Rockford Hoping to Plant 1,000 New Ash Trees This Year

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — The city of Rockford wants to plant 1,000 trees this year to help replace those lost to tree-killing beetles.

The Rockford Register Star reports the city plans to remove about 2,000 of the roughly 3,200 ash trees on city-owned property because of the emerald ash borer. The remaining ash trees will likely come down in 2016.

Most of Rockford's ash trees are almost dead, due to the infestation of the small beetles. Mark Stockman is Rockford's street and forestry superintendent. He says the loss of the trees will become more noticeable this spring, when ash trees remain barren while other types begin blooming.

The city has a tree replacement program available to all Rockford property owners. The trees must be planted on the parkway, not private property.