NEWS

Recently, Andrew Sileo, the Town of Davidson Arborist, and I had an informative conversation about what an arborist does and, in particular, what he does to help keep Davidson green. We are fortunate that our town leaders have been wise enough to hire someone who will protect one of our best assets, trees. Our tree canopy not only adds to the beauty of our town, it also provides shade and helps keep our air clean.

Andrew, a Charlotte native, has a B.S. in agriculture productions from the University of Mount Olive. He interned with TreesCharlotte, was assistant groundskeeper for all seven CPCC campuses, and has worked in utility arborculture, using mapping systems to keep power lines secure. He is a certified plant professional through North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association (NCNLA), along with being a Certified Arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). He helps the town keep its designation as a Bee City USA and a Tree City USA, and he works with the town’s Trees and Natural Assets Committee, our Tree Council, and EcoDavidson..

I learned so much from Andrew! Trees 12” in diameter, dead or alive, cannot be removed without a permit. When I expressed surprise that such a small tree required a permit, Andrew was quick to assure me that the measurement is the diameter, not the circumference. His primary responsibility is keeping “street trees,” those growing between sidewalks and curbs, healthy. When a tree is diseased or damaged, he oversees treatment or removal, and he plants new trees.

By using sonic tomography, Andrew could create images of the interior of trees to help determine their health. That tool is on his wish list, along with a drone to check the upper canopy of trees without having to climb. He does use other high-tech tools – a microscope to examine tree bark or insects, and an air spade to help excavate the root collar.

“The biggest problem town trees face,” he said, “is monoculture. 75% of our street tree canopy is composed of three kinds of trees – elms, maples, and oaks.” This, he went on to explain, can lead to infestation that can cause mass loss of trees. One of his goals is to diversify the street tree canopy, replacing weakened trees with those of similar characteristics, such as height, width, and fall foliage.

Besides monitoring and evaluating town trees, another of Andrew’s responsibilities is education and public outreach. He works closely with TreesDavidson, a branch (no pun intended) of the Davidson Lands Conservancy, which has established a Treasure Tree program. Treasure Trees can be on public or private land and must have one or more criteria, such as historic value, size, or uniqueness. The town will celebrate its 100^th Treasure Tree on September 14, at Davidson United Methodist Church.

There are 14-15 trees that Andrew has tagged in the downtown area. The signs, part of Andrew’s educational program, list the ways each tree benefits our community. Learn more about this program here: http://www.treebenefits.com/calculator/. After November 1, the signs will be removed, and come spring, new ones will be placed.

One happy discovery was this link. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find the clickable button that allows you to submit questions or requests to Andrew. Although he cannot actually prune or trim or remove trees on private property, he is available to consult with residents to help them with landscape problems. He is eager to visit neighborhoods, clubs, or churches with presentations on ways to protect the trees. You can contact him through the link immediately above.

Even though much of his work is done outdoors, he keeps the street tree inventory current through the ArborScope program, and since trees have monetary value, he uses i-Tree Eco to determine their financial worth. Grant-writing, a way to help fund educational efforts, is another important part of Andrew’s job.

Thank you, Andrew Sileo, for all the ways you are keeping our community beautiful and healthy.

To be without trees would, in the most literal way, to be without our roots. – Richard Mabey