Tree maintenance at Lafene Health Center begins July 14

Kansas State University arborists have collaborated with experts from the Kansas Forest Service to determine the best strategies for restoring and maintaining the health of the university's tree population. As a result, several trees around Lafene Health Center will be treated, including 14 dying or diseased trees that will be removed and eight trees that will be pruned.

The tree removal and pruning will start on Monday, July 14. Please adhere to the designated closed areas during this process and exercise caution, as large trucks and equipment will be moving through the area.

K-State has received a Community IRA Grant from the Kansas Forest Service to support the tree removal efforts. This grant will be utilized to remove hazardous, dead or dying trees and can also fund the planting and maintenance of new trees.

For each tree removed, K-State will plant two new trees in its place. Once planted, these new trees will be monitored and watered regularly for the next two years to ensure their survival. Care will include tree watering bags and manual watering, and mulch rings will be installed to help protect these young trees by conserving soil moisture, providing temperature regulation, reducing competition from weeds and vegetation, and preventing damage from mowers and string trimmers.

K-State has maintained its Tree Campus USA designation since 2013, reflecting the university's commitment to maintaining a beautiful, tree-filled campus and fostering a healthy environment for the trees. Trees symbolize a long-term investment in our campus, and K-State is dedicated to their health and sustainability.

To learn more about the trees on the Manhattan campus, view the K-State tree maps.