Caring for the Canopy

In our last tree story, we compared a tree inventory to a wellness checkup. If the inventory was the checkup, consider this the follow up appointment.

After taking a closer look at the trees that help shape Jackson State University’s campus, the university is moving from simply understanding its tree canopy to making sure those trees receive the care they need to remain healthy and safe for years to come.

That next step recently brought certified arborist and tree risk assessor David Fulgham back to JSU for a Level 2 Tree Risk Assessment of 22 trees in the Main Quad near H.T. Sampson Library. The trees, 20 live oaks and two water oaks, were originally identified during the university’s 2026 tree inventory because of their location in one of the most heavily used areas of campus.

And if the words “Level 2 Tree Risk Assessment” sound a little intimidating, the idea behind it is pretty simple. The first inventory helped JSU understand what trees it has. This assessment took a closer look at how some of those trees are doing.

Fulgham examined each tree from the ground, measured its size and canopy, evaluated its overall condition and used percussion sounding, a technique that involves tapping different areas of the trunk with a mallet and listening for changes in sound that may indicate internal concerns.

The good news? All 22 trees showed good vigor and approximately 80 percent leaf density. Most were also rated at low risk for both branch and whole tree failure.

But just like a doctor’s visit can uncover something that needs a little more attention, the assessment identified a few trees that need additional care.

Two water oaks, identified as Trees 8 and 14, were recommended for removal. Tree 8 has widespread structural issues throughout its branches that cannot practically be corrected through pruning. Tree 14 produced hollow sounds throughout its trunk and has cavities in limbs extending over two sidewalks. Both received moderate risk ratings in the assessment.

For the other trees, however, the prescription is much different.

Instead of removal, the focus is preservation.

Several of the live oaks can remain in place with specialized care such as cabling and reduction pruning. Trees 11, 12 and 13 need additional support because of their branch structure, while Tree 20 has a weak limb extending over a bench that can be addressed through cabling and pruning. Jackson State University Tree R…

Fulgham has also recommended a tree surgeon who specializes in maintaining healthy trees rather than simply cutting them down. JSU plans to explore the cost of completing the recommended work, with the goal of performing the removals and other tree maintenance while students are away for Christmas break.

That distinction matters because these trees are more than landscaping.

They shade sidewalks. They cover benches. They appear in graduation photos. They create gathering spaces. And on those Mississippi afternoons when the sun seems determined to find you no matter where you stand, they’re the reason there is a cooler place to walk.

The goal isn’t simply to keep every tree standing. It’s to understand when a tree needs help, when it can be preserved and, sometimes, when removing one is necessary to protect the people and trees around it.

The assessment recommends reevaluating the retained trees after pruning and cabling, following major storms and again within 12 to 18 months. It also recommends replacing the two water oaks with species better suited for a heavily used area like the Main Quad.

For JSU, the tree inventory was never meant to be the end of the process.

It was the beginning of learning how to better care for some of the campus’s oldest residents.