Winter Damage Kills 50 Trees at Reiman Gardens
WINTER DAMAGE KILLS 50 TREES AT REIMAN GARDENS
After the much needed and well received early March thaw, the Horticulture Staff was eager to get outside to their beloved gardens. What they found was devastating. Over the long winter, the rabbit population has desecrated many woody plants. Not only is the loss great, but more labor will be needed for the healthy establishment of new trees.
There are 15 conifers and 35 trees that will need to be cut down and replaced, and there will be increased demands on staff and volunteers to deliver the high maintenance needed for the initial, healthy growth of new trees. The trees have no chance of survival; a tree trunk that is severely damaged will result in a girdled trunk, compromising its vascular system. In that condition, the tree will not live, no matter how much care is given. To compound the loss, the value of our well established trees and conifers is significantly higher than the replacement price.
A fund to raise $15,000 has been created to begin replacing our beautiful trees. Gifts of all sizes are accepted, and the replacement cost for one tree is $300.
Help us restore out beautiful trees with your gift. We know everyone is very stretched right now, but remember the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. Join us while we make lemonade from this huge lemon, with this wonderful opportunity to enhance our collection by incorporating new plant introductions while focusing on our mission of sustainability.
Every bit will help. You can email Sarah Rummery at srummery@iastate.edu for more information or call 515-294-2710. You can also mail a check to Reiman Gardens - 1407 University Blvd. Ames, IA 50011.
Note: Each November, staff and many volunteers spend hundreds of hours rabbit-proofing trees, shrubs and conifers using several methods including wrapping trees and creating wire fence barriers around susceptible shrubs, conforming to all of the suggested guidelines on height and materials, such as protecting trunks with 36" wraps. Tree protection strategies are being reevaluated. Considerations include 4' wire fencing for shrubs and conifers and taller wrapping measures to help protect our trees.
|
