Nina Bassuk

I work on improving the quality of urban life by enhancing the functions of plants within the urban ecosystem. We integrate plant stress physiology, horticultural science, plant ecology and soil science and applies them to three broad areas of inquiry. They are:

• The selection, evaluation and propagation of superior plants with improved tolerance of biotic and abiotic stresses, and enhanced functional uses in the disturbed landscape.
• Developing improved technologies for assessing and ameliorating site limitations to improve plant growth and development.
• Developing improved transplant technologies to insure the successful establishment of plants in the urban environment.

Selected Journal Publications

• Yin, J., Bassuk, N. L., Oldburg, M. W., & Bauerle, T. L. (2014). Fine Root Hydraulic Conductance is Related to Post-transplant Recovery of Two Quercus Tree Species. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. 139:649-656.
• Cowett, F., & Bassuk, N. L. (2014). Statewide assessment of street trees in New York State, USA. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 13:213-220.
• Cowett, F., & Bassuk, N. L. (2012). SWAT (Student Weekend Arborist Team): A Model for Land Grant Institutions and Cooperative Extension Systems to Conduct Street Tree Inventories. Journal of Extension. 50:Article EFEA9.
• Bassuk, N. L., Grabosky, J., Mucciardi, A., & Raffel, G. (2011). Ground Penetrating Radar Accurately Locates Tree Roots in Two Soil Media Under Pavement. Journal of Arboriculture and Urban Forestry. 37:160-166.
• Bassuk, N. L., & Trowbridge, P. J. (2010). Creating the Urban Eden: Sustainable Landscape Establishment in Theory and Practice. HortTechnology. 20:485-486.
• Conolly, N. B., Bassuk, N. L., & MacRae Jr., P. F. (2010). Response of Five Hydrangea Species to Foliar Salt Spray. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 28:125-128.
• Amissah, N., & Bassuk, N. L. (2009). Cutting Back Stock Plants Promotes Adventitious Rooting in Shoots of Quercus bicolor and Quercus macrocarpa. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 27:159-165.
• Grabosky, J., Haffner, E., & Bassuk, N. L. (2009). Plant Available Moisture in Stone-soil Media for use Under Pavement While Allowing Urban Tree Root Growth. Journal of Arboriculture and Urban Forestry. 35:271-278.
• Amissah, N., Paolillo, D., & Bassuk, N. L. (2008). Adventitious Root Formation in Stem Cuttings of Quercus bicolor and Quercus macrocarpa and its Relationship to Stem Anatomy. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. 133:1-8.
• Grabosky, ., & Bassuk, N. L. (2008). Sixth- and Tenth-Year Growth Measurements for Three Tree Species in a Load-Bearing Stone–Soil Blend Under Pavement and a Tree Lawn in Brooklyn, New York, U.S. Journal of Arboriculture and Urban Forestry. 34:265-266.

Full publications list at Urban Horticulture Institute website.

View publications on Google Scholar.

• Alex L. Shigo Award for Excellence in Arboricultural Education (2015) International Society of Arboriculture
• Olmsted Award (2015) National Arbor Day Foundation
• Senior Scholars Award (2015) New York State Arborists Association
• Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellowship (2015) Cornell University
• Teaching Award (2015) American Horticultural Society

Our courses focus on the identification, uses and establishment of woody plants in urban and garden settings. By understanding the environmental limitations to plant growth, we will be able to critically assess potential planting sites, select appropriate trees, shrubs, vines and ground covers for a given site, and learn about the principles and practices of site amelioration and plant establishment. Design followed by written specifications and graphic details will be produced to implement these practices.

• PLHRT 3910: Woody Plant Identification and Use I
• PLHRT 4910/LA 4910: Creating the Urban Eden: Woody Plant Selection, Design, and Landscape Establishment
• PLHRT 3000: Annual and Perennial Plants