Why We Participate
We are part of the Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI), the largest initiative in the country building a healthier regional forest. The Plant Trees Campaign asks homeowners, property owners, and municipalities to plant at least one – two trees during the Chicago planting season. Together, we are helping to build a greener, healthier, and more sustainable Chicago area.
About the Campaign
Trees clean the air and water, help manage stormwater, improve property values, cool and save energy, create habitat for wildlife, and provide significant social and health benefits. In short, trees improve quality of life.
But the Chicagoland region urban forest needs your help. The region has lost over 13 million trees in recent years due to pests, storms, invasive species, drought, and a lack of funding for proper tree care. These issues are having significant impacts on the health and survival of the regional forest.
How You Can Help
You can plant trees or learn how to properly care for existing trees so that they grow to maturity and provide benefits to you and your community for years to come. #PlantTrees
#OAKtober
Plant an OAK TREE
OAKtober—Oak Awareness Month—is a great time to plant new trees. Planting oaks and companion trees in yards and public spaces can be a great way to help connect remnant oak ecosystems for birds and other wildlife. #OAKtober
Autumn Blaze Maple
Acer x freemanii ‘Jeffersred’
Popular hybrid of the silver and red maples combining the best attributes of both; stunning fall colors, excellent habit of growth, tolerant of conditions, fast growing.
Heritage River Birch (clump)
Betula nigra ‘Heritage (clump)’
Subtle chartreuse catkins in early spring. It has dark green foliage throughout the season. The pointy leaves turn an outstanding yellow in the fall. The peeling creamy white bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.
Redpointe Red Maple
Acer rubrum ‘Redpointe’
Showy clusters of red flowers along the branches in early spring before the leaves. It has green foliage which emerges red in spring. The lobed leaves turn an outstanding red in the fall. The furrowed silver bark and brick red branches add an interesting dimension to the landscape.
Advantages of Big Trees in the Landscape
Big trees have big benefits, both inside your landscape and beyond. Here are five great reasons to plant a new tree in your yard this year!
Quaking Aspen
Populus tremuloides
A delicate native of the North American forest, with showy white bark and leaves that flutter in the faintest breeze.
Parkland Pillar Japanese White Birch
Betula platyphylla ‘Jefpark’
Attractive variety, selected for its dense, columnar form; tightly branched, deep green foliage turns golden in fall; smooth, pure white bark for winter interest.
Niobe Golden Weeping Willow
Salix alba ‘Niobe’
Picturesque specimen tree featuring gracefully weeping golden branches; stunning when overhanging water; needs plenty of wide open space to achieve its finest form at maturity.
Time to Say Goodbye to Your Tree: Tree Removal
Seeing disease, dead branches, or a split trunk? It’s time to call the arborist. Here are all the signs to tell if a tree needs to be removed!
Latest Blog Post
The Top Must-Have Houseplants for Winter: Collector Favorites & Easy-Care Picks
Why Winter Is Hard on Houseplants Winter in Chicagoland can be especially rough on your indoor plants. With fewer hours of daylight, cooler window zones, and dry furnace heat pumping through the house, your leafy friends are dealing with a lot more than meets the eye....
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Bloomingdale: 222 W. Lake St., Bloomingdale, IL 60108
Carpentersville: 2400 Randall Rd., Carpentersville, IL 60110
ROCKFORD: 6101 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford, IL 61114 - Opening Spring of 2026
Hours: Mon-Sat: 9am - 6pm; Sun 10am - 5pm
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