Date: Fri 13-Nov-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Main-Street-Maple-Trees

Full Text:

Some Much-Needed TLC For Main Street's Maples

(with photo)

Nearly a century ago, Newtown residents lined Main Street with maples. Someone

planted more than 100 maple trees up and down the town's main thoroughfare.

At the turn of the century, there were 112 maple trees stretching from the

head of Main Street at Currituck Road to the foot of the hill at Sugar Street.

They were evenly spread 40-feet apart. Currently, there are about 90 of those

trees still standing, according to Doug Rogers of the Newtown Forest

Association. The organization has set out to bring the maple tree population

back over 100 by the year 2000.

"We're calling it `Newtown trees for the millennium,'" Mr Rogers said.

A handful of trees were planted last spring and the program is expected to

continue for the next few weeks. A feeding schedule has been set up for each

of the maples that appears to need nourishment.

Main Street residents near the monument at Hanover Road and south to Route 302

are being asked to cooperate during this time. Occasional watering of these

old trees may be necessary from time to time through extended dry periods.

According to Mr Rogers, the feeding program, along with the replacement of

missing trees, will bring Main Street back to the design intended by Newtown's

residents of a hundred years ago.

If all goes well, he said, about 15 new trees will be planted, older trees

will be pruned, and all trees needing nourishment will receive some help by

the year 2000.

Main Street residents should expect to see trucks and personnel from Total

Landscaping and Tree Service, which has been hired to do the tree work.