Arborists shore up historic apple tree
Limbwalkers Tree Service of Louisville and UofL’s Physical Plant joined forces June 25 to shore up an old apple tree said to be descended from a tree in the garden of English physicist Isaac Newton. June 25, 2013Newton reportedly had his first thoughts of universal gravity when he saw an apple fall from it.
In early June, two large limbs unexpectedly broke off UofL’s tree, which was planted about 30 years ago on Belknap Campus.
The tree is decaying from within, but trees have their own defense against decay, said Aaron Boggs, assistant director for physical plant maintenance.
Limbwalkers trimmed some limbs and inserted a large post to prop the tree, which has a 30-foot circumference.
Physiologically, the tree could last a long time, said Stephan Zimmerman, board certified master arborist with Limbwalkers.
There are many descendants of Newton’s tree throughout the world from graftings of the original tree, which still lives in the Woolsthorpe Manor garden near Grantham, England.