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Board discusses fall grant plantings, tree survivability and Emerald Ash Borer outreach; trail and meadow updates given
Summary
The Evansville City Tree Advisory Board discussed fall plantings tied to a grant, survival problems with balled-and-burlap trees, protection strategies for young trees, an Emerald Ash Borer outreach plan including a twilight tour and coordinated vendor press event, and updates on trail and meadow work.
At its June 5 meeting the Evansville City Tree Advisory Board reviewed plans for fall planting under a locally held grant, debated tree-specimen survivability, and received updates on Emerald Ash Borer outreach and several trail and meadow projects.
Sean said the grant requires planting activity before the grant period ends "next spring," and the board is coordinating fall plantings with Westman Woods, neighborhood groups including Jacobsville, and Parks staff. "We're trying to make some plans for fall plantings," Sean said, and added that whatever work is not finished this fall will be completed in spring before the grant period ends.
Members spent significant time on survivability of different nursery stock. Several members said many recent balled-and-burlap (balled-and-burlap) and container trees have struggled after warranty periods, while smaller "tube" trees have shown better immediate survivability but are more vulnerable to mower damage, vandalism and wind. One board member outlined protective measures being tested: "create a staking system and a cage system where we physically protect these trees, for a certain number of years," to improve survival until trees are large enough to remove protections.
Board members noted warranty processes: a two-year warranty was mentioned for some plantings and staff said they will inventory troubled trees and coordinate warranty claims with contractors. "That's why we had the 2 year warranty," one member said; staff agreed to document and pursue warranted replacements as needed.
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was a recurring subject. Staff and members said they are organizing a twilight tour for October to raise awareness and are meeting with volunteers and vendor TruGreen about treatment and a potential coordinated press event that would be handled with the mayor's office if it becomes an official press event. "It's hard to convince people that a tree needs help before it looks like it needs help," Sean said, urging early treatment before infestation is obvious.
The board also received project updates: the Walnut Street plantings were tied into the Next Level Trail work; the board said phase 2 of the trail was recently contracted to Rivertown Construction and will run from Walnut Street south to Lincoln, through the park and across a pedestrian overpass, connecting to construction along the Loop Road in Westman. Members discussed meadow/wildflower conversions on publicly managed parcels and cautioned that prairie/meadow plantings require multi-year management to control invasives and meet neighborhood expectations.
Why it matters: choices about planting stock, protection, and warranty response affect canopy survival and long-term maintenance costs. EAB outreach and treatment timing affects the viability of ash trees across corridors where ash is common.
The board also noted outreach items including a tree-printers licensing seminar schedule for May 8, Aug. 7 and Nov. 6 at the C. K. Newsome Center, and local volunteer invasive-removal efforts at North Park.
