Linden removal on Arts & Science Mall

There is a Chinese proverb that says, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”

 

Time is always ripe to plant a tree. And sometimes the same can be said for tree removal. Such was the case with linden and locust trees growing on Mizzou’s Arts and Science Mall.

 

Lindens are stately, attractive trees with large, asymmetrical, heart-shaped leaves. This pretty foliage is delightfully delectable to beetles and the highly destructive insects have regularly skeletonized leaves of the lindens on the mall, top down. Then a winter ice storm caused further damage to the weakened trees. The locust trees have never hit their stride; growing conditions on the mall didn’t lend themselves to the trees’ success.

 

Gallant and costly efforts by MU’s Landscape Services/Mizzou Botanic Garden crews to save the trees were unsuccessful and the decision was made to remove and replace them. The lindens and locusts were safely removed during Mizzou’s Spring Break when foot traffic in the area was diminished.

 

Planting large numbers of trees of the same species in each area creates a monoculture. If one fails because of natural causes, chances are that others of the same species also will fall into decline. A variety of tree species this landscape is a better alternative. That way, If any of the new trees turns out to be adversely affected by forces of nature, trees of the varying species will continue to thrive.

 

Seven different species were chosen to replace the lindens and locusts. They include, ‘Shawnee Brave’ bald cypress, ‘Green Gables’ black gum, yellowwood, American holly, ‘Prairie Gold’ aspen, ‘Ivory silk’ tree lilac and Katsura trees.

 

Nothing lives forever. Large, beautiful trees at the end of their life expectancies are destined to decline. Such is the case with the pin oaks on the Francis Quadrangle. Several of the original trees have been removed and the others will be removed in the next few years. The trees will be replaced with majestic white oaks, which are more suited to growing conditions on the Quad and Missouri in general. They also have life expectancies of up 200 or more years.

 

An effort spearheaded by Mizzou Botanic Garden to replace the trees was launched in 2019. Fully 70 saplings of five white oak species were donated to Mizzou by Missouri’s Forrest Keeling Nursery and planted at MU’s South Farm. Known as Legacy Oaks of the Francis Quadrangle, the trees await their future star status in the company of Mizzou’s iconic columns on Francis Quadrangle.

 

Now is the best time to plant them.