I dropped a note to Mayor Fuller asking about the trees to replace those removed this past week. He sent along this from John Holley, our City Horticulturist, on the reason from removal and what’s coming.
John said, ”We removed the existing Zelkova trees due to structural problems we have been encountering over the last few years. We have had to remove a significant amount of the canopy and inner branches due to wind damage and mechanical damage experienced during installation of Christmas lights and large trucks entering our downtown streets. Also there have been signs of stress due to drought from the last couple of years. The stress brought on these trees due to drought also makes them susceptible to disease from insects or other outside sources. I believe everyone will be pleased with the new trees once we get them in the ground.”
The mayor added ” we’ll all be pleased with results.”
From the Archives — originally published on the Opelika Daily News on February 9, 2009. View the original page.
