Davey Tree Flipbooks

9 January/February 2024 | THE DAVEY BULLETIN The cities of Sterling Heights and Warren, Michigan, formed a partnership with Macomb County, dubbed "Innovative Mound," to widen a stretch of Mound Road between I-696 and M-59 from three to four lanes to modernize while improving the conditions and safety in the corridor for drivers and pedestrians. Commercial Landscape Services (CLS), Davey Nursery, and Davey Resource Group (DRG) collaborated to install trees, shrubs, perennials, and grasses in the median of the north half of the nine-mile road rebuild in late 2023. The Davey teams are scheduled to complete landscape installation of the median for the south section of the road rebuild this spring. DRG Environmental Consulting services (EC)'s Cheryl Daniels, principal consultant, and Lee Mueller, project developer, along with Davey Business Development Team's Josh Leo, business developer, were amongst several additional employees who worked together to develop the contract with Macomb County. Daniels managed the project and worked with the county and their partners to choose appropriate tree and plant species as well as their placement at the site. A team of DRG EC employees ordered 3,452 shrubs, 4,316 perennials, and 5,141 grasses, which were planted by 10 Detroit North Maintenance territory employees and four Detroit Southwest Maintenance territory employees. Nine Davey Nursery employees ordered, delivered, and planted 426 trees. LANDSCAPING INSTALL TRANSFORMS 'INNOVATIVE MOUND' Gerritt Moeke, associate consultant, was the site manager for all Davey crews. An additional 11 DRG EC employees assisted with the selection of appropriate species for the corridor, as well as fieldwork, such as soil sampling, herbicide applications, and site restoration, including installation of native seed mixes in 6.7 acres of stormwater basins. The Detroit North Maintenance territory will maintain the landscaping. "We'll be watering, trimming back perennials first thing in the spring, string trimming, and re-mulching and re-edging the beds as needed over the next two years. DRG will provide herbicide spot treatments," said Jim Gabbard, branch manager, Detroit North Maintenance territory. Leo said the area is a mix of industrial and commercial properties. "The rebuild helps soften the edges and is welcoming to the community," he added. Above: The landscaping on the north section of the Innovative Mound project's road reconstruction initiative in Macomb County, Michigan, has been completed by multiple Davey service lines. "The intent of the landscaping is to provide surface that allows for drainage to reduce the heat island effect, while being low maintenance. New crosswalks and landscaping are tied into making this stretch of road safer and aesthetically pleasing," Daniels said. Left: Misael Esquivel, landscape technician, Detroit North Maintenance territory, is using an auger to help dig holes efficiently. This method speeds up the planting process.

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