Maintaining and Protecting the Beauty and Charm of the Village
The 50/50 Tree Program Is Back!
Guess what Village is a recognized Tree City USA community? Olympia Fields … of course. The Tree City USA program, sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, provides communities with a framework for maintaining and growing their tree cover and, ultimately, creating beautiful, healthy, sustainable and environmentally-sound neighborhoods.
To that end, the Village of Olympia Fields, in conjunction with the Beautification Committee, is once again offering the 50/50 Tree Program to residents to help “keep Olympia Fields green.” Through this program, the Village splits the cost of a new tree with the resident, thus providing a 50 percent savings on the purchase price of select trees. Residents and Homeowner Associations (HOAs) may purchase up to two trees, while supplies last. Information about the types of trees available and the ordering process will be sent to HOA presidents in September. Interested residents may also obtain information about the 50/50 Tree Program on the Village website at www.olympia-fields.com. Orders must be placed by September 28, for delivery in October. Residents are responsible for planting their own trees. Trees will be available on a first come, first served basis.
Mature Tree Care
Submitted by Susan Moroney, Beautification Committee
According to the International Society for Arboriculture (ISA), caring for mature trees is just as important as planting baby trees. Annual tree inspections can nip budding problems and extend the life of your trees.
Four characteristics of tree vitality:
- New leaf or bud formation
- Leaf size
- Twig growth
- Absence of crown dieback (gradual death of the upper part of the tree)
Tree health and stability are major concerns. Cavity openings, extensive twig dieback and fungal presence (mushrooms) can indicate structural weakness, which could potentially pose a danger to you, your family or your home. Thinning of the tree’s crown can also be problematic. For more information, please refer to ISA-arbor.com Mature Tree Care.
To locate arborists to assist in your tree evaluation, visit the following web sites: https://www.isa-arbor.com or https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist.
