Comments on: Seeing the forest for the trees http://www.dgreport.com/index.php/2009/08/27/seeing-the-forest-for-the-trees/ News and Views from Downers Grove Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:07:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark Thoman http://www.dgreport.com/index.php/2009/08/27/seeing-the-forest-for-the-trees/#comment-12325 Mark Thoman Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:09:14 +0000 http://www.dgreport.com/?p=3805#comment-12325 In a 2000 "Big Street Tree Contest" DG Forester von der Heide entered several notable and old trees. That 75" DBH Eastern Cottonwood Poplar won an award, nudging out a 72" 250+ year old ash from Wilmette as the "Largest diameter tree in the contest." DG also won an award for a 32" DBH Tuliptree, noted as "Being very large for a tree out of it's native range.", and also for a 32" DBH Austrian Pine "Very large & healthy with no signs of wilt." In May 2009 Ms. von der Heide published an extensive breakout report on DG's tree inventory, <em><strong><a href="DOWNERS GROVE VILLAGE TREES" rel="nofollow">DOWNERS GROVE VILLAGE TREES</a></strong></em>, providing a wide range of data about our urban forest. This type of data, while at first glance a bit of overkill, can be very informative to village policy regarding tree canopy, stormwater, energy conservation, and other budget/fiscal concerns. In a 2000 “Big Street Tree Contest” DG Forester von der Heide entered several notable and old trees.

That 75″ DBH Eastern Cottonwood Poplar won an award, nudging out a 72″ 250+ year old ash from Wilmette as the “Largest diameter tree in the contest.”

DG also won an award for a 32″ DBH Tuliptree, noted as “Being very large for a tree out of it’s native range.”, and also for a 32″ DBH Austrian Pine “Very large & healthy with no signs of wilt.”

In May 2009 Ms. von der Heide published an extensive breakout report on DG’s tree inventory, DOWNERS GROVE VILLAGE TREES, providing a wide range of data about our urban forest.

This type of data, while at first glance a bit of overkill, can be very informative to village policy regarding tree canopy, stormwater, energy conservation, and other budget/fiscal concerns.

]]> By: trish http://www.dgreport.com/index.php/2009/08/27/seeing-the-forest-for-the-trees/#comment-12323 trish Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:56:49 +0000 http://www.dgreport.com/?p=3805#comment-12323 The tree on Rogers (just across from that mess of a parking lot) is a Cottonwood tree and it is one of the oldest , if not the oldest tree in DG. The tree on Rogers (just across from that mess of a parking lot) is a Cottonwood tree and it is one of the oldest , if not the oldest tree in DG.

]]> By: dgombudsman http://www.dgreport.com/index.php/2009/08/27/seeing-the-forest-for-the-trees/#comment-12322 dgombudsman Sun, 30 Aug 2009 02:57:22 +0000 http://www.dgreport.com/?p=3805#comment-12322 Public works was giving away trees at their open house earlier this summer. Evergreens in fact. They were little more than a single shoot with a root in a plastic bag. But they are growing in our yard!!! Public works was giving away trees at their open house earlier this summer. Evergreens in fact. They were little more than a single shoot with a root in a plastic bag. But they are growing in our yard!!!

]]> By: greg http://www.dgreport.com/index.php/2009/08/27/seeing-the-forest-for-the-trees/#comment-12319 greg Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:41:21 +0000 http://www.dgreport.com/?p=3805#comment-12319 Hey is that tree by the theater listed in the huge trees of Illinois?? I think U of I has a registration online? Just wondering. Hey is that tree by the theater listed in the huge trees of Illinois?? I think U of I has a registration online? Just wondering.

]]> By: KP http://www.dgreport.com/index.php/2009/08/27/seeing-the-forest-for-the-trees/#comment-12318 KP Sat, 29 Aug 2009 12:41:13 +0000 http://www.dgreport.com/?p=3805#comment-12318 A number of years ago (10 maybe 15?) Downers Grove was giving away trees (we got two). They were little more that a twig with a root, but now are nearly fifteen to twenty feet tall. A number of years ago (10 maybe 15?) Downers Grove was giving away trees (we got two). They were little more that a twig with a root, but now are nearly fifteen to twenty feet tall.

]]> By: Elaine Johnson http://www.dgreport.com/index.php/2009/08/27/seeing-the-forest-for-the-trees/#comment-12315 Elaine Johnson Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:48:54 +0000 http://www.dgreport.com/?p=3805#comment-12315 I love that Rogers Street tree, too, donkey -- in fact I've heard that it's the oldest in DG. I love that Rogers Street tree, too, donkey — in fact I’ve heard that it’s the oldest in DG.

]]> By: donkeyhoeti http://www.dgreport.com/index.php/2009/08/27/seeing-the-forest-for-the-trees/#comment-12314 donkeyhoeti Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:22:56 +0000 http://www.dgreport.com/?p=3805#comment-12314 An arborist acquaintance accurately predicted that all of the mature trees that were left intact at the Lee/Chicago development would be dead in 5 years. Take a look. Pretty sad. Favorite DG tree? On Rogers just north of the Tiv. Colossal and it survives right next to the street. An arborist acquaintance accurately predicted that all of the mature trees that were left intact at the Lee/Chicago development would be dead in 5 years. Take a look. Pretty sad.
Favorite DG tree? On Rogers just north of the Tiv. Colossal and it survives right next to the street.

]]> By: KellyDGM http://www.dgreport.com/index.php/2009/08/27/seeing-the-forest-for-the-trees/#comment-12312 KellyDGM Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:10:21 +0000 http://www.dgreport.com/?p=3805#comment-12312 I have seen many removed....I have not removed any trees from my property but I have fought and lost against my neighbor who did remove trees. I have seen many removed….I have not removed any trees from my property but I have fought and lost against my neighbor who did remove trees.

]]> By: KellyDGM http://www.dgreport.com/index.php/2009/08/27/seeing-the-forest-for-the-trees/#comment-12311 KellyDGM Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:09:01 +0000 http://www.dgreport.com/?p=3805#comment-12311 I see that I had blocked out such a large number.....My area has been under private and public construction for the last year and I have many beautiful trees removed and many other "doings" that effect the trees on the public and private areas around me, but I am at a loss as to what if anything I can do. I see that I had blocked out such a large number…..My area has been under private and public construction for the last year and I have many beautiful trees removed and many other “doings” that effect the trees on the public and private areas around me, but I am at a loss as to what if anything I can do.

]]> By: Mark Thoman http://www.dgreport.com/index.php/2009/08/27/seeing-the-forest-for-the-trees/#comment-12309 Mark Thoman Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:53:43 +0000 http://www.dgreport.com/?p=3805#comment-12309 I would say our village has only a couple old trees. Sugar Maples live to be 300-400 years old. White Oaks routinely live 300+ years. My Magnolia will probably only live 150 years or so. Urban conditions shorten the life of trees, most notably with poor soils, root trauma (mainly soil compaction), and annual salt deposits. We have excellent soils here in DG, and we don't use regular road salt in winter anymore, so we are very tree friendly. Trees in the village don't usually die a natural death, they are usually killed by damage to the root structure. That damage in construction projects can be minimized by cutting the root with a sharp saw; most big mature trees can survive if enough of the root structure is left undisturbed. Tearing or gouging away root structure usually kills them, although you don't know it until a couple years later. Our Parkway Tree Protection Ordinance follows best practices, but we've had documented problems with contractors observing the requirements. I would say our village has only a couple old trees. Sugar Maples live to be 300-400 years old. White Oaks routinely live 300+ years. My Magnolia will probably only live 150 years or so. Urban conditions shorten the life of trees, most notably with poor soils, root trauma (mainly soil compaction), and annual salt deposits. We have excellent soils here in DG, and we don’t use regular road salt in winter anymore, so we are very tree friendly.

Trees in the village don’t usually die a natural death, they are usually killed by damage to the root structure. That damage in construction projects can be minimized by cutting the root with a sharp saw; most big mature trees can survive if enough of the root structure is left undisturbed. Tearing or gouging away root structure usually kills them, although you don’t know it until a couple years later. Our Parkway Tree Protection Ordinance follows best practices, but we’ve had documented problems with contractors observing the requirements.

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