At UC Davis, the beauty and health of the trees that provide shade and foliage doesn’t happen just by chance—it’s the result of careful stewardship by our dedicated and highly skilled Tree Team. We sat down with Tree Team Supervisor Justin Morejohn to learn more about the work that goes into keeping our campus green and growing. Justin has overseen the Tree Team’s operations for the past 14 months, helping them maintain and protect the campus’ vast and vibrant tree canopy as effectively as possible.

The team is made up of five highly trained arborists: Team Lead Anthony Alarcon, Melissa Boelman, Blas Garcia, Andrew Looy, and Hasib Mohammadi. Collectively, they bring over 55 years of experience to the field. Their skill sets allow them to perform all aspects of tree care, from climbing trees and operating aerial lifts to handling emergency removal and expert use of chainsaws.

One of the team’s most important responsibilities is caring for and maintaining UC Davis’s tree canopy. This includes pruning to support tree health and safety, removing dead or hazardous trees when necessary—often due to age, disease, or nearby construction. Without the trees on campus, we would have no shade to rest under, and hot summer days would be entirely unbearable. Their work plays a vital role in keeping campus life safe and enjoyable, ensuring walking paths remain clear and our trees look healthy and beautiful.

Their work spans the entire campus, making their role both unique and essential. It’s no easy task to care for the 26,000 trees we have on campus! To make sure no tree is left unaccounted for, the Tree Team has a planned maintenance schedule they follow to check up on almost every tree. To prioritize any other tasks, the team works closely with Tyler Kern, UCD Campus Urban Forester, who conducts tree assessments, enters data into a GIS system, and uses the information to help organize and prioritize tasks. They also coordinate daily with Assistant Director of Grounds & Landscape Services Tyson Mantor to manage work orders and plan their approach.

Depending on the project, the team may work together on a single large job, or break into smaller crews to tackle multiple sites at once. They often adapt their schedule based on the nature of the task, the scope of the work, and other campus considerations such as foot traffic and surrounding buildings. Interdepartmental coordination is key, especially in busy areas or when working near animals. When they need to do work in central areas of campus, they make sure to plan around the crowd by coming in the early morning or evening or by waiting for breaks in the school year.

The team is also always prepared to handle tree-related emergencies on campus; whether storm damage or limb failures, you can count on them to handle the issue as quickly as possible. One memorable emergency involved a massive valley oak that fell near the main water tower, blocking both the upper and lower Arboretum pathways beneath it. Given the size of the tree, it was a huge project that impacted many people on campus, but the Tree Team worked together and cleared the area in just a couple of days.

The Tree Team makes use of front loader tractors, aerial lift trucks, brush chippers, dump trucks, a stump grinder, and more for their daily operations. When branches are located over buildings or sensitive infrastructure, they use advanced rigging systems like block-and-tackle pulleys to safely lower limbs. Considering the kind of equipment they work with, safety is always paramount for the Tree Team. The team members wear proper personal protective equipment, start each job with an emergency action plan, and participate in regular training to ensure that everyone goes home safely at the end of the day.

According to Justin, the most rewarding aspect of the job is the chance to work with the incredible variety of trees on campus—some over 100 years old. One of Justin's favorite trees on campus is the large valley oak near Olson Hall, a tree that predates the campus itself and was part of the original land grant that the campus grew from.

“We’re privileged to work with the largest living organisms on campus,” said Justin about the team’s work. “Trees do just fine on their own in nature, but when people and buildings are involved, it’s our job to make sure they can safely coexist.”

Thank you to the Tree Team for your hard work and dedication. Your efforts keep our campus green, safe, and thriving!