Don't Take Down the Tree - Fix the Sidewalk

It is no secret I love trees. I cried when they started cutting down the trees to widen HWY 150 in Hoover. Do you remember how the trees used to make a canopy over the road by the Lake Crest subdivision? It was always 5 degrees cooler when you passed under those trees - not the 100+ temps we drive in now!

The benefits of trees are endless. I have two large trees is my backyard. One is a cottonwood that gives me the worst case of sinus in the spring - but the tree isn't going anywhere!!

I was walking from my car to Rhodes Park last month to attend the Do Dah Day Festival. Walking through the streets in Highland Park, we had to keep going up and down on the cracked sidewalk because the tree roots had pushed the sidewalks upward. There was shade everywhere and it didn't seem to matter to anyone as those 100+ year old trees were more important than the sidewalks. Yes, it does cause you to have a little more personal responsibility so you don't trip over a crack but I think I can handle it!

Last year I had a home listed that had a large tree in the front yard. The house was built in the ‘70s and the tree had pushed the sidewalk up. Many people commented on it and a few even thought they would take the tree down, but a little dirt and a redirect on the sidewalk that was a straight shot from the street to the house would have made the entryway more attractive. There's so much fun stuff you can do with concrete these days. Colors can be mixed into it (integral concrete); acid staining can give an old world look; and stamping can give concrete the very realistic look of stone. A wider, meandering path instead of the straight shot to the front door would also have added to that curb appeal.

If you have landscape challenges caused by trees, and can't think of a solution, give a landscape architect a call. They have lots of ideas and you can save those old trees that are such a benefit to all of us.

Thinking of selling you home in Hoover, Alabama or the greater Birmingham area, and want a realtor who will appreciate your old trees - contact me at www.ToniBird.com.