Phil Graf - Graf Tree Care, Inc. | Urban Forestry Consultant and ISA Certified Arborist #IL 1553-A

The afternoon of July 1st, 2012, a major storm came through the Chicago area. After the storm, damage was surveyed, and West Chicago was identified as the epicenter of the storm, and thus the hardest hit area. In the storm’s aftermath, thousands of trees in West Chicago were severely damaged and left unsalvageable. One of the worst damaged areas was Reed Keppler Park, West Chicago’s signature park, boasting one of the oldest and most majestic Oak stands in northern Illinois. A tree inventory that Graf Tree Care performed for the Park District in 2009 indicated that Reed Keppler Park had 1047 trees prior to the storm.

Read more: Major Storm hits West Chicago's Reed Keppler Park

March ends with blue sky & water, green grass, and Crab Apple trees in full bloom at Turner Park in Roselle. Here are some more great spring pictures from around the area.

Read more: Spring Pictures

By Phil Graf,  Graf Tree Care, Inc.
Urban Forestry Consultant and ISA Certified Arborist #1553-A

Once again this year, the Chicago area failed to have spring weather.  More times than not, winter drags on through March and April and moves right into summer and we don’t have much of a spring. This year we also lacked having a spring, the difference is that the winter went to summer in mid-March!  Who could have imagined ten consecutive days of 80 degree temperatures in March?

On March 28, ddgtracket.net (our resource for tracking degree days) indicated we were at 208 degree days base 50, a number usually reached on May 8.  This puts us approximately 5 weeks ahead of schedule when it comes to tree/plant growth and insect activity.

Read more: Summer-like weather arrives in March

This month we are featuring the Hackberry. This is a great street tree for municipal parkways and park settings as well, yet it is one of the most under planted species.

As the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is reaching peak populations here in Illinois, it is become increasingly important to begin looking for suitable Ash tree replacements. With a significant loss of tree canopy looming on the horizon, arborists and urban foresters need to start thinking in terms of reforestation. A good reforestation program is a diverse one, with emphasis also put on planting the proper trees in the proper place. The intention of the "Featured Tree of the Month" on this web-site is help promote tree diversity and get people thinking about how to properly reforest after the EAB has swept through and done its damage. This month we are featuring the Hackberry.

Read more: Hackberry, Celtis Occidentalis