LAKE COUNTY — It is called the “tree of heaven,” but Lake County residents who have dealt with this fast-growing, invasive plant may say that it should be called the tree from hell.
Board of Supervisors chair Anthony Farrington, one of its victims, would probably be one such resident.
If its present rate of proliferation isn”t checked, it could someday semi-seriously be called “the tree that ate Lake County.” Already it can be seen growing around buildings in the county”s downtown areas.
“That”s one of the things that”s coming on the radar right now,” says Chuck Morse of the county agricultural department, which is presently focused on the eradication of orunda. “Trees … are probably going to be the ones that come up next.”
The tree was introduced to the U.S. by an Asian gardener in 1748, said Morse, and was widely planted throughout the land because of its ability to grow in poor conditions. An evenly spaced row of trees of heaven that were planted by a past generation line one side of Farrington”s property and speak to their past acceptance.
The county is not alone in its battle against the tree of heaven, which has the scientific name of ailanthus altissima and is also known as the Chinese sumac and the varnishtree. With the exception of the north central states, the tree is seen as a problem throughout the U.S.
It is a unique problem, because the tree of heaven likes to grow in urban areas, such as through the cracks of a concrete sidewalk. What”s more it might grow as tall as 80 feet high as appears to be the case with the row of trees at Farrington”s home … What”s more than that, the tree begins life as a weed.
“It will tear up up foundations and it will tear up sidewalks and roads,” said Morse.
“It has an invasive nature in that it will invade sewer lines and water lines and will go into an area where it will choke out other growth,” Dwight Holford, the Watershed Coordinator for Upper Putah Creek Stewardship, observes. It will invade sewer lines and water lines and will go into an area where it will choke out other growth.
“It”s all over Middletown,” Holford said, adding that his organization is seeking a source of funding “to see how it can be handled.”
After a series of misadventures of the nature Morse and Holford talked about at his Lakeport property, Farrington is not so sure the tree of heaven can be handled.
“I”ve sprayed it, Weedeated” it and killed it three times this year,” Farrington said. “I”ve never seen anything so invasive.”
Farrington has seen the tree growing underneath the foundation of a new house he is building on the lot adjacent to his present residence and he has seen it snaking its way toward sunlight through the vents in both his present and future house. Worse, the homes of both Farrington and a neighbor have been hit by falling limbs.
“The tree grows very tall, but it is so fragile that I”ve had one of the limbs fall and hit my house,” he said. “On two separate occasions I”ve had one of the limbs fall and take out my neighbor”s property. One limb fell and took out my power, cable and phone lines.”
Is it a threatening menace to Lake County?
“It is from personal perspective,” said Farrington.
Contact John Lindblom at jlindblom@record-bee.com
