Barricades and caution tape surround the base of a tree in Takena Park on April 1, 2024.
Caution tape around a big old tree is always an alarming sight. And this one caught my eye over the last few days as the bike took me past Albany’s Takena Park.
The first question was: What is wrong with that tree? And then: Will it have to come down? And what kind of tree is that anyway?
For answers, we turn to Jay Sharpe, the city forester in the Albany Department of Parks and Recreation.
“The tree surrounded by barricades is a red oak with a root rot disease,” Sharpe told me via email on Monday. “The tree that was growing next to it failed last week, also of root rot disease.”
(By failed, he meant that the tree fell over, across the sidewalk and part of Lawnridge Street.)
Sharpe said he had not yet scheduled a date for the still standing but ailing tree to be removed. “I’d like to take a core sample of the tree first, which will give me a better idea of the health of the tree, as well as its age,” he wrote.
That sounded as though there was some hope that this big tree might not have to be cut down, at least not yet.
“In the meantime,” Sharpe added. “I think it’s best if people stay clear of the tree.” (hh)
On Tuesday he reported that he took the core sample, which indicated the oak is about 55 years old. He also said: “We’ve lost a few trees in this park lately, so I’m going to get a second opinion from another arborist before we decide what to do. It’s a tough decision, so I want to see a little more data first.”
The ailing red oak is on the west side of Takena Park, near Lawnridge Street,
As somebody who has lost 2 oaks much bigger than the one shown, this disease is going to take down oaks in excess of 4’ in diameter. The second one toppled with no wind and had no root wad. The good news is the goats love their new toy.
What goats? What toy?
Kudos to Sharpe for giving the tree a chance. Trees can survive many diseases and in turn the trees that grow from them will be stronger to fight against disease, that is how nature works. In the artificial environments we put them in they sometimes need a little help when an unnatural ecosystem does not supply what they need. The fact that this tree has survived to get this big is a testament to it’s ability to naturally deal with disease. Given that little bit of help won’t create a bunch of trees that are weak like the ones people are growing and planting now. Hopefully, Sharpe can save this beautiful tree by giving it the care and chance it deserves. It would be awesome if Albany would earn the “city of trees” logo that it boosts.