Tree Removal in Downers Grove, IL

Tree Removal in Downers Grove carries more weight than in most suburbs, because the village was literally named for its trees. Settlers in 1832 picked the site for a lush grove of old-growth bur oaks standing out from the surrounding savanna, and some very old oaks still stand in yards and parks today. The village has been named a Tree City USA 28 times. When a homeowner here calls about taking down an oak, we treat it as a decision, not a routine job.

Should the oak come down?

A large bur, white or red oak can live for centuries, and an old oak that is merely shedding small twigs is usually worth keeping. Real reasons to remove one include a trunk with extensive decay, a large split at a main fork, roots cut or crushed during construction, or a crown that is mostly dead. Oak wilt, which kills red oaks quickly, is another. We will walk you through what we see and tell you if a reduction prune or deadwood removal is a better answer than a takedown.

Teardowns and tree damage

Downers Grove has seen a steady wave of teardowns, with older houses replaced by larger ones. The village's own history notes that this has increased runoff and flooding. It is hard on trees, too. New foundations and driveways sever roots, heavy equipment packs the soil, and grade changes bury root flares. A mature tree can look fine for two or three years after the build and then start dying from the top down. If you bought a newly built home with an older tree beside it and the canopy is thinning, that pattern is worth checking.

Ash still standing

Many Downers Grove streets lost their ash trees to emerald ash borer over the last fifteen years, but dead ash still turn up in backyards and along lot lines. Dead ash wood becomes brittle fast, so the longer one stands, the more likely it is to drop limbs and the more careful the removal has to be.

How a typical job runs

• We visit, look at the tree from all sides and note the house, wires, fences and gardens near it
• You get a written estimate with the removal method, cleanup and any stump grinding listed separately
• On the day, the work area is set up and limbs are lowered with ropes where there is no clear drop zone
• The trunk is cut down in sections or felled if there is room
• Brush is chipped, wood is hauled or left as agreed, and the site is raked and blown off

Nature next door

The village owns Lyman Woods, a 150-acre preserve of oak savanna, prairie and marsh bought in 1987, and Hidden Lake and Maple Grove forest preserves sit close by. Homes along those edges often have big native trees on the lot line. We only cut trees on your side of the line, and if a preserve tree is threatening your house, the forest preserve district or village is the one to call.

Reach us

Call (630) 864-5605 or send the form with a photo or two. We will set up a visit and give you the price in writing. Get a free estimate