Crews plan to finish pruning Double Drive holly trees on Friday.
The major overhaul of the iconic trees began Monday. The university had not undertaken such extensive pruning in more than a decade, said Richard Blair, director of landscape and grounds, and the trees fared better than he’d hoped.
The work can leave plants looking stick-like and bare, Blair said. But the trees still look good.
Pruning gives the plants more sunlight and air penetration, he said, which in turn deters pest infestations and reduces the amount of pesticides required to maintain them. This will ultimately promote internal growth, leaving the trees leafy from the inside out.
The trees should fill out by Move-In Day.
