New Generation of Elms

The temperature was just below freezing last Thursday morning, but the sun was shining as I drove to lower Pine Street to watch our tree warden, Tom Henderson, conduct a tree pruning seminar for two DPW staff members.  Tom had been anxiously waiting for a fair weather and a scheduling window to complete this work before the young American Elm trees’ buds opened.  Once that happened, they would be more susceptible to the Dutch Elm disease that had all but wiped out every American Elm in Manchester back in the 50’s and 60’s.

Tom knows pretty much every public tree in town by heart, but the Friends of Manchester Trees (FOMT) also has written records of tree plantings going back over fifty years.  The three Elms (Ulmus americana) on Pine Street were planted in 2021, and they were due for structural pruning that is essential for this species.

Streets across eastern North America, from southern Canada to central Florida, used to be lined with graceful and majestic Elms, and Manchester was no exception.  Most of those giant trees died by the mid-1970’s, but we have been re-planting a disease-resistant cultivar called ‘Princeton’ Elm for over twenty-five years.  They are fast-growing and have the traditional, beautiful vase-shaped canopy that makes them instantly identifiable.  At the same time, these trees tend to develop a growth pattern called ‘bark inclusion;’ hence the importance of timely structural pruning of young trees to prevent future vulnerability to breakage, especially during storms.  This is when it’s crucial to have an experienced arborist like Tom Henderson.

Steve Laspesa and Richy Wilson from the DPW were parked at 64 Pine Street, and Tom arrived with ladders, a small, precision-sized chainsaw, and a Japanese-tooth handsaw and got to work.  FOMT’s job was to door-knock to let the homeowner know that the DPW was pruning the tree in their front yard.  The first tree measured 5 inches in diameter, twice as big as when it was planted four years ago.  The buds were swollen but not yet opened.  Tom demonstrated the technique, firmly bracing the branch during each cut and being careful not to damage the bark near each inclusion.  He explained that pruning above the branch collar is important, because the tissue in the collar produces chemicals that help seal the wound.  It was painstaking work, but before long Richy was up on the ladder, making precision cuts, following Tom’s guidance.

Tom warned not to be alarmed by the volume of branches removed during structural pruning.  It may appear excessive at first, but the tree will recover quickly and benefit greatly in the long run. This type of pruning is challenging, and having our DPW able to perform this task will ensure that our Elm trees will grow and flourish for the next generation.

Editor’s Note: In 2026, Arbor Day will be celebrated on Friday, April 24.