Announcements

Trees. My first memory of our community was driving along the beautiful tree-lined median on Hayfield Road as we searched for our forever home. It was a warm spring day and with windows rolled down I could hear the laughter of children playing under a glorious green canopy at Hayfield Park. I listened to the sound of song birds fill the air and inhaled the sweet smell of spring flowers in freshly planted gardens.  This community was where I would be lucky enough to call home.

Unfortunately, the very beauty that drove us to embrace this breathtakingly green and ecologically diverse neighborhood is now in danger of disappearing. Silver maples known for their rapid growth were planted during the development of our community in the late 60’s. With an estimated urban lifespan of 60-70 years (120+ in the wild), the majority of these large trees have been taken down or are in the process of being taken down as new home owners find their aging bark and extended limbs concerning.

The problem is, young trees are not being replanted at the same rate as the removal of mature ones. For a community that serves as an environmental corridor for Huntley Meadows wildlife, the effect of a growing number of treeless lots is concerning. From a personal perspective, it’s even more so. The slow eradication of our tree-lined streets is a problem for our air quality, energy efficiency, water filtration and even property values.  A few facts:

• Deciduous trees planted on the south or west side can reduce cooling by 10-30%
• A 20inch Red Maple can intercept almost 6,000 gallons of stormwater each year
• A large tree in front of a home can increase the price by an average of 10%

It is time to learn a lesson from the ever-popular Lorax. For the health, environmental and fiscal viability of our community, please consider planting a tree. Where and how to plant trees for a healthy growth is also important. Recently, Jim McGlone of Urban Forestry gave an informative talk about how to successfully plant trees & care for trees. That presentation can be found here.  Let’s ensure that our Hayfield Farm families have today’s tree-lined streets tomorrow.

Thank you!

Your Neighbor & Fairfax County Tree Commissioner, At Large

Monica Billger