Integrated Pest Management
2010 Integrated Pest Management Compliance Report
If you have any questions or would like more information Integrated Pest Management policy and practices in the Village of Hinsdale, please contact:
Dan Hopkins
Pest Management Coordinator
(630) 789-7042
dhopkins@villageofhinsdale.org
(This
photo is from http://www.forestpests.org/acrobat/eab.pdf) |
Exactly one month after state officials announced the first emerald ash borer
(Agrilus planipennis) infestation in Illinois, officials revealed the pest has
been found in Wilmette, a suburb north of Chicago. Also, Wilmette village foresters
have found 16 trees in a five-block area with symptoms of emerald ash borer (EAB)
infestation. On June 13, 2006 the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announced
that a beetle found in the yard of a Kane County home east of Lily Lake was EAB.
The Morton Arboretum was out in front as an advocate for developing prevention
and readiness plans to prepare for the inevitable.
| |
Officials believe the borer arrived in Illinois on ash firewood transported from
a quarantined area in Michigan. Firewood transport is the primary means of introducing
pests into new geographic areas. EAB threatens to destroy one-fifth of all Chicago-area
trees, which are ash, and could destroy the 130-million ash trees in Illinois.
For more information, then please go to The
Morton Arboretum - Emerald Ash Borer Section or go to The Morton
Arboretum website | 
(This photo is from http://www.usda.gov) |
There have been reports of coyotes in forested sites around Hinsdale. According
to the DuPage County Forest Preserve (DCFP), there is no need to be frightened.
There has been no reported incidents of coyotes biting a human. However, residents
should avoid making food sources available to these or other unwanted animal visitors.
Keep pet food and watering dishes inside. Keep garbage cans indoors or secure.
Do not allow spillage to accumulate around bird feeders. For further information
check the DCFP website at www.dupageforest.com/conservationist/fall05/page08.pdf.
CHAMPAIGN, IL (May 3, 2006) - Many homeowners choose to mulch because they enjoy
the well-cared-for look it gives their landscape. But, they may not realize they
are also providing many benefits for their trees. With mulch the result can be
a better growing environment for trees and their roots.
-----
Homeowners should
be aware that, generally, the root system of a tree spreads out not down. "The
roots of most trees extend out a significant distance from the trunk. Most of
the fine absorbing roots of trees are located within inches of the soil surface,"
says Jim Skiera, Executive Director of the International Society of Arboriculture.
These shallow roots are essential for taking up water and minerals for trees,
and they require oxygen to survive. A thin layer of mulch, spread widely, can
provide a healthier environment where these roots grow.
Mulch
Benefits
Properly
applied mulch provides many benefits to the health of a tree.
Unlike
trees growing in a forested environment, urban trees are not typically planted
in an optimal environment for root growth and mineral uptake. Typically, urban
environments are harsher with poor soil conditions and large fluctuations in moisture
and temperature. Applying mulch can help reduce the stress of such conditions
through these benefits: - Helping
to maintain soil moisture with less evaporation
- Reducing
the number of weeds
- Providing
insulation by keeping soil cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter
- Protecting
from damage caused by lawn equipment such as weed-eaters and lawn mowers
- Improving
soil fertility, aeration, and drainage
Organic
or Inorganic
Mulches are either organic or inorganic material mixtures
that are placed over the soil surface around the base of a tree. Mixtures consisting
of various types of stone, rock, pulverized rubber, and other materials are labeled
as inorganic. Because these types of mixtures do not decompose, they need replenishing
less often. However, this also means they do not improve soil structure, provide
nutrients, or add organic materials to the soil. Inorganic mulches do still provide
other benefits such as insulation, and protection.
Organic mulches consist
of wood chips, pine needles, bark, leaves, and other products derived from plants.
These mulches decompose, thus are very beneficial in improving soil quality by
replenishing nutrients. They do however require more maintenance because decomposition
creates the need to replenish more often.
Mulching
Do's and Don'ts
In order for mulch to be beneficial, it must be applied correctly. "All things
in moderation should be a homeowner's mulching motto," says Skiera. "As beneficial
as mulch is, too much can be harmful in more ways than one." Too much mulch can
create excess moisture that may lead to root rot. Other problems created by over
mulching include insect and disease problems, weed growth, sour smelling planting
beds, and chewing rodents.
To ensure the health of your trees and plants,
follow these practical mulching tips to landscape like the pros:
- Thin is better.
Apply a 2 to 4-inch layer of mulch unless a drainage problems exist then a thinner
layer is recommended. Do not add mulch if there is already a sufficient layer.
Instead, rake the old mulch to break up any matted layers and refresh the appearance.
- No
volcano mulching. Avoid placing mulch against the tree trunks. If mulch is already
piled against the stems or tree trunks, pull it back several inches so that the
base of the trunk and the root crown are exposed.
- Mulch
Wide. Mulch out to the tree's drip line or beyond if possible.
The
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), headquartered in Champaign, Ill.,
is a nonprofit organization supporting tree care research and education around
the world. As part of ISA's dedication to the care and preservation of shade and
ornamental trees, it offers the only internationally-recognized certification
program in the industry. For more information and to find a local ISA Certified
Arborist, visit www.treesaregood.com.
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Champaign,
IL (January 16, 2006) - The tree-filled landscapes of winter can be mistakenly
thought to be asleep. Wintering trees are not sleeping; they are simply still
- counting the days until spring. Only then will it be apparent whether the tree
has saved enough resources to respond to the new season of growth. Winter
is a difficult time for trees which must stand alone against all circumstances
that the season can generate. Trees have some internal methods of protection.
Most of the growing points in the tree are protected inside jackets called buds,
and food reserves are carefully conserved for the coming needs of spring. Also
water continues to move through the tree until it freezes. However, these protective
stages may breed other problems. For example, creatures needing a meal may chew
and nibble on the resting buds and twigs. What
can you do to help your valuable trees? A few things can help a tree be more efficient
and effective in surviving the winter and thriving in spring.
These small
winter investments can pay off in a large way, yielding healthy and structurally
sound trees. The
"Critical Six" things to do for your tree this winter are:
- Add a thin layer
of composted organic mulch to blanket the soil surface.
Mulch protects and
conserves tree resources and recycles valuable materials. - Properly
wrap new trees that have not developed a corky bark and could easily be damaged.
Mechanical injury from the environment, including chewing and rubbing by animals,
must be prevented.
- Remove
or correct clearly visible structural faults and deadwood. Try to make small pruning
cuts that minimize the exposure of the central heartwood core on branches.
- Perform
limited greenwood pruning of declining and poorly placed branches.
Pruning
should conserve as many living branches as possible, with only a few selective
cuts. - Fertilize
with elements needed in small quantities. Essential elements added over a mulch
layer will help provide a healthy soil environment for root growth.
- Water
where soils and trees are cool but not frozen, and where there has been little
precipitation. Winter droughts need treatment with waters the same as summer droughts.
However, it is easy to over water in winter, so be careful.
Invest
in great trees by helping them over a difficult time. For trees, wonderful springs
come from well-tended winters. Seek assistance from ISA Certified Arborists <http://www.isa-arbor.com>
for the life of your trees!
The
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), headquartered in Champaign, Ill.,
is a nonprofit organization supporting tree care research and education around
the world. As part of ISA's dedication to the care and preservation of shade and
ornamental trees, it offers the only internationally-recognized certification
program in the industry. For more information and to find a local ISA Certified
Arborist, visit www.treesaregood.com. Back
to Top
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