Dear Ole Miss family,

In the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern, our campus and community continue to navigate the impacts of this devastating natural disaster. Our focus remains on keeping our people safe, recovery, our return to normal operations and continued daily updates. I am writing to address the topic of recovery related to the beloved trees that grace our campus. 

Although we are heartbroken that numerous trees were significantly damaged, nearly 95% have weathered the storm well, including trees in the iconic Grove and historic Circle. Our seasoned team of experts are doing everything they can to balance safety and preservation, making careful decisions guided by professional assessments. 

Starting today and continuing throughout the month, you will see increased activity surrounding tree pruning and removal operations. Our crews are focusing first on academic buildings, housing areas and main thoroughfares to ensure these high-traffic spaces are safe for our community’s return. 

As this work progresses, I want our university family to understand why it is necessary and the care and thoughtful considerations that go into how these decisions are made. 

Expert Evaluation

The University of Mississippi has two dedicated landscape services team members with over three decades of experience who are International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborists and are qualified in Tree Risk Assessments. They have partnered with two consulting ISA Certified Arborists to conduct an evaluation of storm-related tree damage.

In the days since the storm, this team has examined the trees on campus and made careful recommendations about long-term tree health, as well as the safety of our people, facilities and high-use areas.

I’m pleased to report that our experts have shared that both of our Champion Trees, the Northern Catalpa next to the Gertrude C. Ford Student Union and the Osage Orange near the University Museum, withstood the storm well. This is thanks to the care and mitigation efforts of our landscape services team over the years.

Understanding Tree Resilience

There are more than 130 tree species at Ole Miss, all which require individual assessments based on the species and damage from the winter weather. 

Bald cypress, southern magnolias, black walnuts and hickory trees fared well in the storm and had the least amount of canopy and limb damage. Some of these species are naturally stronger because they’re accustomed to bearing the weight of heavy fruits and nuts. Red oaks, specifically water oaks, and maples suffered the most damage. Unfortunately, red oaks and maples are not biologically inclined to compartmentalize, or heal over wounds, as well as the previously mentioned tree species. 

For this reason, a number of these trees must be removed for the safety of our pedestrians and campus community. Storm damage isn’t always visible to the untrained eye. Sometimes a tree that looks healthy must come down, while one that appears damaged can be saved.

It is helpful to understand the considerations for why trees may be recommended for removal:

In assessing tree risk, our experts considered both the short-term impacts of the storm, as well as their long-term viability. Many of our oaks, especially those in the Circle, were already near the end of their natural life cycles, meaning their structural strength and ability to recover were limited. When combined with storm damage, these conditions leave them unable to recover safely. 

Our Commitment to Replanting

It is an ongoing university practice and commitment that for every tree removed on campus, another is planted, and this event is no exception. We are well-positioned with our current inventory to replant thoughtfully, choosing species that will thrive for generations. 

In a typical year, the Department of Landscape Services plants around 300 new trees on campus. We already have trees ready for planting as this work begins. I know you join me in expressing deep gratitude to our outstanding landscape services team for their expertise, their tireless work to ensure the safety of our campus and their dedication to Ole Miss.

Winter weather events of this magnitude are rare - those in our community who were here in 1994 remember a similar storm and the recovery that followed. Our landscape rebounded, and it will do so again. The trees we plant today will grow and serve our campus for decades to come.

Our trees provide more than just shade and beauty; they are integral to what makes our campus special. From the Grove to the Circle and all over campus, they provide a sense of connection for all who have gathered beneath them. As Distinguished Professor of English and former Mississippi Poet Laureate Beth Ann Fennelly wrote in her recent Garden & Gun essay about Winter Storm Fern, a tree “doesn’t belong to a property. It belongs to posterity, to history, to the neighborhood.”

We will do everything in our power to honor the promise of our alma mater and restore the place “where the trees lift high their branches.”

Sincerely,

Glenn F. Boyce

Chancellor