Community Corner

Native Grasses to Replace Invasive Growth Along Aptakisic Creek

Buffalo Grove Public Works Director Greg Boysen said the removal of invasive species and damaged trees will improve the area near Old Farm Village.

As Buffalo Grove residents along Aptakisic Creek mourn the trees cut down by village crews last week, one official said those trees didn’t belong there in the first place.

“It’s not intended to be a treed area,” Director Greg Boysen said. “Anything that was growing there was invasive growth.”

Related Story:

Find out what's happening in Buffalo Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

That may be news to Old Farm Village residents, who have long enjoyed their views of creekside vegetation. Boysen acknowledged that the village hasn’t addressed the area for 20 years.

As a result, he said, invasive buckthorn was allowed to spread, and other trees were left unmaintained.

Find out what's happening in Buffalo Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“A number of trees were split and threatening to fall down,” he said. “A few of them were growing away from the creek and obstructing the path of the bikes.”

“Buckthorn grows like weeds,” he said. “It shades the ground so that nothing else can grow.”

Instead of native prairie grass, buckthorn roots are visible along the creek bank, Boysen said.

“If you look at it carefully, there were really no grasses growing,” he said. “Our experience is that more natural grasses will grow now that sunlight can reach the banks.”

The growth of native grasses will be monitored this summer, and could be helped along with seeding, Boysen said. Little bluestem and sedge are expected to fill in around the creek.

Some of the tree stumps along the creek will be ground out, Boysen said, while others will remain.

Boysen said the village will eventually clear some of the vegetation east of Cooperwood Drive. The stretch between Buffalo Grove Road and Cooperwood was a priority this season due to safety concerns along the bike path, he said.

Boysen, who has spoken with many concerned residents this week, said that homeowners adjacent to the creek will be notified before further clearing begins.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here