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�Butchered� trees endangered Restoration, replacement costs decisive to fate of Medford pears By Jessica Smith Medford may have seen the last blossoms from eight flowering pear trees on West Main Street. Preserving the trees � trimmed to half their size a few weeks ago � could prove difficult, says an Ashland arborist hired by the city to care for the flowering pears before they were cut. "I was a little upset when I saw they were butchered like that," said Tom Myers, owner of Upper Limb-It Tree Service. "But that�s what happens when somebody who doesn�t know how to prune trees does the pruning." Root of the issue City officials say the trimming of eight flowering pear trees to half their former size should be a lesson for commercial property owners in Medford. Ken Marshall, parks superintendent, said land owners must understand they are not allowed to trim, prune, spray or remove a tree in a public right-of-way without the city�s consent. Permits, available from the parks department, are required to protect the health of trees on public property. Questions about the city�s tree policies could be directed to the Tree Committee, which next meets at 7 p.m. Monday in Room 340 in City Hall. Don Lacey, owner of Memories Antiques on West Main, said last week that he cut the trees to prevent branches from obscuring signs and awnings outside his and other businesses on the block. Lacey, also principal at South Medford High School, could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Lacey said last week he trimmed the flowering pears by about 1 foot, Myers said as much as 14 feet was taken off the tops of the trees, which now stand about 10 feet high. The trees, known as Chanticleer flowering pears, typically grow to 40 feet in height, more than twice the width of their canopies. When weather permits, the trees bloom in time for the city�s Pear Blossom Festival. But cuts made to the tree limbs could cause significant structural problems, Myers said. "The big problem is those trees are supposed to grow tall and skinny," he added. "They were cut in half. When you top them like that, they want to spread out. So you turn a tree into a bush." Myers, who last week studied the trees to determine whether they could be salvaged, said it would take three to five years of intense pruning to train the limbs to grow up rather than spread out. The flowering pears may also be at risk for rot. "It might be better just to replace them," Myers said. "Right now, I�m going to have to deal with mutilated trees." The urban renewal department planted the flowering pears several years ago along Main Street in downtown Medford, and continued to take responsibility for their care. Lacey claims he had the city�s permission to trim the trees between Grape and Fir streets, though he says he can�t remember who at City Hall granted his request. Regardless, Lacey violated a Medford code that requires property owners citywide to obtain a permit before performing any maintenance work on a tree growing on public property. Ken Marshall, Medford�s parks superintendent, said the city has yet to determine whether to fine Lacey for the code violation, considered an infraction. Lacey could be fined up to $250 per tree. Likewise, the city is undecided on the fate of the flowering pears. The trees are valued at $2,700, according to a report Myers submitted to the city. Replacement costs could reach $3,600. "One thing we have to (understand) is we are dealing with a living thing," Marshall said. "It�s not like a piece of concrete we can re-pour to match the other pieces." Even if the city decided to replace the trees, he said, it�s unlikely they would be uniform with others on Main Street. Reach reporter Jessica Smith at 776-4481, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.