Department of Environmental Conservation

Extension Assistant Professor 

Office: 320 Holdsworth Hall
Tel: +1 (413) 545-3747

E-mail: rharper

Primary interests

As an extension faculty member, my position involves initiating and expanding integrated extension and research activities in support of the management of community forests and urban landscapes.

Current Research and Extension Projects

• Performance of newly-established trees in the urban environment
• Human responses, ideas and concepts to insects
• Use of pest-resistant plants to encourage low maintenance community/landscape greening

Courses Taught

• NRC 390G Plant Health Care Diagnostics
• NRC 492A Verbal Communication

Selected Recent Publications (Outreach)

Ryan, H.D.P. and R.W. Harper.  2012.  Home tree inspections.  Landscape Message.  Univ. of Mass. Extension.  (#23, electronic)

Harper, R.W.  2012.  Color change in autumn.  Landscape Message.  Univ. of Mass. Extension.  (#22, electronic)

Harper, R.W.  2012.  Fall is for planting – or is it?   Citizen Forester.  Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation.  (October)

Harper, R.W.  2012.  The state of our urban forests.  Hort Notes.  Univ. of Mass. Extension.  23 (10) pp.1.

Harper, R.W.  2012.  Drought, stress and what it means for trees.  Citizen Forester.  Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation.  (August)

Selected Recent Publications (Peer-Reviewed)

Harper, R.W. and R.S. Cowles.  2013.  Susceptibility of Chinese hemlock (Tsuga chinensis) to injury from autumn horticultural oil applications.  Arboriculture & Urban Forestry.  39(1):6-10.

Weston, P.A. and R.W. Harper.  2009.  Potential of Tsuga spp. from North America and Asia as replacements for eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis).  Arboriculture & Urban Forestry.  35(1):5-9.