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WINGFIELD SPRINGS, Nev. -- Though you’re unlikely to find a group of Sparks residents more committed to the well-being of trees, the Wingfield Springs tree committee — formed by residents to save dying trees in the upscale neighborhood — isn’t aimed at halting global warming or saving animal habitats.
What they want is a return on the investment they made when they bought into their master planned community several years ago.
“Property values are a lot higher where there are healthy trees. Big trees are very important to people,” said long-time resident Joe Mayer, who was inspired by tree-care classes offered by Sparks Urban Forester Dale Carlon and launched the ad hoc tree committee for the Wingfield Springs Community Association six months ago. “We’re not radicals, we just like trees.”
Unfortunately, the alkaline soil conditions in Wingfield Springs, along with improper tree installation by landscapers, has left hundreds of trees dead or dying within common areas of the development, committee members say.
Carlon admitted landscaper mistakes are common in the Truckee Meadows, but the situation in Wingfield Springs is particularly dire.
“That’s why I wanted to get involved with them,” he said. “I really felt that if something weren’t done soon, there weren’t going to be many trees out there in the future.”
Terry Reynolds, Vice President of External Affairs for Foothills at Wingfield Springs, admits certain species of the 1,500 planted trees at Wingfield are indeed dying off. But he insists the original landscapers were asked to install “the best type of tree for the area.”
“Subsequently we know that many of the trees suggested are not appropriate for the area,” Reynolds said, adding that the high level of salt in the soil is intolerable to many species of trees.
Those species include Blue Spruce, Pin Oak, Norway Maple, and Sequoia, he said. Flowering Apple, Flowering Pear, Austrian Pine, Scarlet Oak, and Mountain Ash are among the trees that have fared well.
Carlon said landscaper mistakes at Wingfield Springs have included planting large trees in small areas, leaving burlap bags tied around the roots and nursery stakes tied to trunks, and stabilizing trees with stakes applied too tightly. Carlon said the development is also planting trees prohibited in the city of Sparks — such as cottonwoods — in neighborhood parks that will be turned over to the city for maintenance.
Other Wingfield residents say they’re also concerned, though they’re not involved with the tree committee.
“We did notice the trees,” said retired resident Ruth Kilpatrick last week, as she pointed out a dying conifer near the Red Hawk resort.
Her husband, Bill, said the tree problem didn’t bother him too much, “(but) it would if it were dying on my street,” he said.
Other residents said the dying trees were just one problem the Wingfield Springs Community Association was slow to address.
“This is the most negligent (homeowner’s association) I’ve ever run across,” said Ed Garret, a semi-retired writer. Garrett said golf course maintenance seemed to be the association’s only concern. “The list of things that they don’t do is just offensively long,” he said. “It’s an arrogance. It’s almost like they don’t give a damn about us.”
Since organizing the tree committee early this year, Mayer and five other committee members have turned in a report with recommendations to the homeowner’s association with the help of Carlon.
They’ve also met with the association’s new landscaper and tagged hundreds of trees throughout the development that need to be replaced.
Wingfield Springs Community Association President Marilyn Brainard said the association is currently developing a tree replacement plan, but said the sheer number of trees needing replacement means the effort will likely take some time. Furthermore, Brainard said, a certain amount of tree die-off should always be expected because of the area’s soil conditions.
“We’ve lost three trees at our (house) and these are trees we take good care of,” she said, adding she’s quite happy with how her property has appreciated despite the tree problem.
“In my opinion property values are going way up with or without tree replacement. I can tell you, I’ll speak for my neighbors, most of us are very happy that we live here.”