Staff photo by Fritz Busch New Ulm Tree Commissioner Paul Egeland points to a maple tree at the Neighborhood Walkabout guided walk regarding tree identification, care, planting, pruning, and watering Thursday. A Neighborhood Walkabout meets at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Washington Park.

NEW ULM — New Ulm Tree Commissioner Paul Egeland led a Neighborhood Walkabout on tree identifying, planting, pruning, watering and how to find damage Thursday.

Sponsored by the New Ulm League of Women Voters and New Ulm Tree Commission, the event began at the corner of 4th North and Franklin Street.

“I’m here to answer your questions about trees,” he said as the group walked west of Franklin St. on Fourth North.

“A lot of trees are fully grown out at this intersection. Some of the lindens are probably 80 to 100 years old. There are a couple ash trees that are dying from emerald ash borer,” said Egeland.

He said a big, tall silver maple tree, also known as a swamp or soft maples, because their wood is soft, are common because they are easily transplanted, grow fast, and are tough.

“Maples and lindens tend to really shade out lawns. I recommend trimming or cutting off maple branches only if they are two inches or less in diameter. A good way to prune maple trees is with a pole pruner to trim off twigs that get in the way,” Egeland said.

“Many tree trunks get hollow when they get old. Roots are like tree limbs. They get bigger around every year. You want to avoid damaging them. It may be good to put mulch around them and avoid mowing them,” he said.

Egeland suggested avoiding parking vehicles near big maple trees in very windy conditions, to avoid damage if tree limbs fall.

“Some trees are suited for the climate here and some are not. Mountain Maples bloom and have berries that birds like, but those trees don’t do well with our varying climate. They may not last as long as some other trees,” said Egeland.

He pointed out Freeman’s maple, a cross between red and silver maples are a pretty red color in fall.

Egeland said hackberry trees do well in this part of the country but they need to be pruned.

He urged property owners to look for “included or ingrown bark,” which mostly affects multi-limb trees. Egeland advised them to consult with an arborist on how best to deal with it.

“Trees need to be watered. They need about an inch of rain every week in the area where the roots are growing, which can be twice as far as tree height,” he added.

Egeland brought an eight-foot long wooden stick he used to measure tree clearance above sidewalks. Egeland said trees should be 13 feet above the street surface in New Ulm.

“If people don’t trim trees eight feet over sidewalks and 13 feet above the street, city crews may trim them.

Neighborhood Walkabouts are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. June 7 at Washington Park, 2 p.m. June 10 at Martin Luther College, near the bike path off Highland Ave., 10:30 a.m. June 11 at the Harman Park Shelter and 2 p.m., June 18 at the northeast corner of Nehls Park.