called fire blight. This diagnosis was confirmed by the UW-Madison Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic. Fire blight is very difficult to control and will eventually lead to a treeʼs death. Consideration is underway to replace the removed trees with Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilacs during the Arbor Day planting. This variety of tree is currently planted to the west of the playground sidewalk in Village Park. The trees in that location are 20-year-old specimens.

The remainder of the trees removed were younger trees with storm damage and large mature trees with significant decay and hollow areas that posed a hazard to people and property. All property owners were notified in advance, and no healthy trees were removed.

With the arrival of Emerald Ash Borer in New Glarus, a number of tree removals will likely be needed over the next years. A significant percentage of the trees in our community are ash trees, and untreated trees will eventually succumb to the insectʼs damage.

Any village resident with questions about planting trees, Emerald Ash Borer, fire blight or hazardous tree identification should call Village Forester Paul Jennrich at (608) 527-5833.