Dear Reader readers:
In response to Ben Joravsky’s July 15 article regarding recent concerns of some residents that isolated cases of tree leaf browning are occurring as a result of the City’s street resurfacing program, the Chicago Department of Transportation sought the expertise of one of the top tree specialists in the country to make a conclusive evaluation.
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After carefully inspecting trees on the blocks specified in the article (on N. Sacramento and W. Eastwood), Dr. George Ware, tree specialist with the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, found that “no long-term damage has occurred as a result of the City’s street resurfacing program. At all the trees inspected, the leaf browning is short-term and there is, universally, almost immediate regrowth of leaves, indicating that tree health is not in jeopardy.” He added that the new foliage should obscure the browning within a few weeks. Dr. Ware concluded that “all trees will return in a normal state the following growing season.” He also examined trees that were browned during last year’s resurfacing program and observed all of them to be healthy and thriving. Dr. Ware determined that the trees affected during the resurfacing process are generally those that have branches overhanging the street below a 12-foot height.
Involved City departments, including Transportation, Streets and Sanitation, and Environment, have taken, at the insistence of Mayor Richard M. Daley, a number of precautions in the scarification process to insure that no long-term tree damage results. These precautions include:
Residents are urged to water tree roots and branches prior to the arrival of the resurfacing crews. This will minimize any heat-related leaf browning. Residents should look for special doorhangers and No Parking signs, which indicate when the resurfacing crews will arrive.
