A historic Maclura tree overhangs U.S. 58 and Main Street in downtown Kewanee, Illinois, US. It had leaned over the street for decades. Following heavy rains in 2009, it started to lean more. Concerned about safety, city staff considered removing the tree. However, a group of citizens petitioned to retain the historic tree.
The citizens contacted Historic Tree Care to help preserve the tree. We specified reduction pruning, as seen in the image to the right with two goals: improve public safety and preserve the tree. The specified pruning locations are illustrated in the image to the right.
In February of 2010, city staff expertly made the specified cuts, which greatly mitigated the risk of failure. The city agreed with a follow-up plan to clean out dead wood and invigorate the root system.
The plan was set into motion just a few months later when we climbed the tree, removed dead wood and pruned it to further improve the structure. With most of the lean-causing load removed, the city considered the tree’s risk to be acceptable.
Volunteers periodically inspect the tree and inform us of its condition. With its renewed vitality and compact form, this tree’s stability and future are greatly enhanced. In fact, the Maclura stood up to a 70 mile-an-hour windstorm in 2012.
The Kewanee Maclura tree after pruning in 2010.
