Save Your Ash 2024
What is Save Your Ash?
We’re raising funds to treat over 150 ash trees in GRO
That big, beautiful ash tree in your parkway is in danger from an invasive bug called the Emerald Ash Borer. This bug is decimating the ash tree population across the Midwest, and it will likely succeed in killing all the ash trees in Chicago if nothing is done.
Thankfully, there is a treatment that can protect the mature ash trees in our tree canopy. We are fundraising to save all the ash trees in our neighborhood - around 150 trees! A donation of $150 would likely cover the treatment for one tree, which will keep that tree safe for three years. However, a donation of any value will help.
While we hope that all of our ash trees can be saved, an arborist will make the final determination regarding a tree’s health. If you donated money to save a tree that is too sick to save, we will apply your donation to save a nearby, healthy ash tree. Having a healthy tree in our neighborhood, regardless of location, benefits us all!
You helped us treat our trees in 2021
Let’s do it again!
Neighbors donated $9,588.30, which was used to treat and protect all the ash trees in our boundaries from the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). A total of 86 trees received a life-saving treatment in August 2021 which has kept them safe for the past 3 years.
You'll know a tree has been treated when you see the new silver tag nailed on the street side of the tree. The charm indicates the year of treatment (likely 2021) among other information.
We will need to continually raise funds to treat our trees, however, each treatment ensures that our neighborhood maintains the mature tree canopy so many of us have come to appreciate. It takes a lot of time for a tree to grow as big as many of our ash trees, and keeping our ash trees alive gives our saplings time to catch up.
This picture shows the tunnels created by an emerald ash borer as it burrows under a trees bark.
This picture shows an ash tree receiving an injection of TreeAge, the insecticide that protects it from emerald ash borers.
Become a Volunteer!
Do you have 2-3 extra hours per month? We need neighbors to help with any of our events, including the annual summer party, garage sales, and holiday drives.
Email GRO Events to find out how you can help.
No time to volunteer? You can still help by becoming a member. Membership dues are the donations we need to keep doing what we do.