New House Blog: Episode LCVII - A Tree Grows In San Jose

A lot of trees grow in San Jose.  We live in a very tree-friendly, tree-populated city.  The tree featured in this Episode is our parking strip tree (for those not native to San Jose it may be known as a sidewalk tree).

Tree Termites

Whilst removing buried black plastic sheeting from around the base of tree we discovered a live, active colony of termites.  We have not seen any new termite activity in our New House, and we don't know if this tree colony is composed of, or contains, any refugees from last year's termite tenting of our New House, or if they are a completely independent colony.  Regardless of this, said termite discovery led to the replacement of said tree, which event will be covered in more detail below.

Tree Diagnosis

When we first discovered the termites we called Clark Termite, the company that tented our house for termites last May, and they said we should call an arborist.  Based mostly (completely) on Yelp reviews, we called Tree Elite.  Leroy, from Tree Elite, examined our tree and determined that it was 90% dead and should be replaced before it fell on someone.

Tree Permit

Armed with Leroy's diagnosis, we applied to the city for a tree removal and replacement permit.  A city official came out and posted a notice on our tree that stated that we were planning to remove the tree, and that any objections to said removal must be submitted to the city in writing within 14 days of the posting of the notice.  We don't know why anyone would object to the removal of a 90%-dead tree, but it's nice to know that people in San Jose have the right to object to parking strip tree removal.  About two weeks after the 14 days had elapsed we received our tree removal and replacement permit.

Tree Removal

Action at last.  A crew from Tree Elite, led by Max, came to our house and dismantled our parking strip tree. Satchmo was not happy with the noise of the tree dismantling, and he slunk around and hid in various nooks and crannies in our New House.  Miles and Daisy did not seem to be bothered by the noise.

 This picture shows the early stages of tree removal.

Much less of the tree is upright in this picture.  Notice the skillful use of rakes by the Tree Elite crew.  We commend them for their excellent cleanup after the tree was cut down.

 The tree stump.

 The tree stump up close.  Can you tell how old the tree was?

The hole where the tree stump used to be.

















Tree Planting

A few days after the tree removal Max's crew came out and planted our new tree - a Thornless Honey Locust (Gleditisia Triacanthos Inermis).  This is the species specified on our tree permit - the city gave us no other options, something that Leroy thought was unusual.

 This is our new Thornless Honey Locust tree.   It is a bit smaller than I had hoped, but I am told they grow rather quickly.

Already the neighbors (and strangers) have begun to enjoy parking in its meager shade.

 Watering, at this stage in its life, is 3 times a week, and we should leave the bracing in place for at least the first year.

Our new tree will get plenty of sunshine.

Our old tree was about 40 to 45 years old, according to my quick count of its rings.

The tree is dead.  Long live the

      bIsh