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Visit
The
Morton
Arboretum
4100 IL Rt. 53
Lisle, IL 60532
Email us at:
The Community
Trees Program
communitytrees@
mortonarb.org
For more news and information about The Morton Arboretum visit
Tree Talk, a great way to find out what is happening around the Arboretum!
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Quick Links:
The Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic
mortonarb.org/plant-clinic
TMA Plant Health Care Report
mortonarb.org/tree-plant-advice
Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) invasive species info -
hungrypests.com
The Illinois Department of Agriculture
agr.state.il.us
Illinois Arborist Association
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources - Urban & Community Forestry
Tree Care Industry Association
Society of Municipal Arborists
The Arbor Day
Foundation
arborday.org
The Alliance for Community Trees
actrees.org
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Networking:
Check out American Grove and Illinois Grove - Are you tired of all the news on LinkedIn not being regional? Try posting here and invite all our Illinois professionals to join! We can make this a resource that fits all our needs.
American Grove
Spring Equinox Video of a Forest - very cool!
Illinois Grove
Please join our IL page and lets use this resource to keep us all informed
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Previous Issues:
In case you missed our previous newsletters the archived issues may be reached at:
September, 2012
December, 2012
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Welcome to Community Trees News. Through this newsletter, we seek to bring to you information that will be helpful to you in a short, to-the-point format as you work to protect and improve the vitality of the community forest.
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Enlist Your Community's Help to Water Trees
 Municipal staff may not have the time or resources to keep trees watered, especially in a drought year. The Community Trees Program staff visited more than 60 communities in 2012. Many of you were watering with buckets, while others had water wagons with expensive pumps. But all struggled to keep their new trees watered and most did not water established trees. READ ON |
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Cut & Paste Resident Articles
Article #1
Drought's Effects May Not Be Done
Note: This article is intended for municipal newsletters and other publications. You are free to reproduce it as long as it is attributed to The Morton Arboretum's Community Trees Program.
What will the 2013 growing season hold? Will it be another unseasonably warm March followed by a late April frost? Will July and August prove to be another scorcher? Or will this year bring relief? Either way, last year's drought is may have long-lasting effects in the garden. Be prepared to help your trees and other plants. |
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Article #2
Trees Need the Whole Community's Help to Recover from Drought
Note: This article is intended for municipal newsletters and other publications. You are free to reproduce it as long as it is attributed to The Morton Arboretum's Community Trees Program.
With the snow and rain this spring, it's easy to forget that 2012 was a drought year for most of our region. That drought was hard on trees and its effects may last for years, although they may not appear immediately. The impact of the drought of 2012 may take a year or more to show up in our trees.
READ ON
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NATIONAL NEWS
ACTrees Members Press for Urban Trees on Capital Hill Washington, DC - Over two dozen ACTrees members, including Lydia Scott, Community Trees Manager, together with partners from the Sustainable Urban Forests Coalition, met with 60 Congressional offices this past week to address the vital importance of trees and green infrastructure for America's communities during ACTrees 2013 Policy Summit. In a string of events, ACTrees leadership and members pushed for trees and urban forests to legislators, government agency leaders, and at a National Academy of Sciences workshop.
New Research - Trees Prove Vital to Human Health Portland, OR (January 16, 2013) - Research published this month in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests that tree loss from the spread of the emerald ash borer is associated with increased mortality related to cardiovascular and lower-respiratory-tract illness. The U.S. Forest Service study collected data in nearly 1,300 counties in 15 states over 18 years. These findings add to the growing evidence of the relationship between trees and human health, and the major public health benefits derived from the natural environment. |
Continuing Education 
Are you planning to hire seasonal help this year? Would you like your current staff to have just a bit more knowledge? The following Spring classes are available close by at The Morton Arboretum:
H448 - Pruning Small Trees And Shrubs
2 Saturdays, April 6 - 13; 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
H171 - Landscape Plants: Early Spring Trees & Shrubs - 2 Thursdays, April 11 - 18; 6 - 9 pm & Saturday, April 20; 9 am - Noon
H522 - Your Urban Orchard: Backyard Fruit Tree Basics - Sunday, April 21; 9 am - 3 pm
N024 - Around The World In 80 Trees
Sunday, April 28; 9 am - Noon
Learn more and watch for the upcoming summer schedule after 4/18/13 - CLICK HERE
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Upcoming Events
Webinars
EABUniversity - Complete list of offerings HERE
"The Impact of Urban Trees" 
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
11am - Noon EDT
Presenter: Geoffrey Donovan, PhD, research forester with the USDA Forest Service.
In this continuation of the Municipal EAB Management Series, Dr. Donovan quantifies the importance of urban trees in a community, including a discussion of their impact on property values and tax revenues. He will also discuss the link between decreased urban canopy and the increase of human mortality in communities where EAB has killed ash trees.
Register for Webinar
Can't make the live webinar? All EABUniversity webinars are recorded and archived for access on demand here
National Association of Conservation Districts 
Held on the third Thursday of each month, these one-hour webinars cover topics that include district and other speakers. While there is no cost to participate, space is limited to 100 registrants on a first-come, first-serve basis. Contact Debra Bogar at deb-bogar@nacdnet.org to sign up.
To register HERE for the NACD e-newsletter.
Thousand Cankers Disease" Webinar
Hosted by the US Forest Service,. This seminar series on thousand cankers disease is for landowners, extension educators, and natural resource professionals. Everyone is welcome to participate in the live webinar.
Thursday, March 28th
Beginning at 10:00 AM EDT
Webinar -
"Debunking Myths About Urban Trees And Soils"
Thursday, March 28th
1:00 AM - 2:00 PM CST
James Urban, FASLA - Jim will explore some of the urban myths that twist the reality of trees and soil, including assumptions such as the need to replace organic matter in soils once the tree "uses it all up"; sand-based manufactured soils are always better; tree grates protect trees; urban soils are not usable and need to be replaced; contaminated soils harm plants, and many other myths or partial myths.
Register HERE - Limited to 100 participants March 2013 Webinar "Tree Inventories" - POSTPONED Workshops & Events
Illinois First Detector Tree Pest Program
March 26 - Lemont, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
U of I Extension, Midwest Golf House.
Objectives:
- Improve first detector training and invasive species awareness;
- Reduce potential risks from pathogens & pests;
- Increase rapid and affordable plant diagnostic support to local, state, and national agriculture and green industry programs, as well as to end-users.
Cost: $25, lunch will be provided.
APWA - Lake Branch Workshop
"Tree Maintenance & Urban Forestry"
Thursday, March 28th
7:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Workshop to be held at the Round Lake Police Dept. Community Room, $40/ CEU's available.
Details and registration information FLYER HERE
Electrical Hazard Awareness Program (EHAP)
from TCIA This program from TCIA will help employers meet OSHA and ANSI safety requirements. Fee: $100
When: Thursday, April 4th  Time: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (check-in starts at 8:00 AM) Location: Kramer Tree Experts 300 Charles Court, West Chicago, IL 60185
Space limited to 50 - Earns 7.5 ISA and 7.5 CTSP CEU's
Past webinars - contact us for a recording and packet
12-5-2012 "Municipal Responsibility for Trees"
1-22-2013 "The Latest and Greatest in Ordinances"
2-19-2013 "Tree Management Plans"
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Emerald Ash Borer
Publications & Workshops
This new and updated brochure from The Morton Arboretum provides individuals and homeowners with options for emerald ash borer management on their property. Hard copies of this brochure are available by emailing the Community Trees Program at communitytrees@mortonarb.org.
As a companion piece to the above brochure, The Morton Arboretum has also recently produced a guide for municipalities, park districts, and those tasked with managing lands. The community guide goes into detail about insecticides, preparing a management plan, and provides descriptions of several of the most common approaches to managing Emerald Ash Borer. Email communitytrees@mortonarb.org for an electronic copy of this guide.
FREE County Residential EAB Programs
Spring EAB programs are being held throughout the seven-county Chicago area for residents. Above are the currently scheduled programs.
March 23 - Growing Place, Kane County
April 6 - Ryerson Woods Welcome Center, Lake County
April 9 - Greenbelt Cultural Center, Lake County
If you are interested in hosting a program in your community please contact Angela Kerber, Community Trees Program Intern, at akerber@mortonarb.org. As more programs are added, updated information will be available on the Community Trees website.
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Arbor Day 2013
Plant trees for the future --"Other holidays repose upon the past; Arbor Day proposes for the future." History of Arbor DayFREE Tree Tag Kits for clubs, schools & communities. The response has been fantastic, we are down to the last available kits. This year we have two types of tags to offer. First, is the tag we used last year which is great for an educational environment. This kit comes with lesson plans and involves tree ID, measurements and using the internet.  Second, we have a set of six "ready to hang" tags that each focus on the message "Every Tree Matters" and individually highlight the environmental benefits that trees provide. Illinois' Arbor Day is Friday, April 26, 2013. The Morton Arboretum is planning many activities to celebrate. Once again we will have the Members Plant Sale, public tent sale, educational programming, onsite programming, and of course we will be tagging trees, click here for details. We will also be hosting an eco-Fest on Sunday, April 21st. Promotional Opportunity: Are You Hosting an Event for Earth Day? Chicago Wilderness wants to help you promote your upcoming Earth Day events. Please fill out this form, and we will share your event through our website, newsletters, and social media.
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Grant Opportunities
Planning ahead? Budget time?
Look HERE for annual grant programs and grants with revolving deadlines.
New! New! New!
Communities are now able to use Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds for public ash tree removal if they are located within the emerald ash borer quarantine area as defined by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It is important to note, ash trees to be removed must be shown in a detailed inventory. Read the Entire Memo. Local Funding Opportunities Following are funding opportunities that may be available for the coming year. Most of these grants have a landscaping component that would enable the planting and/or protection of trees. To learn about application deadlines or when requests for proposals are open, visit the websites listed with each funding opportunity. TREE Fund Grant Opportunities For additional information, please contact: Karen Lindell, Fund Development Assistant, 630-369-8300 x-203 April 1st Application Deadline Hyland R. Johns Grants (up to $25,000, 3-5 year duration): support research that directly affects the work of industry professionals. Apply Online. Arboriculture Education Grant Program: support the development of arboriculture educational programs and materials for K-12 students. Apply Online. Robert Felix Memorial Scholarships-Scholarships of $3,000 each are given annually to college students studying arboriculture, urban forestry or related fields with the intention of entering arboriculture. Applications and reference letters are due by April 1st of each year. Apply Online. May 15th Application Deadline John Wright Memorial Scholarship: The $2,000 John Wright Memorial Scholarship is available to high school seniors and returning college students pursuing careers related to arboriculture. Established in 2008 by Wright Tree Service of Des Moines, IA, the award was created to help undergraduate students attend college without accumulating burdensome debt. Apply Online. October 1st Application Deadline (Watch website for applications coming soon) John Z. Duling Grants (up to $10,000): provide "seed" funding for new, innovative research projects. Jack Kimmel International Grants (up to $10,000): provide funding for arboriculture research projects all over the world. National Funding Opportunities 2013 Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SCI) Grant Program  - Deadline: March 18, 2013 - Conservation research projects that explain or inform the role of sustainable forestry in the following 2013 grant categories: Working Forests; Water; Carbon & Bioenergy; Capacity Building; and Wildlife and Biodiversity - SFI will award five to seven community grants in amounts up to $5,000 to support youth education in forestry, green building, and advancing management and awareness of culturally important land. Details Here. Home Depot Foundation Community Impact Grants - Applications accepted February 1, 2013 - August 13, 2013 - Up to $5000 available to 501C(3) nonprofit organizations, public schools, or tax-exempt public agencies in US that are using volunteers, specifically veterans to improve physical health of their community - More competitive grant proposals will specifically identify projects for veterans and will include housing repairs, modifications, and weatherization work. - Grants given in form of Home Depot gift cards Details Here.
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Give us your feedback
This is our third newsletter. We would appreciate you taking a quick moment to rate our newsletter. We want to make sure that we are including items that you find most meaningful. The survey should only take 2-3 minutes:
Survey Link
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NEW - U.S. Forest Service Releases Guidance on Uses for Insect-Killed Urban Trees
The U.S. Forest Service has released a new handbook, "Wood Utilization Options for Urban Trees Infested by Invasive Species," to provide guidance on best uses and practices for dead and dying urban trees infected by invasive insects in the eastern U.S.
The downloadable publication, developed by the Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory and the University of Minnesota Duluth, offers advice for considering the many available options for using insect-killed wood. This includes a listing of the wide variety of products and markets that are available for this wood, such as lumber, furniture, cabinetry, flooring, and pellets for wood-burning energy facilities
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- Now Available -
Regional Tree Census Executive Summary
The full 2010 Tree Census Report is currently in final editing and printing at the U.S. Forest Service. The published report is due in the spring. Available now on The Morton Arboretum website is a short Executive Summary of the findings.
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COMING SOON FROM THE MORTON ARBORETUM:
- Utility species list
- Street tree species list
- Tree ordinance templates
- Building community stewardship for trees
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Lydia Scott, Community Trees Program Manager Beth Corrigan, Community Trees Program Coordinator Andi Dierich, Forest Pest Outreach Coordinator Angela Kerber, Community Trees Program Intern |
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