Time to Plug In Your Plantings

Hard to believe, perhaps, but spring is here.  This means it's time to consider your native seeding and planting schedule. 

Whether you completed a prescribed prairie burn that needs overseeding or have planned a natural area restoration, to get the best results - and return on your budget - keep the following windows in mind:

• The preferred native seed installation window is April 15 to June 30.
• The preferred native plug installation window is May 1 to June 30.   

Give V3 a call to line up those projects in the next couple of weeks so you are ready to hit the preferred window and maximize performance and success of your natural area project.  V3 can also provide expert recommendations of the best seed mix or species selection, too. Contact Greg Wolterstorff at gwolterstorff@v3co.com for more information.

Don't Delay ... DELINEATE!

Regulatory agencies generally require that wetland delineations and related floristic inventories occur during the "growing season."  So when is the growing season, you ask?  The official growing season for any given year is defined as, "The period of each year when native plants and ornamental plants grow; and when agricultural crops can be grown."  Still a little vague?  Here's some clarification:

• The growing season usually occurs between last and first frost or the last and first occurrence of 32 degree Fahrenheit (freezing) overnight low temperature.  In northern Illinois, this is generally between May 1 and October 15, but can vary year to year. 
• As defined by US Army Corps of Engineers requirements for wetland delineations, the growing season begins when the soil temperature 2 inches into the ground is at 50 degrees Fahrenheit at 10:00 a.m.  DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, and Cook Counties all have slightly different growing season definitions and requirements.

With the 2011 growing season approaching, plan ahead for wetland delineations and on-site field work.  While acceptable wetland delineations can be accomplished outside of the growing season to meet project schedules, V3 recommends that wetland delineations be conducted between May 1 through October 15 to avoid regulatory conflicts and potential additional costs.  These dates represent a safe (yet unofficial window) when Federal, County or local regulatory agencies will accept a floristic inventory conducted during a wetland delineation.  Keep these dates in mind and you will reduce the potential of a regulatory agency requiring an updated wetland delineation report or an additional floristic inventory to supplement one that may have been conducted outside of the growing season.

V3's expert wetland delineation team is ready and available to schedule your wetland delineation, floristic inventory and tree survey during the 2011 growing season. Contact Scott Brejcha at sbrejcha@v3co.com for more information.

Did you know that a tree can be identified to the genus and species level even when there are no leaves present on the specimen?  Tree surveys and assessments can be conducted at any time of the year. 

A Certified Arborist can identify a tree based on its bark, leaf buds and branch orientation during any time of the year.  V3 is staffed with Certified Arborists ready to assist you with any required tree surveys and assessments in the Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall.  V3's Certified Arborists are familiar with Federal, State, County and local tree survey requirements and will provide the technical expertise to make your project a success.  Tree tagging, tree identification, tree quality rating and tree care recommendations are just some of the expertise and value that V3's Certified Arborists can bring to your project. Contact Greg Wolterstorff at gwolterstorff@v3co.com for more information.