Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Come See Us at the ILCA Summer Field Day

Stop by and see us at booth #92 at the ILCA Summer Field Day.

August 6, 2008 - 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

at Ball Horticultural
622 Town Road West Chicago, Illinois 60185

Register Online

Download a Map of the site or Directions

Monday, July 21, 2008

More EAB Sightings

EAB is found in a trap in Bloomington (McLean County) and in South Elgin during an inspection.

But on a brighter note-

DON’T TRASH THAT ASH

Furniture Exhibition Shows That EAB-Infested Ash Can Be Reclaimed And Reused

LISLE, IL (July 16, 2008) – The tree-lined Chicago streets provide a picturesque image, but that image is likely to change with the recent discovery of Emerald ash borer (EAB) within city limits. Does the EAB find mean infested trees must go to the chipper? The simple answer is no.

Just as these ash trees have brought beauty to Chicago streets, they can be reclaimed and reused to create new, practical and striking creations. Some marvelous examples will be featured in Rising from Ashes: Furniture from Lost Trees, a traveling furniture exhibition at The Morton Arboretum August 22 – September 7... MORE

TLC Awarded Grant to Plant Oaks

Northwest Herald- 7/18/08- Grant to preserve oak trees:

WOODSTOCK – In the 1830s, about one-third of McHenry County was oak-hickory woodlands. Today, they cover less than 5 percent of the land.

If nothing is done to protect or regenerate the oaks that are left, they could be gone in 20 years, environmental experts said.

“A big problem in the county with our remaining oak woodlands is that a lot of them are on private landowners’ land, and the landowners will mow underneath all the oak trees,” said land protection specialist Linda Balek of The Land Conservancy of McHenry County. As a result, oak seedlings are mowed down before they have a chance to grow.

The Land Conservancy is leading a project to address the local oak decline by planting new trees, raising awareness about the need to take care of existing oaks, and gathering data about local oak trees.

Project Quercus – “quercus” is Latin for oak – began two years ago this month.

In that time, area children have planted, adopted, and named more than 200 small oaks at sites around the county and pledged to water them for two years, Balek said.

The National Environmental Education Foundation awarded a $1,000 grant Friday to The Land Conservancy to help pay for equipment associated with planting baby oak trees on Sept. 27 in Woodstock’s Emricson Park for National Public Lands Day.... MORE
More on Project Quercus

Thursday, July 10, 2008

GreenTech- July Report

This January- June were the wettest six months on record in Illinois. We had a total of 27.7 inches, which is 8.3 inches above average. Flooding has been a big problem in many areas. What effects will all this moisture have on trees?

Flooding and Potential Effects on Trees
(from US Forest Service factsheet)

  • Poor soil aeration- lack of oxygen for roots
  • Change in soil pH
  • Decreased decomposition of organic matter and potentially damaging byproducts
  • Deposits of sediment may smother roots
  • Exposure of roots from soil washed away
  • Damage from floating debris
  • Damage from chemicals in the water
  • Cold, fast moving water carries more oxygen- will be less harmful
Flood Tolerance in Trees
  • Some species can tolerate several feet of water for a time, but few can tolerate more than a month of standing water.
  • The more of the tree under water, the more chance for injury (especially when it gets to the foliage).
  • Mature trees are more tolerant than seedlings (or aging/declining trees)
  • Healthy trees tolerate flooding better than stressed trees.
  • Trees that can maintain roots, go dormant, or grow adventitious roots are better equipped to survive.
  • Even the healthiest, most flood tolerant trees will not tolerate complete submersion.

-Mary T. McClelland- GreenTech

OUR GREEN TECH TEAM
If you have a concern about plant needs, pests, siting or general plant health, we can help. We offer a site-visit service for any questions about how our plants are doing in their new location.
We provide Green Tech service at no charge. To make an appointment give us a call or fill out the online form for more information.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

EAB is in Canada

CFIA- Plant Health Division- June 26, 2008:

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of the emerald ash borer (EAB) in the Montérégie region of Quebec.

EAB does not spread quickly on its own. In fact, it is most commonly spread when people move materials which it has infested. Moving these materials even just a few kilometres away can spread the emerald ash borer to new areas.


Area residents can play a key part in helping to control the spread of EAB by not moving the insect or materials such as firewood, logs, branches, nursery stock, chips or other ash wood.


The Government of Canada is working hard with provinces and municipalities to limit the spread of the emerald ash borer and protect Canada’s valuable forests.


The CFIA will be carrying out increased surveying of trees in the area to determine the extent of the infestation and affected property owners will be notified. Regulatory measures to control this pest will be taken based on information obtained through the surveys.


The CFIA continues to work with its partners and stakeholders toward the goal of slowing the spread of this destructive pest.

EAB News

EAB was found on private properties in the Village of Golf (part of the Glenview Park District) in late May. Village officials are still trying to figure out how bad it is and what to do.

EAB was found in the Village of Algonquin this is the first confirmed infestation in McHenry County.

Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) and Ohio State University Extension are studying the impact of invasive plants in forested areas where Ash were killed by EAB.

Palatine readies for ash borer invasion by replacing 76 ash this fall.

Evanston tries an injection program

Thursday, July 3, 2008

New Discovery about Tree Leaves

Trees Do Their Best Work with Thermostats at 70 : NPR:

"Seventy degrees is a lovely, comfortable temperature for most people. And the same turns out to be true for all sorts of tree species. In fact, scientists have found that trees actually have tricks they use to keep their leaves close to that perfect temperature."
Scientists found that leaves do the most photosynthesis at 70˚F, regardless of species or where they are growing.

To maintain the right temperature they can
  • wilt when too hot (less surface area that can capture light)
  • 'sweat' through stomata (can cool 20˚ from outside temp)
  • clump leaves together to save heat (pine needles)