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Green advisory committee recommends test pruning of junipers, phased approach to plant replacements
Summary
Montgomery's municipal green initiative advisory committee recommended test pruning of Chinese junipers at the municipal building and removal of dead/dying boxwoods with temporary plantings, with a review set for July 16. The committee agreed not to remove large swaths of nonnative shrubs at once without a plan and funding for native replacements.
The municipal center'green initiative advisory committee reported landscaping recommendations on June 6, urging a measured approach to nonnative shrubs and plantings at the municipal building and plaza.
Staff said the advisory group recommended a test pruning of Chinese junipers on the west side of the building and asked parks staff to evaluate results before pursuing larger removals. The group suggested removing dead and dying boxwoods but leaving healthy plants until a funded replacement plan is available; temporary plantings such as black-eyed Susans were proposed to fill gaps.
"The recommendation of the group was...comfortable with the parks department staff first completing a test pruning of the junipers west side of the building," a staff member reported, and the advisory committee scheduled a follow-up meeting for July 16 to reassess. Committee members repeatedly emphasized a phased plan to avoid leaving bare ground and to protect existing native-plant pockets.
The committee will reconvene after the test pruning to decide whether to remove additional nonnative shrubs and to discuss funding for replacement native plantings.
