Each year, our team completes a thorough tree inspection and assessment to determine the health of our trees. This allows us to identify which trees need extra care and which require pruning (see Caring for an Arboretum)—a process needed to help us plan for the future. During this year’s winter assessment, we learned that we:

Lost Eight Trees:

• 2 Swamp White Oaks on Madison Avenue were killed by steam damage and were replaced in kind
• 1 Crabapple was removed on Farragut Monument due to old age
• 1 Hawthorn was removed at Shake Shack due to structural hazards presented by age
• 1 Cherry failed at 23rd Street from heart rot and termite infestation as a result of age
• 1 Crabapple was removed for safety concerns at 25th Street and 5th Avenue due to strength loss analysis (age)
• 1 Cornelian Cherry at the playground sustained significant storm damage requiring removal
• 1 Crabapple at 24th Street and Madison Avenue sustained significant storm damage and required removal

Planted Six Trees:

• 1 Redbud located at 24th Street and Madison Avenue
• 2 Swamp White Oaks at Madison Avenue
• 1 Chinese Ironwood at the 23rd Street garden bed
• 1 Linden on Elm Lawn
• 1 Sweetgum located at the southend of the playground
• Heart shaped leaves on Cercis canadensis ‘Flamethrower’
• This curious squirrel was scouting nesting sites before the trees could be planted!

The Conservancy not only developed a tree succession plan to help us plan for the future but we also want to ensure we continue to provide our community with access to a world class arboretum. To learn more about our tree plan, click here.