Thursday, April 08, 2010

Ginko Spraying Starts Today

Here's the press release:


Warm Weather Begins Early Gingko Spray

Urban Forestry Will Start Spraying Thursday, April 8


(Washington, D.C.) Unseasonably warm weather has brought the first signs of the unsavory female ginkgo fruit to life much earlier than expected. To prevent the notoriously unpleasant odor of this popular tree from overtaking city streets, the District Department of Transportation’s Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) will start spraying these fruits tomorrow, Thursday, April 8.

Spraying will begin in Wards 1, 2 and 6, where female ginkgo trees are most prevalent, and continue through Wards 4, 3, 7, 8 and 5. The spraying will be conducted at night and there is no need to move vehicles parked on streets.

The specific spraying locations will be sent to the ANC commissioners and are available upon request. If residents have any questions about the spraying, they can contact the Urban Forestry Administration at (202) 671-5133.

The mission of the Urban Forestry Administration is to establish a full population of street trees within the District and to ensure that those street trees are maintained in a healthy and safe condition. UFA has 19 certified arborists on staff who are responsible for issuing permits, enforcing regulations, and caring for approximately 140,000 trees throughout the city.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Inked-

Can we get some photos posted from the FT Flickr pool? There's some good stuff in there. Just a thought.

Hillman said...

Wouldn't it make more sense to just cut these damn things down and plant nicer trees, rather than going through this expense for the next 20 years or more?

Especially now that Casey Trees is offering a $50 rebate and a free tree watering bag for every tree planted in DC?

not on parker said...

Wouldn't it make more sense to just cut these damn things down and plant nicer trees, rather than going through this expense for the next 20 years or more?

Ginkgo trees are absolutely gorgeous in the fall! And are really the perfect trees for cities, as there is good balance between their axial and radial dominance. Why cut down a mature ginkgo tree and put in its place an ugly willow oak sappling?

Tom A. said...

Only the females have the horrible fruit...

oboe said...

Ginkgo trees are absolutely gorgeous in the fall! And are really the perfect trees for cities, as there is good balance between their axial and radial dominance. Why cut down a mature ginkgo tree and put in its place an ugly willow oak sappling?

No one's talking about cutting down male ginkgos. A female ginkgo is an abomination: the spraying (at least as practiced by DC) does nothing to mitigate the fruit production, and they are absolutely *fucking* disgusting (pardon my French). Not only that, but the females--because of the *massive* fruit production--are not as healthy as the males, so they drop branches as well as fruit.

No one who lives within a half block of these things wishes for anything other than their hasty death.

anon said...

What are they spraying them with? I've never thought the smell was that bad, and I'm not that excited about spraying whatever toxic chemical they're using just to avoid some light sensibilities.

Doesn't DC have some worse problems to take care of? Garbage, mosquitos, etc...

Anonymous said...

what streets in Trinidad have females? I've never noticed them on my street, but have read tons of complaints on here

Hillman said...

Not on Parker:

There are a dozen or more equally pretty trees perfectly suitable for tree boxes.

And none of them smell like ass.

The smell of ginko fruit is overwhelming for many of us.

I had one outside an apartment I lived in.

I literally had to ask the landlord to let me out of my lease because of the smell.

So why put up with that when you can have just as nice of trees planted instead?

And we can do without the yearly expense of all this spraying.

IBC said...

I've never thought the smell was that bad, and I'm not that excited about spraying whatever toxic chemical they're using just to avoid some light sensibilities.

Sure. Here's a brief description: during the height of the fruit-dropping season--which lasts about a month--the cherry-sized berries fall at the rate of about three inches a day, they don't stay firm like, say, cherries. Instead they disintegrate whenever they are touched, or when they fall on a car, they explode in a slurry. The slurry has the consistency of pine-pitch, which makes it quite destructive to paint, floor finishes, etc...

Oh, and they have a very, very strong odor that smells like someone vomited into a bag of dog-shit.

As someone who's lived with three within 50' of my house, I can sincerely say, "You can take my 'light sensibilities' and go Cheney yourself."

'Cause the sucker's coming down.

not on parker said...

No one who lives within a half block of these things wishes for anything other than their hasty death.

I live less than a half block from four of the trees. They produce the horrid smelling fruit/nuts. But I still remain more concerned about the garbage on my street...or the smash/grabs...than a tree.

oboe said...

I still remain more concerned about the garbage on my street...or the smash/grabs...than a tree.

I remain more concerned about armed carjackers than smash/grabs. Different strokes and all. I will say, though, come fall, I'd rather have my house buried to the eaves in Rap Snacks wrappers and crushed tall-boys than A foot of ginkgo berries.

Geech said...

Can residents request this service? I have a female Ginko in front of my home. Orleans PL NE

Seasonal affected sinus disorder said...

Back to Pies - Pie Yuppy Scum

http://wonkabout.com/414211/h-street-an-urban-utopia-where-you-can-buy-pie

Hunker down until summer and the trees won't be an issue.