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Commission flags high mortality of last fall’s plantings behind Stimpson Street fire station
Summary
Commissioners reported that 29 trees planted last fall by the Shade Tree Commission near the outdoor gym behind the Stimpson Street fire station showed high mortality (12 dead, two in poor condition). They attributed causes to poor planting stock, girdling roots and water pooling and discussed replacements from the tree bank.
The Athens Shade Tree Commission on May 20 addressed a high failure rate among trees planted last fall behind the Stimpson Street fire department.
The chair told commissioners that of about 29 trees planted around the outdoor gym, 12 have died and two others are in rough shape. “12 are dead, 2 are in pretty rough shape,” the chair said, and described common symptoms including fruiting bodies consistent with planting-stock disease and circling/girdling roots.
Commissioner 3 and others discussed possible causes including species vulnerability in waterlogged spots, planting technique and the unusually cold late-winter weather that stressed many trees. Commissioner 2 said the winter cold had caused a second leaf flush for some species locally and could have added stress to newly planted stock.
The chair said the commission is in contact with Menards about sourcing replacement trees and noted there are “200 and something trees in the tree bank” that could be used to replace failed specimens in fall. The commission agreed to attempt replacements in the fall and to monitor whether failures repeat in the same spots before changing species selection broadly.
Action items identified were photographing the site, compiling a list of failed specimens to circulate to commissioners, and pursuing replacement stock from the tree bank and vendor sources prior to fall planting.
