Mount Pleasant to replace, plant 20 new trees
Mount Pleasant will plant 20 new trees beginning in May to replace dead and diseased trees around the city. Staff expect the planting and tree-well adjustments to be completed within two weeks.
The 20 new trees included Serviceberry, American Hop Hornbeam, Spring Grove Dogwood, European Hornbeam, Prunus x Incamp “Okame.” Trees in the existing canopy are primarily Ash trees, but have been deteriorated over the last 15 years by the virulent Emerald Ash Borer beetles.
“Over the last few years the Emerald Ash Borer has been attacking all the ash trees in downtown so we’ve been steadily replacing them as they reach the point of deterioration.” said Downtown Development Director Michelle Sponseller. “Because we have been replacing trees over the last few years and know the removal of trees can be a sensitive issue for some community members, we’re trying to be thoughtful on those we remove and to do so only when the tree has reached the end of its lifespan.”
Aside from withstanding insect attacks, the new trees are expected to thrive better than Ash trees as well.
To learn more about the project, contact Sponseller at 989-779-5348 or msponseller@mt-pleasant.org.
