Macomb, IL – This year's Arbor Day planting for Macomb is part of a plan to increase the number of species in the town's inventory.
City Forester Tim Howe says the 17-foot Bur Oak sapling planted on the east side of Chandler Park is the only one of its kind in the park. The Bur Oak is adapted to the climate, shows resistance to drought conditions, and is resistant to Oak Wilt, which affects some species.
Howe says increasing the variety of trees will make it unlikely that the town will suffer a mass die-off, as happened in the 1950s and 1960s when Dutch Elm Disease hit the predominant variety.
While he prefers to use native species, Howe says he will use some hybrids. An example is his planting of new species of Elm, which maintain appearance and vase-shape of the native Elm, but which are resistant to Dutch Elm Disease.
The tree planted today was donated by the Macomb Women's Club from a selection grown by the WIU Forestry Club.