HOMEOWNER SURVEY RESULTS YOUR VIEWS ON YOUR YARD BUCKTHORN By developing a network of critical landscapes, everyone can work together to safeguard the resources and places that benefit people, wildlife, and the economy. The results of this homeowner survey represent a step toward this vision. Buckthorn is the most common tree in Lake County, making up more than 40 percent of our canopy, according to a 2010 tree census conducted by the U.S. Forest Service and The Morton Arboretum. It will continue to be an issue until the whole community is involved: from private landowners to homeowner associations, golf courses to garden clubs, businesses to school districts. But momentum is building and will continue to build. See page 12 for testimonials from homeowners already joining the movement. Together, public and private partners will work toward a buckthorn-free Lake County, serving as catalysts for the entire Chicago region. When it comes to buckthorn removal, the difference across property lines is often stark. To effectively control buckthorn around Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve, removal efforts must go beyond our boundaries.
How do you turn your yard into an oasis for native plants and wildlife? In the coming months, we’ll share resources on how to get started with native landscaping at home, from species selection to yard and garden maintenance. Photo Š Tamima Itani.
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