Grounds Maintains University's Beauty and Safety with Tree Replacement Plan

Contact: Susan Calhoun, (740) 593-4426

Editors: A picture of a double weeping cherry tree planted on College Green can be found at: www.ohiou.edu/news/pix/NEWTREE.JPG

ATHENS, Ohio (May 7, 2001) -- In an effort to keep Ohio University one of the greenest and most attractive campuses in the nation, the Department of Grounds is in the midst of an extensive tree replacement initiative. The initiative involves replacing dying, damaged and dangerous trees with new, more diverse trees.

During the past three years, more than 400 new trees have been planted on campus. Grounds planted 110 trees last year and has placed another 40 this year. There are plans to plant 27 trees of assorted varieties in the Ridges, as well as four sweet gum trees along Riverside Drive. Emeriti Park, Bob Wren Baseball Stadium, Shafer Street Athletics Mall, Grover Center, the Child Development Center and Peden Stadium are other campus sites that recently received new tree plantings.

The tree replacement initiative was recently implemented to improve the recreational area in front of Nelson Commons on South Green. Grounds removed dying and damaged sugar and silver maples from the site and replaced them with crimson king Norway maples and majesty sugar maples. The end result was more trees were planted than removed, the amount of recreational space was preserved and the area was made safer and more aesthetically pleasing.

Landscape Coordinator for Grounds Services Susan Calhoun said her office often fields questions from people asking why a particular tree was removed.

"We never cut down a tree without good reason," Calhoun said. "We have to do what is best for the university."

"Safety is always the most important factor when we're deciding the fate of a tree," Director of Grounds Services Mark Whitney said. "We will always try to save tree before cutting it down. It's a heart-wrenching decision every time we decide to remove one, but we will never harbor a hazard."

The tree replacement initiative also will increase the diversity of trees on campus. David elms have been chosen to replace American elms because they are less susceptible to Dutch elm disease. Prairiefire crabapples were planted because of their gorgeous pink bloom and red bark and London planetrees will replace sycamores, because of their greater durability.

Whitney also hopes to plant several dawn redwoods around campus, a tree believed to be extinct in the 1930s.

"We plant trees for posterity," Whitney said. "Most of us won't be around when these new trees reach full maturity, but we want future generations to enjoy them."