Caring for Kingspoint Trees

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Our Kingspoint neighborhood was totally forested when the Kingspoint Corporation began selling lots in 1964.  In fact, the land was previously owned by The Brooks Lumber Company in the early 20th Century, before being donated to the Williamsburg Community Hospital.  The Hospital sold the land to the Kingspoint Corporation in 1962.  As neighbors have built homes, we have continued to appreciate and love our trees, the wildlife they support and the shade they offer.

Hardwood trees such as  beech, maple, sweet gum, several different species of oaks, dogwood, redbud, sycamore, hickory, pawpaw and poplar all are native to our area along with pine trees, cedars, and other conifer trees.  They sprout as seedlings on our property and will live for many years.  There are other trees, like southern Magnolia, that have naturalized in our neighborhood but are not native to Coastal Virginia.  Still other trees and large shrubs may have been planted by previous homeowners.   We currently enjoy a wide variety of trees and shrubs growing in our community.

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The marshes and tidal areas that surround our community on three sides are federally protected lands under the Chesapeake Bay Acts.  Areas that drain into local waterways, such as the creeks that crisscross our neighborhood and the two lakes, also are protected areas, known as “RPAs,” or Resource Protection Areas.  Residents may not remove vegetation in these areas, and this includes cutting trees or removing fallen trees.

Any neighbor who has RPA land on their property may consult with James City County’s Stormwater and Resource Protection Division staff if they have questions about work they want to do in these protected areas.

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Many species of native oak, like this one growing on Jamestown Island, can be found throughout Kingspoint.  Native oak trees have grown in our area for many thousands of years.

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Most Kingspoint residents love the beauty and shade provided by our neighborhood trees.   We are drawn to this community because of the quiet beauty of living in the woods.  We enjoy the many songbirds and other wildlife who share our wooded community.

However, we are keenly aware of the dangers posed by large trees during storms, when large limbs fall, or trees fall over in high wind or winter ice storms.  In fact, we have sustained a great deal of damage to homes and cars during hurricanes and ice storms over the years.

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Pine and dogwood trees grow throughout Kingspoint. These are on the bank of College Creek behind a home on Acacia Ct.

The  KPNA Redbud Initiative

How to Plant Your Seedling Redbud Tree

Neighbors are encouraged to have a professional arborist inspect their trees from time to time and assess any risks specific trees may pose.  ISA certified arborists are trained to recognize signs of disease, insect infestation, structural weakness and other factors which may weaken a tree.  They can advise a homeowner on whether any care is needed for the long-term health of their trees.  A good arborist is more interested in caring for and saving a tree than in simply cutting it down.  They can perform professional pruning to shape and thin a tree, if needed, to help it survive future storms.

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Crape myrtle trees, growing throughout Kingspoint, are enjoyed for their bright summer flowers.  The first crape myrtles were imported from Asia in the 19th Century. Many sizes and colors are available today.

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Trees provide many benefits:

  1. Trees increase a property’s value
  2. Trees’ shade can lower energy bills and they provide protection from winter winds
  3. Trees hold sloping ground against erosion
  4. Trees collect and use run-off storm water
  5. Trees filter carbon dioxide and other pollutants out of the air
  6. Trees provide fresh oxygen
  7. Trees support many birds, butterflies, and other wildlife
  8. Trees’ leaves enrich the soil
  9. Trees offer privacy and buffer sound
  10. Trees are beautiful in all seasons of the year

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Magnolia grandiflora blooms in early summer and remains evergreen year round.

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Things to Consider Before Hiring an Arborist:

  1. Anyone who works with trees can call themselves an arborist.   However, ISA Certified Arborists have successfully completed a course of study and passed certification testing to earn their credentials from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).  They follow the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Best Management Practices, which are voluntary industry guidelines for optimal tree care practices by arborists.
  2. When interviewing an arborist, ask questions about whether they are licensed, bonded and insured; what equipment they will use for your job; how they will dispose of trimmings, logs and stumps; and how they will climb your tree. Climbing with spikes does long-term damage to a tree’s bark, allowing moisture and insects to attack the wood, and never completely heals.
  3. Ask for a written contract including a description of the work to be completed, an estimate of all costs, and projected beginning and completion dates, before granting your contract.
  4. Find out where an arborist is based and ask about other jobs completed in our area. Ask about credentials, certifications, and whether they follow the ANSI standards or Best Management Practices.
  5. As with other major projects, it pays to speak with several contractors and get multiple quotes before awarding your job.

Hiring An Arborist To Care For Your Landscape Trees– VA Tech publication

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Oak and maple trees along the Colonial Parkway shine with autumn colors.

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Arborists in Our Area 

(This is a list for informational purposes and your convenience, only.  We do not recommend any individual or company.  Find additional arborists at http://www.treesaregood.org.)

Experienced ISA Certified arborists :

Bartlett Tree Experts  www.bartlett.com (Andrew Koenig and other ISA Certified Arborists) (757) 234-0403

Gardener Tree Care (Charles Gardner, ISA Certified Arborist for Colonial Williamsburg) cgardner@cwf.com 894-409-2493 (in Gloucester)

Johnny Timbers Tree Service  www.johnnytimbers.com (757) 784-3026 (ISA Certified Arborist)

Paramount Lawn and Tree Services, LLC (Christopher Phelps, ISA Certified Arborist) 757.358.9376

R.A. Coleman Landscaping and Tree Service www.racolemaninc.com

(Jonathan Hypes, ISA Certified Arborist) 757-784-8352

Experienced arborists who are not ISA Certified:

Arbol Tree -Service  www.treeservicewilliamsburg.com (757) 890-9831

A Cut Above Tree Service (Rodger Willett, Gloucester) (nbkwillett@verizon.net) (757) 897-5877

Top Notch Tree Service www.topnotchtree.org (757) 220-5781

Zdenko ‘Danny’ Bandula (Arborist for Busch Gardens) zbanduka@cox.net 757-897-2737

Compiled by:

Elizabeth McCoy 2020, Master Gardener and Tree Steward

James City County/ Williamsburg

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How to Learn More About Local Trees

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