Commission flags quality problems with Menards-supplied trees, explores local nursery sourcing
Summary
Commissioners reported that a large share of recently delivered tree-bank stock from Menards showed root and quality issues, discussed developer tree-fee credits (cited ~$230 per tree) and expressed interest in shifting sourcing toward local nurseries and verifying Blackburn Landing contributions.
Members of the Athens Shade Tree Commission raised concerns that a large portion of the tree-stock Menards provided to the city’s tree bank arrived in poor condition and may not meet planting standards.
One commissioner summarized the assessment: “I would say, you know, 75% of them had pretty visible root issues,” and described circling roots on many trees received for last year’s plantings along the bike path. Commissioners said volunteers had to water and care for some deliveries on weekends. They discussed whether the tree-bank money owed by recent development (Blackburn Landing) had been received or applied and referenced a per-tree rate they had used in prior conversations, about $230 per tree.
The group debated sourcing and logistics: some commissioners favored shifting purchases to local nurseries and farm-market sellers to keep funds and stock local, while acknowledging the city currently lacks its own municipal nursery. Commissioners also said Menards had offered trees in lieu of paying into the tree bank and that communications around deliveries had been inconsistent. The commission asked staff to verify developer contributions and to seek better local sourcing and quality-control practices for future plantings.
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