Preserving historic trees amid disease, climate shifts — and saying goodbye to a treasured America elm

The American elm is among the species under significant threat, and the historic trees on Brown's campus have not been immune. After two years of vigorous yet ultimately unsuccessful intervention to save a prized elm near University Hall on the College Green, the tree was removed on Saturday, May 4.

"Tree removal is a last resort," Armas said. "But sometimes it can be a losing battle in the face of climate change and disease."

To shepherd trees through unprecedented conditions - including the hottest year on record in 2023, which included record-breaking high temperature days in Rhode Island - campus tree care and resilience continues to demand heightened attention, according to Nicholas Mol, superintendent of grounds at Brown.

"We try to stay at the cutting edge of tree care, and we're planting hybrid trees that are designed to be more disease resistant and more climate resilient than the older varieties," said Mol, who noted that Brown's entire 26-person grounds crew plays a role in tree care on and around campus.

The team uses a pesticide and fungicide application treatment for trees that are impacted by pests and disease, and a pesticide injection program has been conducted on all University elm trees, which are most at risk.

"We are aggressively treating all of our American elms on campus to stave off disease and to slow disease progression for trees that are already infected with Dutch elm disease and other pathogens," Mol said.

In addition to caring for existing trees, University crews continuously plant new ones with an eye toward cultivating pest-resistant American beech, American elm and Eastern hemlock trees, Mol said. And whenever a tree needs to be removed, another one is planted.

"We planted 15 new trees on campus last fall, and we're trying to be proactive and stay on the front lines of the effort to preserve and grow the campus tree population," Armas said.

Brown crews also partner with the City of Providence and local neighbors to care for trees adjacent to campus.

"We prune the city trees, tend to the cobblestones around the base of trees, and we work with our neighbors to plant more trees and care for ones that are damaged," Armas said. "Tree preservation and tree care are a major focus of our efforts."

Farewell to a treasured American elm

Despite extensive efforts to save the ailing American elm near the northeast entrance of University Hall - including fertilization, micro-nutrient injections, increased watering, deep aeration to alleviate pressure on the roots and tests for disease - the tree likely succumbed to age and fluctuating temperatures, said Armas, who estimated that the tree is at least 80 years old.

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