Lexington, Kentucky is home to a remarkable number of large old trees. Many, like the one in my back yard (pictured), are planted. My white oak is over 200 years old, but was probably planted in the front yard of an old farm.  There are also many old-growth or presettlement trees.  These trees, including bur oak, chinkapin oak, Shumard oak and blue ash, are open-grown trees that were left in place when the Bluegrass was first settled and farmed.  The trees provided shade for horses and other livestock. Today, there are probably a few hundred of these old trees left, but many are in decline.  Decline, due to soil compaction and root damage, can take many decades.  But the developer’s bulldozer is much faster, and many of these trees have been felled as the suburbs expanded.

There are now few opportunities for these trees to reproduce, and it is rare to see young bur oak or blue ash in the Inner Bluegrass.  Around the edges of the Bluegrass, along the bluffs of the Kentucky River or in the more dissected hills of the Outer Bluegrass, young trees of these species are more common.

Andy Mead has an excellent article in the Lexington Herald-Leader about attempts by Lexington to provide some protection for these Heritage Trees. A number of cities have regulations to protect large old trees. Now, the Lexington Tree Board, an advisory panel, is looking for ways to protect these valuable old trees.  While many agree that protection is needed, debate centers around whether to create a voluntary registration program or a mandatory protection rule.  The city currently requires plans submitted by developers to identify significant trees, but there is nothing to prevent developers from clearing trees before submitting a plan. 

There is little information on how many large, old trees are still growing in the Bluegrass.  Mary Wharton, a renowned botanist, found 199 trees in the late 1970’s, according to Andy’ article.  I suspect that that is a significant underestimate.  There have been no systematic surveys of old trees since then. 

I am quoted in the article as defending voluntary protection plans but not mandatory plans.  But I do think that an inventory of existing trees is needed, and that inventory could be used to persuade homeowners, perhaps with tax incentives, to preserve their trees. In the long run, it is equally important to create refuges for reproduction of these trees. 

Sustainability in urban areas should include the long-term vigor and viability of natural communities.  Part of that long-term view would include management plans for large old trees.  This is especially true for the Bluegrass because many of our indigenous trees species are rare elsewhere, or have very restricted ranges.

Trees in this article:

• bur oak, Quercus macrocarpa
• chinkapin oak, Quercus muehlenbergii
• Shumard oak, Quercus shumardii
• white oak, Quercus alba
• blue ash, Fraxinus quadrangulata

Lexington seeks to protect its oldest trees – Latest News – Kentucky.com