HISTORIC elm trees in Glenlyon's main street cannot be cut down for at least a month following a meeting on Monday night.

Glenlyon residents vented frustration after two historic elm tress were cut down recently without thorough community consultation.

Hepburn Shire Council infrastructure and development director Rod Conway and Glenlyon Progress Association and preservation group Friends of the Trees met at Glenlyon Hall.

Council halted the removal of two further trees for a month to enable better communication with nearby residents.

Other works planned, including pruning and weight reduction, will continue before a public meeting on July 10.

The trees already gone will be replaced with mature oak trees.

Friends of the Trees members said nobody in Glenlyon was told the trees would be cut down.

Spokesperson Jenny Corr said the tree lopping caught locals by surprise.

"We are not against anyone performing work on the trees, but we think the trees should be pruned instead of completely cut down," she said.

The trees were planted in 1898.

Mr Conway said council received numerous requests to carry out professional care and management of the avenue's trees, which had not been maintained over many years.

"The trees are very old and a few of them were assessed to be in such a poor state that they could not be restored to a healthy state," he said.

Mr Conway said in preparing the report on the trees, council's consultant arborist discussed with numerous residents the works and the potential for some tree removals.

"A long-term management plan, as requested, has now been prepared and needs to be conveyed to the community."