Learn how controlled burns can benefit your landscape

Land Management Ecologist Leslie Berns will discuss how property owners can effectively, safely and legally conduct a controlled burn.

Berns, a land management ecologist with the Lake County Forest Preserve District, will be the featured speaker at the Wild Ones Lake-to-Prairie Chapter meeting at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Reed Turner Woodland, 3849 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. Call (847) 438-4743.

Topics include why we should burn native landscapes; when is the best time to burn; what permits and permissions are needed to legally conduct a burn; who should be involved or notified when conducting a burn; how to conduct the burn; what you should expect to see and when.

Berns also will share stories about her work for the forest preserve district.

Every spring and fall, hundreds of acres throughout Lake County are safely burned as a way to regain a healthy diversity of species.

Before this land was settled, wildfires set by lightning and Native Americans were frequent and unchecked. These fires actually shaped local habitats.

Without fire, buckthorn, honeysuckle and other weedy species would muscle their way into local habitats and shade out native plants.

Lake County’s landscape dramatically shows how fire suppresses trees and shrubs. For centuries, fires swept from west to east across the county, only to be stopped by the Des Plaines River. That’s why tree-sparse prairie and savanna dominate west of the river and large woodlands are restricted to the east side of the river.

After a burn, many native plants are more robust and produce more seeds. Fire lengthens their growing season, recycles nutrients and, for a few species, is critical for their seeds to sprout.

Oaks, hickories and a few other trees grow a thick bark that protects them from fire. Big bluestem and many other plants of the prairie and savanna keep their buds safe just beneath the soil’s surface. Nonnative weeds aren’t so well-adapted and so burning keeps them in check.

Animals, too, are adapted to fire, with many simply leaving the area during a burn.

Those who are not experienced in conducting burns should hire a qualified company to assist.

Before starting a controlled burn, obtain all needed permits, contact local fire departments and notify neighbors who are adjacent to your property.

Also, take into account the wind speed, wind direction and humidity when deciding which site to burn each day. A key goal is to keep smoke from blowing toward homes or highways.

Lake-to-Prairie Wild Ones is a chapter of Wild Ones, a national not-for-profit organization that promotes the use of native plants in landscapes.

For information about Wild Ones or to join, contact Rick Sanders at (847) 940-9482 or RickAtHome@mitec.com or visit www.wildones.org/.