Preserving Leafy Giants

Large trees generally require considerable care and attention.

But the leafy giants at Mount Auburn Cemetery – a 175-acre memorial in Watertown and Cambridge, Mass. – demand especially unique treatment. Founded in 1831 as America’s first landscaped cemetery, Mount Auburn carries the label of National Historic Landmark. This distinguished title means the property must be carefully maintained, making the property’s collection of foliage – including more than 5,500 trees – of special interest.

And, thus, the work of arborists and landscape contractors on the Mount Auburn site can be considered a model for others doing similar work in the green industry, explained Joseph Elkinton, Ph.D., entomologist, University of Amherst, Mass., during an educational session at New England Grows in Boston, Mass., on Feb. 5.

“One time every five years, we look thoroughly at every tree at Mount Auburn,” he outlined. Specifically, professionals examine each tree’s roots, trunk, scaffold branches, foliage and small branches, exposure and overall structure. Internal testing for stress and decay also may be part of the check-up procedure, he noted.

Often, these tree exams spell bad news for some of Mount Auburn’s oldest green giants. Through the testing, some trees are designated too decayed or unhealthy to continue life in the cemetery. Others are deemed hazards to surrounding property, given the possibilities of root failure, dropping limbs and structural tipping.

Once a tree is labeled as a hazard, plans are made for its removal, he said. Although plucking a seemingly hearty tree from the cemetery may seem premature, Elkinton insisted that only those specimens struggling with serious ailments or posing genuine threats to the site are taken out.

“There are some things that we just can’t prevent,” he said. “We take great efforts to monitor and evaluate the status of our older trees, but sometimes we just can’t save them.”

When professionals decide to remove a tree from the cemetery, they plant a new one in its place, Elkinton explained. This way, Mount Auburn continues to grow, mingling the aged foliage with younger roots. “All we can really hope to do is preserve the landscape by planting new ones to replace those we must cut down,” he shared.

However, preventative practices can make an impact on the longevity of large trees, Elkinton said, urging contractors to develop precise plans for the mature trees they service. “We emphasize cultural practices at Mount Auburn,” he noted. “There’s not a magical potion to make problems go away. It comes back to the basics of watering and mulching our old trees.”

Specific watering and mulching schedules vary based on species, size and health concerns, but Elkinton encouraged professionals to do their homework – to prepare well for tree maintenance so mature, leafy giants will enjoy longer, healthier lives.

The author is assistant editor-Internet of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at aanderson@lawnandlandscape.com.