Hearing on Trees Set to be Removed Scheduled for June 15

Watertown Tree Warden Chris Hayward announced a meeting to discuss trees that are scheduled to be removed in Watertown. 
The meeting was originally scheduled to be held on Tuesday, June 13. The hearing has been rescheduled to Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. It will be held in the 3rd Floor Meeting Room in the Administration Building located at 147 Main St. Please see the attached agenda for more information. TREE Hearing List

Location

DBH

Type of Tree

Common/Spring St. Delta

8”

Chinese elm

291 Arsenal St

6”

Honeylocust

291 Arsenal St

6”

Honeylocust

330 Arsenal St

10”

Bradford pear

330 Arsenal St

11”

Bradford pear

330 Arsenal St

9”

Bradford pear

45 Robbins Road (on Orchard St)

32”

Norway maple

4 Orchard St

23”

Norway maple

58 Robbins Rd (on Orchard St)

22”

Norway maple

Hayward said that people do not need to attend the Tree Hearing to be heard.

New Tree Planted in Watertown Square to Honor Watertown’s Tree Warden

A tree grows in Watertown Square – and it’s no ordinary tree. This tree honors Watertown’s own Tree Warden, Chris Hayward, for being named Massachusetts Tree Warden of the Year. 

Hayward received the Tree Warden of the Year award from the Massachusetts Tree Wardens and Foresters Association earlier this year, and as part of the award he got to have a tree planted in his town in his honor. On Wednesday morning, a white fir was planted on the Watertown Square Delta, just a stone’s throw from the bus stop. A couple dozen people came to congratulate him, including co-workers, elected officials, residents and his wife, mother and mother- and father-in-laws. The evergreen is about 10 feet tall, but it could grow to several times that height in about 80 years time.

Watertown Tree Warden Has Trees Available to for Residents

The Watertown Tree Warden has a variety of species available to plant on street in front of resident’s homes or in parts of the front yard close to the street. If you would like a tree to be planted, contact Tree Warden Chris Hayward at chayward@watertown-ma.gov. He will come out to your site to see if there is a suitable planting location and let you know whether a tree can or cannot be planted. Trees can also be planted on private property within 20-feet of the public right of way. Watertown Spring 2017  Street Tree Availability List
Species (Common), Species (Botanical), Height, Spread

Small and Front Yard trees

Purple leaf plum, Prunus cerasifera, 15′ to 25′,  15′ to 20′

Akebono cherry, Prunus x yedoensis ‘Akebono’, 20′ to 25′, 20′ to 25′

Kwanzan cherry ‘Royal burgandy’, Prunus serrulata, 15′ to 25′, 15′ to 25′

Shantung maple, Acer truncatum “Shantung”, 20′ to 25′, 15′ to 25′

Sugartyme crab, Malus floribunda ‘Sugar tyme’, 20′ to 30′, 15′ to 20′

Japanese Tree Lilac, Syringa reticulata, 20′ to 30′, 10′ to 15′

Medium sized trees

Cleveland select pear, Pyrus calleryana ‘Cleveland select’, 25′ to 35′, 15′ to 20′

Autumnalis cherry, Prunus subhirtilla “Autumnalis”, 20′ to 40′, 15′ to 30′

Sun valley maple, Acer rubrum “Sun Valley”, 20′ to 30′, 20′ to 30′

Large Shade Trees

Pin oak, Quercus palustris, 50′ to 70′, 30′ to 40′

Red oak, Quercus rubra, 75′ to 100′, 60′ to 75′

Elm “Princeton”, Ulmus spp., 50′ to 70′, 30′ to 50′

Ginko, Ginko biloba, 50′ to 80′, 35′ to 45′

Skyline Honeylocust, Gleditsia triacanthos inerms, 45′ to 60′, 25′ to 35′

October glory red maple, Acer rubrum, 40′ to 50′, 20′ to 35′

Red Sunset maple, Acer rubrum, 40′ to 50′, 20′ to 35′

Autumn blaze red maple, Acer rubrum, 40′ to 50′, 30′ to 40′

Redpointe maple, Acer rubrum “Frank Jr”, 35′ to 45′, 20′ to 30′

Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua, 50′ to 70′, 30′ to 40′

Tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera, 60′ to 100′, 30′ to 50′

Black gum, Nyssa sylvatica 40′ to 65′, 30′ to 40

Watertown’s Tree Warden Receives Statewide Recognition

Watertown’s Tree Warden received statewide recognition for his work. 

Chris Hayward, who serves as tree warden as well as the Conservation/Preservation Agent, received the 2017 Seth H. Swift Tree Warden of the Year from the Massachusetts Tree Wardens and Foresters Association. The Tree Warden of the Year Award recognizes a tree warden who exhibits leadership, dedication, and a commitment to the profession. The annual award is named in honor of longtime member and past president Seth “Swifty” Swift, who passed away January 1, 2004. Hayward, who has worked for the town for nearly 12 years, said he was honored to receive the award, which he noted is not given every year. “I was surprised,” Hayward said.

Town Has Free Street Trees, See Which Species are Available

The Watertown Tree Warden has street trees available to be planted on the street in your front yard close to the sidewalk. 

If you would like a tree to be planted, please email your top three choices to Tree Warden Chris Hayward at chayward@watertown-ma.gov. He will come out to your site to see if there is a suitable planting location and let you know whether a tree can or cannot be planted. Keep in mind, if you are interested, that trees can also be planted on private property within 20-feet of the public right of way. Watertown Fall 2016 Street tree availability list Species (Common ) Species (Botanical ) with height and then spread listed. Small and Front Yard trees

Celestial dogwood Cornus rutgan 15′ to 25′ 12′ to 15′

Canada red cherry Prunus virginiana 20′ to 25′ 18′ to 20′

Coral burst crab Malus × moerlandsii ‘Profusion’ 10′ to 15′ 10′ to 15′

Snowgoose cherry Prunus serrulata “Snowgoose” 20′ to 25′ 15′ to 20′

Kwanzan cherry Prunus serrulata “Kwanzan” 20′ to 25′ 20′ to 30′

Medium sized trees

Cleveland select pear Pyrus calleryana ‘Cleveland select’ 25′ to 35′ 15′ to 20′

Hop-Hornbeam Ostrya virginiana 15′ to 30′ 12′ to 25′

Sun valley maple Acer rubrum “Sun Valley” 20′ to 30′ 20′ to 30′

Large Shade Trees

Pin oak Quercus palustris 50′ to 70′ 30′ to 40′

Red oak Quercus rubra 75′ to 100′ 60′ to 75′

Elm “Princeton” Ulmus spp. 50′ to 70′ 30′ to 50′

Ginko Ginko biloba 50′ to 80′ 35′ to 45′

Skyline Honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos inerms 45′ to 60′ 25′ to 35′

Autumn blaze red maple Acer rubrum 40′ to 50′ 30′ to 40′

Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua 50′ to 70′ 30′ to 40′

Tulip tree Liriodendron tulipifera 60′ to 90′ 30′ to 50′

Horsechesnut Aesculus hippocastanum 40′ to 60′ 30′ to 40′

Black gum Nyssa sylvatica 40′ to 65′ 30′ to 40′

See the Trees Available From the Town to Plant in Front of Your Home

Watertown Tree Warden Chris Hayward released the list of tree species available for residents for the Spring of 2016. There are 17 trees available, and the come in small (15-25 feet tall), medium (25-40 feet) and large (40-90 feet) sizes. See the list here. Hayward sent out the following information:

If you would like a tree to be planted, please email your top three choices to the Tree Warden at chayward@watertown-ma.gov. He will come out to your site to see if there is a suitable planting location and let you know whether a tree can or cannot be planted. Keep in mind, if you are interested, that trees can also be planted on private property within 20-feet of the public right of way.

Hearing Planned for Trees Scheduled to be Cut Down

Watertown Tree Warden Christopher Hayward will hold a hearing about trees that are due to be cut down. Residents are welcome to attend and give comments about the trees. 

The hearing will be held on June 17, 2015 at 11:30 a.m. in the Watertown Administration Building (Town Hall), Lower Hearing Room

Here are the tree locations, diameter of the trunk and type of tree being discussed at the hearing:

8 Westland Road, 4”,  Oak

32 Lowell Ave., 15”, Norway maple

69 Lowell Ave., 17”, Norway maple

85 Lowell Ave., 18”, Norway maple

26/28 Fifield St., 22”, Norway maple

The hearing announcement adds:

Please note that you do not need to attend the Tree Hearing to be heard. If you cannot attend but are for or against the removal of any of the trees listed and want your thoughts to become public record, please email the Tree Warden at chayward@watertown-ma.gov. Your concerns will be read into the public record at the hearing. Your email must be received by me by 10:30 a.m. on June 17, 2015. If you have any questions, please contact Christopher Hayward at the email listed above or at 617-972-6426.

Find Out How to Get a Tree from the Town for Your Property

Watertown residents can have a tree planted in front of their home, or even on their property by the town – find out how! Watertown Tree Warden Chris Hayward is preparing for the fall 2014 tree planting season and he is looking for places to put new trees. He has nearly 30 species of all sizes to choose from, including variety of dogwood, cherry, maple and many more trees (see the list here). Hayward will put together a database of requests. “They can say these are the trees I want and I’ll come out and see if it works,” Hayward said.