Project Links
Emergency removal of five crabapple trees in Legacy Garden and NE green space
Lincoln Home National Historic Site » Emergency removal of five crabapple trees in Legacy Garden and NE green space » Document List
Five crabapple trees- two in the NE green space that have grown together and are considered one tree, and three in Legacy Garden- -have become weak from age, disease, and damage to their trunks from mowers getting too close. The trees were listed in good (1), fair (1) and poor (2) condition in the most recent park tree report (2017). The trees have been dropping limbs for several months, creating a safety issue for staff and local visitors who walk through the area or relax. The trees were all planted around 1976 when Legacy Garden was created by the park staff as a buffer zone and have reached the end of their natural lifespan. The trees will be cut down, trunks ground out, and new trees planted. The new trees will be native to Illinois, have the same general shape as the crabapples, get no more than 30 feet high, and be flowering to continue to maintain the Monarch Butterfly and bee-friendly habitat. Choices for the trees include buckeye, serviceberry, and flowering dogwood. Both areas were most previously parking areas with heavily disturbed ground including gravel, brick, and concrete surfaces.