Northbrook's Going
Green
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Reforestation
Program:
In 1976, the Village began an annual cost sharing reforestation program offering cost subsidized trees for planting on public parkways fronting residences and/or businesses. The program was implemented with initial seed money donated from the Northbrook Civic Foundation. Over the years, seventy-nine different types of species of trees have been offered and 5,375 trees have been planted.
Do you have questions regarding what trees are allowed to be planted on our parkways? What about what are the best trees to plant in Northbrook soil? Click here to find out: Tree Book
Did you purchase a new parkway tree or have a replacement planted? How do you care for your new seedling to grow? Click here for more information:
Tree Care Instructions for New Parkway Trees
Dutch Elm Disease - Tree Lots (Public and Private)
The deadly fungi, known as Ceratocystis ulmi, continues to doom most trees it infects. To date, no cure has been developed although several systemic treatments have been somewhat successful. The disease is transmitted by the bark beetle as well as through root grafts. The immediate removal of infected trees has been a proven control measure to slow the spread of the disease. During the growing season, the Village surveys the community for infected Elm trees. Trees on public property are removed as soon as practical. Property owners with confirmed infected trees are notified by certified letter to make arrangements for removal within ten days. Want to read more about it? Click here for more information:
www.elmcare.com/disease/dutchelm/dutch_elm_disease.htm
Trees - Emerald Ash Borer: Northbrook has passed an Ash tree nuisance ordinance in 2006, whereby any Ash tree (Fraxinus species) that is deemed to be infested with Emerald Ash Borer will be declared a nuisance by the Village. The owner will have 10 days to abate the nuisance and remove this infested tree at the owner’s expense. We encourage all residents with Ash trees to call a Certified Arborist to have their Ash trees evaluated for health. Emerald Ash Borer is more likely to infest a sickly or declining Ash tree than a healthy Ash tree. If a tree is in poor health, we encourage owners to have these Ash trees removed as soon as possible. Make sure that your contractor has signed a Compliance Agreement with the Illinois Department of Agriculture prior to allowing him to move the Ash wood from your property.
In the winter, your tree contractor can scrape sample branches in the canopy of your Ash trees to look for signs of Emerald Ash Borer larvae. In the spring and summer, your tree contractor can begin looking for “D” shaped exit holes and signs of the adult, brightly colored beetle that is bullet shaped and is small enough to fit on a penny. If your contractor finds Emerald Ash Borer, we will need to notify State and Federal officials immediately. If you have any questions about Emerald Ash Borer, call Northbrook Public Works at 847-272-4711 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Emerald Ash Borer Compliance Agreement
Be Mindful of your Firewood!
With your vigilance, we improve the chances that we can mitigate the rapid spread of Emerald Ash Borer into our community. Keep in mind that transporting firewood is a major cause for the spread of the insect. The current Federal Quarantine prohibits the movement of firewood from state to state. Buy firewood from sources that you know and ask them to certify it is not from Michigan, Indiana, Ohio or Canada.
Trees-Gypsy Moth: Northbrook is currently monitoring the Gypsy Moth population. 2007 marked the first year that Gypsy Moth was reported in large numbers on the east side of Northbrook. Gypsy Moth is a defoliating exotic pest that can strip all of the leaves from a mature canopy tree within a few days of feeding. Furthermore, the caterpillars become more problematic when their population booms and they cover structures and yards in the months of May and June.
The best time to control Gypsy Moth is in winter. A trained arborist can monitor your trees looking for signs of the tan egg masses on tree trunks which look like fuzzy velcro dots on the tree. Your arborist will recommend that the egg masses be sprayed with dormant oil to prevent the eggs from hatching in May. Additional control can be obtained by scraping the egg masses and soaking them in a tub of soapy water.
If you miss the winter control time, you can wait until May. The hatching time for the caterpillars is generally Mother’s Day. The young caterpillars can be sprayed with Bt, which is a biological insecticide that will prevent the caterpillars from maturing. Bt works on all caterpillars, so people who want to maintain their butterfly populations will do better by controlling Gypsy Moth in winter.
There is no County effort to control Gypsy Moth due to the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s emphasis to control Emerald Ash Borer, so all Gypsy Moth controls are initiated by individual homeowners.
http://www.agr.state.il.us/environment/pest/gypsymoth.html
Emerald Ash Borer
Gypsy
Moth
Tree Protection and Preservation Ordinance:
In 1999, the Village enacted a progressive Tree Preservation ordinance that has preserved over 12,000 trees on private property. The Tree Preservation Ordinance is intended to protect trees that are 6” or more in diameter. In some cases, reforestation is required for tree removal. Since the beginning of the Tree Preservation Ordinance, the Village has required over 6,000 new trees to be planted on private property. Tree Preservation has promoted and protected our urban forest and contributes to reduce CO2 emissions in our atmosphere.
Tree Preservation Forms and Information
Both of
these actions have helped promote and protect our urban forest.
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All trees located in any "required yard," which by Zoning code is set as the front, side or back yard, with a diameter equal to or greater than six inches (6") are protected in Northbrook by Northbrook’s Tree Preservation Ordinance passed on August 16, 1999. The ordinance further protects Landmark trees and established a new category of Heritage trees.
You MUST apply for a Tree Removal permit (no fee) and explain/justify the reason for the proposed removal of any protected tree.
If a permit is granted for the removal of a healthy Landmark tree, an inch for inch tree replacement or fee will be required.
When construction of any kind that will impact the trees on your property or in the public right of way is planned, please remember a few very important facts:
A permit application must be filled out any time construction is scheduled on your property.
Make sure there is one copy of the plat of survey attached to the tree preservation data sheet.
The plat of survey must show all trees 6-inches or larger in diameter at breast height (DBH) the proposed construction (for example: the area of a new addition, deck, patio, driveway, sidewalk or pool), and the planned construction access route.
Once the tree preservation fence is installed, it must remain in place and in good condition throughout the construction period.
For a complete copy of our Tree Preservation Ordinance, please call Department of Building and Planning Services at 847/272-5050, ext. 4215.