Trees at Lexington County offices to be razed

All 16 trees in front of the Lexington County administration building and courts are slated to be removed starting Saturday.

The trees are being cut down before they grow into overhead power lines and threaten to interrupt service, county administrator Joe Mergo said.

Landscape experts determined the trees – a mix of lacebark elms, Japanese zelkova and live oaks – won’t thrive after their canopies are trimmed as much as half, he said.

The 15-year-old trees stretch along two blocks of South Lake Drive in downtown Lexington.

They will be replaced starting this fall with other types that won’t grow as tall.