Tree Removal in Elmhurst, IL

Tree Removal in Elmhurst involves trees with a history. In 1842 the land that became Elmhurst was described as treeless. The community was first called Cottage Hill when its post office opened in 1845, was renamed Elmhurst in 1869 and incorporated as a village in 1882. Most of the large shade trees on its older streets were planted by residents, builders or the city over the following 150 years. Many of those trees are now very large, and some are near the end of their lives.

Owners who stay

Elmhurst homeowners tend to stay put. Census QuickFacts shows a 79.9% owner-occupied rate, 91.8% of residents in the same house as a year earlier and a median home value of $545,400. About 19% of residents are 65 or older. Many of the trees we are asked about have been in the family for decades, and the owner has watched them slowly change.

Salt Creek and flooding

Elmhurst's topography has led to flooding after heavy rains, and the city has worked on major flood-control projects. A 150-foot-deep former limestone quarry west of downtown covers about 59 acres and can hold up to 8,300 acre-feet of stormwater diverted through a tunnel from Salt Creek. Trees in low areas and near the creek spend time in saturated soil, which weakens their roots. Those are the trees most likely to tip in strong wind after a long rain.

Signs it may be time

• A large dead section or a dead top
• Fungus or soft wood at the base
• A crack at a main fork that seems to be getting longer
• New lean, lifting soil or exposed roots after a storm
• Dead ash still standing
• Roots that keep invading sewer lines or lifting walks

Older homes and teardowns

Elmhurst has notable architecture, including homes by Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe and Walter Burley Griffin, along with many early 20th-century houses. Like other inner suburbs, it has also seen older homes replaced by new construction. Trees near rebuild sites often lose roots to excavation and driveways. Decline may show up two or three years later, starting at the top of the tree. If a tree beside a new house is thinning, have it looked at.

How we work on close lots

Elmhurst lots are often narrow, with garages on alleys and wires running through the trees. Removals here are usually done piece by piece: limbs are cut and lowered on ropes, the trunk comes down in sections and wood is carried to the street or alley. A crane may be used when a tree leans over a house and cannot be climbed safely. We explain the method in the written estimate.

Parkway trees

Trees in the parkway between the sidewalk and street are often city trees. Check with the city before having one removed. We work on private property only.

Stumps and replanting

We grind stumps below grade. If you plan to replant, grindings can be removed and replaced with soil, and a spot a few feet from the old stump is usually best.

Asking the right first question

Before talking about removal, it helps to know what the tree is and what is really wrong with it. Some declining trees respond well to pruning, mulching and watering. Others are past saving. We give you a straight answer, and if the tree can stay, we will tell you that too.

Contact

Call (630) 864-5605 or use the form. A written estimate follows the visit. Get a free estimate