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Tree Inventory: <br /> The entire population of trees(44)surveyed on this portion of the Allee were Junipers or Eastern Red <br /> Cedars(Juniperus virginiana). Their girth ranged from 8 inches to 11 inches diameter at breast height(4.5 <br /> feet) or DBH. Their heights ranged from 22 feet to 30 feet. The spacing of the trees was approximately 12 <br /> to 14 feet on center.Historic photographs from the cemetery's photo collection indicate that these trees <br /> were planted in the late 1920's or early 1930's. This indicates that the trees range in age from 70 to 75 <br /> years. <br /> Background of Eastern Red Cedars: <br /> Eastern Red Cedar are a US native, and naturally occur in the midwest. Historically, it was limited to <br /> rocky outcrops and cliff tops on the edge of oak savannas, protected from fires.In those secluded places it <br /> could reach 300 years of age. It is has no resistance to fire because of the high essential oil content of its <br /> leaves and bark. With fire suppression in the Midwest these trees have spread dramatically across <br /> abandoned lands,quarries,etc.. <br /> Eastern Red Cedar in-Urban Plantings &Allees: <br /> Although this planting occurs in a cemetery,these Eastern Red Cedars are not growing in park like <br /> conditions.These Eastern Red Cedars,to all extents and purposes, occur on an urban street with water <br /> saturated and compacted soils, salt spray,with severe susceptibility to diseases as a single species stand. <br /> The straight species of Eastern Red Cedar(not a horticultural cultivar(CV) or hybrid) is rarely used in <br /> horticulture, because of its susceptibility to a large number of leaf blights, viruses and rusts that this <br /> species suffers from. Large groupings of Eastern Red Cedar, like this cemetery planting,with hundreds of <br /> individuals of the same species and age class,rarely occurs anymore.Although visually striking this is a <br /> vulnerable planting.As with all monotypic(single species)planting in cultural settings,disease is more <br /> prevalent and more severe than in mixed species plantings. <br /> Condition of Inventoried Trees: <br /> In general terms,the 44 tree population surveyed was unhealthy,with signs of approaching mortality <br /> evident in many individuals. Many of the 44 trees have broken or missing limbs. On close inspection 10 <br /> individuals have significant twig blight with cedar apple rust evident on a number of individuals. <br /> Additionally, 5 trees have already been removed from this portion of the Allee. Michael Lyons said that <br /> the trees had been removed due to their poor condition. <br /> The site's soils adjacent the trees was severely compacted, likely, because of their location on this <br /> cemetery entry drive that invites frequent parking on their root zones.Eastern Red Cedars are sensitive to <br /> compaction, and are subject to frequent and severe compaction here. Eastern Red Cedars are also <br /> sensitive to wet soils,which occurs here because of direct runoff from the adjacent asphalt road. The <br /> amount of turf surrounding the trees has mitigated some impacts to the root zone;however all of the trees <br /> in the Allee have suffered massive disturbance from heavy machinery excavating graves and markers. <br /> (See Images#1,2, 3). <br /> Most of the trees have poor scaffold branch attachments with many broken limbs. These trees are <br /> susceptible to breakage during ice and snow storms, and are modest hazard trees due to the presence of <br /> targets(passing and parked cars). Additionally,the trees have been improperly pruned with flush cuts, <br /> which causes significant internal structural weaknesses within the trunk. This factor raises the likelihood <br /> of these trees being hazard trees. (See Images#2, 3, 4). <br />