Common Ground
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Shenandoah Subdivision Rebate Policy For Tree Planted by Chesterfield
Tree Removal Along the Street Boulevard
New Program on Mowing the Common Grounds
Repairs to Street Lights for Residents
Improvements to Common Ground Attached to Shenandoah School
The Japanese Honeysuckle War
Last Updated: February 28, 2009
Chesterfield Government has implemented a new policy for replacing dead trees along the street boulevard.
To help defray this cost, the Shenandoah Subdivision has established a $5,000.00 budget for rebates that will be allotted on a first come basis.
This rebate is for $50.00 dollar per tree that is planted by Chesterfield. To receive your rebate just call one of the common ground trustee (see Trustees page) and leave your name and address for us to verify.
Rebate checks will be written each month and sent to your home address.
Shenandoah Subdivision is about 36 years old and several of our beautiful trees along the street are dead and need to be replaced.
The City of Chesterfield has implemented a program that will remove these trees at no cost to the resident. The criteria the City has set for this program is as follows:
1. The tree must be completely dead with no green leaves on the branches.
2. The tree must be in the area between the street and the sidewalk.
3. After removal the City of Chesterfield will not replace the tree and it is up to the homeowner, if they wish,
to replace the tree.
For more information on planting the right tree, click here to view the pamphlet below.
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As residents of our subdivision may know, we are faced with a severe erosion problem. To help control this problem, the Missouri State Soil Conservation Department experts have advised us to keep the common ground grasses mowed at least 4 to 6 inches high to help absorb and slow the water run-off.
We are asking all of the residents who do cut a portion of the common grounds to follow these new guidelines. The common grounds should look more like a meadow than a golf course. The Trustee thanks you for your cooperation on this new policy.
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Shenandoah Subdivision has contracted with Ameren, for a set fee, to replace any of the burned out light bulbs or light poles that are down. To get service, just call Ameren at (314) 342-1111 and give them the pole number found at the base of the pole and the street address.
Shenandoah Subdivision leases the land attached to the school to the Parkway District for one dollar a year. This lease saves the subdivision on maintenance costs while at the same time allowing residents to enjoy the land. As you may have seen lately, there is a considerable amount of work going on with the cutting of trees.
This work is the first stages of master plan that will include up to 50 to 60 new trees and bushes to be planted. This plan is being funded by the Parkway Schools in cooperation with the Missouri Conservation agency and will take about a year and a half to complete.
Update from David Fingerhut, Subdivision Trustee (February 17, 2008):
The PTO beautification committee of Shenandoah Valley School, in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Conservation – Forestry Division, identified trees on the school property and adjoining common ground that were distressed, diseased or in poor condition. These trees were marked with a green stripe and will be removed by the Parkway grounds staff, and during the PTO clean-up day. The forestry staff also developed a new tree plan and identified various species of trees to be planted on the grounds. The entire project is expected tot take from 2 to 3 years to complete.
Many of you have seen this bush growing in the common ground with its yellow flower. This plant usually is the first to bloom in the spring and one of the last to die in the fall. This plant, with its short roots and thick foliage, is responsible for crowding out other desirable growth such as trees. The Trustees are working with the Missouri Soil Conservation Department to come up with a plan to remove this harmful plant and plant more
environmentally friendly plants. As soon as we have established a plan we will notify the subdivision residents.
Detailed Description from the Plant Conservation Alliance
Japanese honeysuckle is a perennial vine that climbs by twisting its stems around vertical structures, including limbs and trunks of shrubs and small trees. Leaves are oblong to oval, have short stalks, and occur in pairs along the stem. In southern and mid-Atlantic states, Japanese honeysuckle often remains evergreen – its leaves remain attached through the winter. In colder northern climates, the leaves may fall off after exposure to prolonged winter temperatures. Flowers are tubular, with five fused petals, white to pink, turning yellow with age, very fragrant, and occur in pairs along the stem at leaf junctures. Stems and leaves are sometimes covered with fine, soft hairs. Japanese honeysuckle blooms from late April through July and sometimes into October. Small black fruits are produced in autumn, each containing 2-3 oval to oblong, dark brown seeds about 1/4 inch across.
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Ecological Threat
In North America, Japanese honeysuckle has few natural enemies which allows it to spread widely and out-compete native plant species. Its evergreen to semi-evergreen nature gives it an added advantage over native species in many areas. Shrubs and young trees can be killed by girdling when vines twist tightly around stems and trunks, cutting off the flow of water through the plant. Dense growths of honeysuckle covering vegetation can gradually kill plants by blocking sunlight from reaching their leaves. Vigorous root competition also helps Japanese honeysuckle spread and displace neighboring native vegetation.
Biology and Spread
A ubiquitous invader, Japanese honeysuckle thrives in a wide variety of habitats including fields, forests, wetlands, barrens, and all types of disturbed lands.
Growth and spread of Japanese honeysuckle is through vegetative (plant growth) and sexual (seed) means. It produces long vegetative runners that develop roots where stem and leaf junctions (nodes) come in contact with moist soil. Underground stems (rhizomes) help to establish and spread the plant locally. Long distance dispersal is by birds and other wildlife that readily consume the fruits and defecate the seeds at various distances from the parent plant.
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