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Coal City Green 2018

Marlee Harford — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 02:35:00 -0600

The residents of Coal City have purchased 112+ planted trees to date.

iTrees.com and Spring Grove Nursery are proud to introduce our Coal City Green program. We understand the importance of growing green after the June 2015 tornado and are offering a great opportunity for residents to rebuild their landscapes, while helping their community. Here's how it works:

* CHOOSE TREES

Shop our website where you can select trees to purchase online. You can choose to either have the trees delivered or planted. Use discount code COALCITY at checkout to receive 20% off your order.

Check our recommended species list designed specifically for the Village of Coal City.

* PLANT TREES

Next, iTrees.com shows up to deliver or plant your trees. All of our trees come from our locally grown nursery at Spring Grove Nursery, just outside of Coal City. Our trees are all top quality, and we're committed to providing a diverse & superior selection of trees to choose from. Our trees range in size from 2.0" caliper - 4.0" caliper and come balled & burlaped.

* FREE TREES

As, an extra bonus to your community, Spring Grove Nursery will donate to the City of Coal City 1 free tree for every 10 trees purchased by all residents through the program. These trees can be planted anywhere in your community- along a street, in a park, etc. The trees will be delivered free of charge to one location, and the City will handle the planting to further beautify your community.

* ENJOY YOUR TREES

This is the best part- newly planted trees throughout your community go to work improving the environment! It's that easy!

Click below to learn how these trees are at work in the community already.

Associations Involvement

Marlee Harford — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 12:43:00 -0600

We believe it is an obligation to our customers to provide the latest products and information from the Landscape Industry. These organizations make it possible for our staff to stay educated and up-to-date with all that is going on in our great industry.

They are also great tools for our customers to find accredited businesses for all their landscape needs as well as providing great articles about all that is current in the industry. The support and advocacy from these organizations for our fantastic growing industry are incredible.

Please take a look at each organization we are active with:

The Illinois Landscape Contractors Association serves as a forum for the free exchange of ideas among landscape contractors, their supplies, and the government, working together for a greener, more beautiful Illinois. It is a non-profit trade association that provides its members with the resources needed to enhance their performance and ensures continued growth and success.

The IGIA is a leader in the Illinois Green Industry. It is a non-profit association serving members in Illinois' nursery and landscape industry and one of the oldest agricultural organizations in the state. The association represents, educates, and promotes growers, nurseries, re-wholesalers, garden centers, retailers, irrigation contractors, landscape professionals, and other green industry businesses.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a non-profit conservation and education organization. The foundation is one of the largest non-profit membership organizations dedicated to planting trees, with over one million members, supporters, and valued partners. The Arbor Day Foundation is focused on making the world greener and healthier today, and for generations to come.

ACTHA provides information and education to boards, owners, and professionals involved with community associations, to help their organizations run more effectively and efficiently. They are committed to helping their members find accredited professional businesses to help with their community needs.

The Grundy County Chamber of Commerce is a source of Economic Growth in our local Grundy County Community. The Chamber of Grundy County proves an opportunity to its members through networking and marketing, supports tourism and educational excellence, ensures the continued success of area businesses, and supports the preservation of the area's natural resources.

The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce is a partner for the success of our business and the vitality of the Naperville Area community. The NACC is one of the state's largest coalitions of companies with 1,200 business Members. Check out our blog post about the NACC, to learn more.

CommuniTrees Active Partners

Marlee Harford — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 11:47:00 -0600

Thank you to our active partners! See if your community is enrolled!

Coal City

Palos Park

Lake Somerset Home Owners Association

Evergreen Park

Northbrook

Oak Forest

Alsip

Bloomfield Hills Home Owners Association

Cambridge at the Glen Home Owners Association

Cambridge at Countryside

Chesapeake Commons Home Owners Association

Chicago Ridge

City of Blue Island

Crossings of Gurnee Glen

Fairview Memorial Park

Five Oaks Lake Owners and Home Owners Association

Franklin Park

Glenview

Glenwood Manor HOA

Greywall Club Home Owners Association

Harbor Springs POA

Highland Woods

Highlands of Ogden Falls Home Owners Association

Kearney Glen Home Owners Association

Lakewood on Caton Farm Home Owners Association

Lakewood Falls Home Owners Association

Lakewood Prairie Home Owners Association

Morris

City of Munster, Indiana

North Barrington

Oak Creek Club Home Owners Association

Olympia Fields Park District

Parkside at Countryside

Prescott Mills Homeowners Association

Prospect Heights

Remington Lakes Home Owners Association

Skokie

Steeple Run Home Owners Association

Timbers Edge Home Owners Association

West Town Neighbors Association

Wicker Park

Windsor Townhome Association

Western Springs

NOT A COMMUNITREES ACTIVE PARTNER? CLICK HERE TO BECOME ONE

Giving Back is Important to Us

Marlee Harford — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 01:45:00 -0600

Giving back to the many communities we serve is very important to us. We know without these wonderful communities and their many efforts to help others, we wouldn't be able to be the successful, thriving business that we are today. Below are some of the many groups, foundations, organizations, and associations we have had the pleasure to work within. Our staff at iTrees.com are always looking to help any way we can.

Some of the many charities we support...

Grundy-Three Rivers Habitat for Humanity

Grundy-Three Rivers Habitat for Humanity knows the need for affordable housing. They are committed to helping families build long-term financial security, by providing housing for families with 0% interest rates and a place to call their very own. In 2011 Grundy-Three Rivers Habitat for Humanity purchased five lots within the city limits of Morris, IL, where they built their first homes. To assist struggling homeowners with repairs they launched "A Brush With Kindness" in 2016 and in 2018 they completed the building of their 13th home!

A home is not complete without landscape. iTrees.com knows the importance of saving money on energy with the help of trees to shade houses. Over the past years, we have helped with planting numerous trees at each home. "The look on the homeowner's faces when the trees are planted is priceless."- Kyle Bromberek

More Pictures...

Girl Scouts of Illinois

The Girl Scouts organization focus on many different aspects of life. This all-female environment teaches young women how to develop a strong sense of self, seek challenges, learn from setbacks, display positive values, form and maintain healthy relationships, along with identifying and solve problems within their community. We love how Girl Scouts center their environment around science, the outdoors, life skills, and entrepreneurship. They provide a great learning environment for girls of all ages.

Girl Scouts run an "It's Your Planet-Love It!" campaign within each Girl Scout troop. This campaign is focused on bringing awareness to the environment and protecting our planet. A badge the girls can earn is by getting to know trees and learning about their importance. iTrees.com loves to help the troops of Illinois earn this badge by teaching the benefits of trees and why they are important as well as planting trees in their community. Educating our youth is the most important way to keep trees thriving for the future. "He that plants trees loves others besides himself" -Thomas Fuller.

More Pictures...

Lions Club International

The Lions Club is a volunteer-run organization serving each community and helping where help is needed. They focus on the health and well-being of their communities and the people that live in it. Their mission is to serve each community and meet humanitarian needs.

In 2017, The Lions Club of Morris, IL made a commitment to beautify their community parks. We are happy and grateful they reached out to iTrees.com to help in this process. The great members of the Lions Club of Morris IL have raised money to plant 10+ trees in all 12 public parks throughout Morris, IL. We are glad we get to help in this effort and look forward to raising money and volunteering in the future for this movement. There are so many great benefits to planting trees in the parks of your community. Studies have shown trees and landscape reduce crime, reduce air pollution, safeguard against flooding, as well as many more wonderful benefits.

Click Here for more benefits of Trees

More Pictures...

The YMCA

The YMCA focuses on the strength of each community. They deliver positive change wherever they go. They pride themselves on the ability to listen to their community and act on whatever it is the people and community need. Allowing their communities to learn, grow, and thrive is their number one focus.

The YMCA of Morris, IL is a new up and coming non-profit in its community. The people of the YMCA have been working tirelessly to build a new facility for members and the community. iTrees.com is always happy to donate whenever we can. Whether it be raising money to achieve their goal, or volunteering at different events. In 2017, iTrees.com gave the children of the YMCA summer camp the opportunity to learn about the wonderful benefits of trees and help in the process of planting a beautiful tree at their local school.

More Pictures...

Annual Arbor Day Projects

Marlee Harford — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 11:07:00 -0600

"He Plants Trees to Benefits Another Generation"- Caecilius Statius

Arbor Day is a day set aside for celebrating TREES! In Illinois, we celebrate each year on the last Friday in April. It's a day to promote awareness and plant trees throughout the country. Arbor Day began in 1872 in Nebraska as a way to plant trees in this states treeless plains. J. Sterling Morton declared "to set aside one day to plant trees, both forest, and fruit." and the State Board of Agriculture accepted.

iTrees.com uses Arbor Day to educate our community about the importance of trees and bring awareness to the great benefits trees bring to our health and community. We get together each year with different organizations, foundation, schools, and other groups to plant trees on Arbor Day. This is always a fun day for us to teach others about what we love...TREES!

Local Community School Arbor Day Plantings

Educating our youth on Arbor Day is always fun. Since our youth is the next generation, it is important for us to teach children to plant trees. Watching students plant their own trees is very exciting for us and it is a day we look forward to each year. We have planted trees with community Girl Scout Troops as well as partnered with Spring Grove Nursery to plant trees with many local schools.

more photos...

Waubonsee Community College Arbor Day Planting

Waubonsee Community College has asked iTrees.com to help with their Arbor Day celebration for a few years. Waubonsee Community College is a "Tree Campus USA" member and in order to keep this status, they plan a tree planting celebration each year. One year we helped plant an Autumn Blaze Maple on campus with the Colleges administration and students. Another year, they had local elementary school classes come to their campus and help with the planting of several trees on campus. We take these opportunities to teach the importance of trees.

more photos...

Partnering With ComEd to Replant Coal City

Marlee Harford — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 10:55:00 -0600

In the wake of a devastating tornado, which ripped through the Village of Coal City during a late summer afternoon in 2015. iTrees.com, Spring Grove Nursery, and ComEd® partnered together to replant the streets of Coal City. The Village of Coal City had estimated around 50,000 trees that were lost that day. The value of trees to a community is very real- especially after they are gone. You can't put a price on the emotional benefits that trees provide, both through the memories attached to them or the way they make you feel, but you can quantify the economic & environmental benefits of trees.

The National Tree Benefit Calculator designed by Davey Tree Service in partnership with the US Forest Service estimates that a tree gives over $18,310 benefits to the community over its lifetime. In addition, it absorbs 306,039 gallons of stormwater runoff and 97,224 lbs of carbon from the atmosphere. Trees also help save energy by the shade they provide- up to 25,600 kilowatts/hours over its lifetime. Those facts are staggering when you factor the numbers by the number of trees lost in the Coal City Tornado. The loss of the tree canopy to the community of Coal City totals millions of dollars- both economically & environmentally. Which is why ComEd® contacting iTrees.com and Spring Grove Nursery to help alleviate this large loss and start bringing green back to the community.

Nearly a year after the Village and its residents had been working so tirelessly getting their community back together. iTrees.com, Spring Grove Nursery, and ComEd® put together a community-wide tree planting, which took place Arbor Day of 2016. There were 100+ trees planted on this day by local volunteers, ComEd, Davey Resource Group, Lewis Tree, iTrees.com, Spring Grove Nursery, and the Village of Coal City. The volunteers helped to plant the trees on cities streets throughout the devasted areas.

The process of rebuilding the tree canopy in Coal City will take some time, however, it will be done. We were very happy to help in this great Arbor Day event.

If you would like to continue helping with rebuilding the canopy of Coal City. Be sure to check out the CommuniTrees Partner Program iTrees.com and Spring Grove Nursery have set up to help the residents of Coal City as well as the city space.

more pictures....

Tree Campus USA and Tree City USA

Marlee Harford — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 10:44:00 -0600

Tree Campus USA

Becoming a Tree Campus USA is a great accomplishment for any college and community. The Arbor Day Foundation put together the Tree Campus USA program to promote tree planting, provide schools with the opportunity to receive grants, save energy and finances, and to beautify the campus itself. There are many benefits to this great program.

5 Tree Campus USA Standards to becoming and continuing status of Tree Campus USA.

There must be a Campus Tree Advisory Committee made up of students, facility, and members of the community. This committee will meet together to go over plans on how the school needs to continue its involvement in being a Tree Campus USA member.
There should be a Tree Campus Plan in place that clearly states its purpose, a responsible authority that makes sure the plan is carried through, policies for planting on the campus, protecting and preserving the policies, making goals and meeting targets, and assessment of any tree damage.
The campus must allocate finances for its annual campus tree program
There must be a yearly Arbor Day Observance to educate the community on the benefits of trees
Service Learning Project, this is to get students involved and volunteer to help plant trees and/or maintain trees on the campus

We know the great importance of the Arbor Day Tree Campus USA program and love to be involved as much as we can. In the past, we have helped plant trees to meet colleges Arbor Day Observance Standard. Partnering with Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove campus is one of our favorites. Each year Waubonsee Community College invites us to attend their Arbor Day observation. We take this opportunity to educate those in attendance about the many benefits of trees. In 2016, we planted an Autumn Blaze Maple with the administration of the College. This was a great opportunity to make the administration aware of why it is so important to budget tree planting and care and to explain the importance of the Tree Campus USA program. 2017, many elementary school students came to the campus to help plant 6+ trees along a berm to beautify the maintenance shed on campus. It was great to teach these young minds all about trees and watch their excitement while they became hands on.

More PIctures...

We are always looking for ways to become involved in Tree Campus USA standards. For more information on the Arbor Day Foundation Tree Campus USA, Click Here.

Tree City USA

Being a Tree City USA is very similar to a Tree Campus USA. There are 4 core standards for achieving a Tree City USA acknowledgment.

Having a Tree Board or Department
Implementing a Tree Care Ordinance
Generating an Annual Budget of a least $2 Per Capita
An Annual Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation

There are many benefits to becoming a Tree City USA aside from the beauty the trees bring. Being a Tree City USA makes your city eligible for many federal and state grants, crime rates are proven to lower significantly, and businesses flourish in Tree City USA's.

If you are interested in starting the process of making your City a "TREE CITY USA" please let us know, and we will be glad to start the process with you.

For more information on the Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA, Click Here.

Call before you Dig!!!

Marlee Harford — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 04:06:00 -0600

CALL BEFORE YOU DIG!

Safety first! When you place an order through iTrees.com and choose to have our team plant your trees, we take care of all the underground wire locates for you. It is very important for our customers' safety as well as our team to have a yard marked of all protentional underground wires before we begin digging.

When underground wire locates are marked it gives the customer great knowledge on where to have their new trees planted. We cannot plant a tree on top of any underground wire locates. This is for two reasons, one, digging on top of these markings can result in damage to the wires or worse the person doing the digging. Two, if a tree is planted on top of any utility wire you run the risk of that utility company having to dig up your trees in the future if there is every any work that is needed to be done on them. Since the utility company owns the wires, they have all rights to dig up what is on top of the wires, if there is ever a problem.

Luckily, locating underground wires is very simple and a free service available to anyone. If you are located outside of the city limits of Chicago, J.U.L.I.E, Inc. takes care of dispatching all utility companies when a ticket is requested. J.U.L.I.E makes it very easy to request a ticket and will have your yard located within 48 hours after the request is processed. After a 'dig ticket' is requested different utility companies such as Nicor, ComEd® city sewer, and water, for example, will show up and place flags as and spray paint on the grass indicating where the wires are and lead to. iTrees.com asks that you place your trees 4 ft away from any underground wire locate. We cannot start digging until we have received an all-clear notice, 48 hours after the ticket is requested

If you are located in the city limits of Chicago, DIGGER: Chicago's Utility Alert Network, manages all the underground wires locates only in the city limits of Chicago. They have an easy dig ticket request process and operate the same way as J.U.L.I.E. Again if iTrees.com is doing the tree planting you as the customer do not have to worry about contacting J.U.L.I.E or DIGGER. iTrees.com has to legally do the request since we are the ones conducting the digging.

If your tree planting is scheduled and you notice that you do not have any markings in your yard two days before your scheduled installation date. We ask for you to contact us and we will send out an emergency locate. The locates will then be done within 2 hours of the request and our installation schedule should stay on track as planned.

If iTrees.com is not doing the planting for you, it is very important that you send a dig request on your own, before you start digging. You can do this through their websites or over the phone. You will only need the county in which you are doing the digging and your address. They will then give you a dig ticket number and you will be cleared to start digging in 48 hours. links are below.

Dial 811 to reach J.U.L.I.E. Customer Support

Dial 312-744-7000 to reach DIGGERS Customer Support

Increase your property value. Plant trees!

Marlee Harford — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 02:47:00 -0600

The Spring housing market is ramping up to be a record breaker. According to Forbes.com, 2018's Spring housing market is without a doubt a "seller's market". With low inventory and high buyer demand, now may be the time to put your house on the market.

There are many features a buyer looks for when purchasing a home. Most features are personal preferences, but landscaping is overall a priority for the majority of buyers. Many national surveys have shown large trees on a property can increase the value of a house by 7 to 19 percent. Let's break this down a bit. The average price of a home in the western suburbs of Chicago is $350,000.00. By simply placing a large size tree in the front yard of your property you will have increased the sale price by at least 7% or $24,500.00. Instead of selling your house for $350,000.00 you could sell your house potentially for $$374,500.00. The return on investment makes total sense.

Why Do Trees Increase Your Property Value?

Established- The right tree placed in the right spot adds curb appeal. A buyer would look at a house with planted trees and think of the house as "well established". This translates too little to no work to finish the house, which in the real end means no added cost after the sale of the house.

Energy Efficiency- We all know trees provide shade, but do we know that shade provides property value? Look at it this way, when a buyer is looking to buy a home they are also taking into consideration the additional bills that home will acquire. Trees make for excellent energy savings on heating and cooling. The U.S. Forest Service, says "properly placed trees around a building can reduce air conditioning needs by 30%". Which is great money saved!

Privacy- The feeling of your yard being a tranquil space is much desired. Having a private, luxurious, and relaxing yard will add a desirable space which will translate to higher property value. This also goes back to the feeling of establishment or a "move in ready" backyard. Many buyers look at backyards as additional living space, with trees placed properly, you could potentially be adding square footage to your home.

Lasting impression- Trees provide a lifetime of beauty. Planting trees on your property will give buyers the satisfaction of contributing to their environment while reeking the benefits of its beauty in every season.

Trees can overall be a small investment that leads to a large profit. Many people would say updating your kitchen or bathroom will add the most value to your home, while this is properly true. Planting trees are not far behind that and may even add the most value. The age-old tale says "first impressions are lasting impressions" and the first impression of your home occurs when buyers first drive up to the house.

Buyers love the finished look!

Interested in knowing the average price of a home in your area? Click here for a median listing price map.

Arbor Day 2018 - Coal City

Marlee Harford — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 09:51:00 -0500

Spring is coming and it’s time to make Coal City Green! We are proud to be partnering again with the Village of Coal City and ComEd to plant trees on Arbor Day April 27. The goal is to get 150 trees planted in the community!

This year, residents will be able to select up to 2 trees for their yard from the list below at a cost of $100 each paid to the village. The rest of the tree cost will be covered by a Trees Forever grant, ComEd donations, and the village. Residents may plant the trees anywhere on their property or parkway. All residents will be asked to review the ComEd flyer outlining proper tree placement and be asked to sign the Trees Forever contract assuring proper care of the tree after planting. iTrees.com will be coming by to dig holes earlier that week and a team of volunteers from iTrees.com and ComEd will be planting the trees on Arbor Day. All tree orders will be placed & paid for with the Village.

Spring Grove Nursery has put together a great list of locally grown trees to choose from. The trees will be balled & burlapped large trees (1.5-2.0” unless otherwise noted) similar to the size of the ones planted at the Arbor Day event in 2016. To learn more about the trees, residents can visit either www.iTrees.com or www.SpringGroveNursery.com to view pictures & tree descriptions.

Choose from any of these trees (varieties available on a first-come-first-serve basis):

State Street Maple

Emerald Lustre Norway Maple

Red Sunset Red Maple

Autumn Blaze Maple

River Birch 14’ multi-stem

Northern Catalpa

Common Hackberry

Eastern Redbud

Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn 6-8’ multi stem

Skyline Honeylocust

Tulip Tree

Prairifire Pink Crabapple

Red Jewel White Crabapple

Norway Spruce 5-6’

Colorado Spruce 5-6’

Little Twist Cherry

Cleveland Select Ornamental Pear

Japanese Tree Lilac 5’ multi stem

Bald Cypress

Greenspire Littleleaf Linden

Princeton American Elm

In an effort to rebuild a healthy urban canopy, these trees have been specially selected to provide beauty & shade for many years to come. We specifically chose a diverse selection of trees to ensure that in the future the canopy will not be subject to disease or pests that feed on a certain tree. This variety of trees will also add beauty & changing features throughout the seasons. We hope that you enjoy the new canopy as it grows & flourishes in your community!

If residents wish to purchase additional trees or trees that are not on this list, the CommuniTrees Partner Program is still a great option.

Please see the CommuniTrees flyer for more info on this program and how to participate.

For more info or to get started, visit the Village Hall or call 815-634-8608 to reserve your tree & get GREEN!

Tree Digging at the Nursery- The most wonderful time of the year!

Marlee Harford — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 11:19:00 -0500

It is that time of year -The most wonderful time of year!

Tree digging at the nursery!

Tree digging is one of the most important times of the year at iTrees.com. There is a lot of time, work, and brainpower that goes into the weeks of tree digging in the nursery. Weather is the most important factor in this essential- time sensitive processes. In order to assure the best quality of life for each tree, trees must be dug out of the ground at the proper time. Ornamental trees, such as Crabapples, Serviceberry, Ornamental Pear, or Redbud, need to be dug out of the nursery fields before they start to bust their buds and bloom. Once a tree starts to bloom, it is no longer favorable for the future health of that tree to be dug out of the ground. As a general rule, trees should only be uprooted during their dormancy periods. Whether that be in the Spring before they leaf or bloom and/or in the Fall when the trees lose their leaves. For trees such as Maples, Oaks, Elms, or Honeylocust, digging before they leaf out is most important and evergreens like, Pine, Spruce, or Arborvitae, should be dug before or after they push their new growth. Evergreens should not be dug while they are pushing new growth.

Once, the weather warms up and stays at a consistent temperature, buds will appear on branches and quickly bloom or leaf out. This is why tree digging is so crucial and very time sensitive. While most trees can be dug out of the field during Spring and Fall, some trees can only be dug out of the ground during Spring. For example, Oaks, Redbuds, and Birch should only be dug out of the ground in the Spring and not in Fall. During Spring digging, the nursery will dig additional amounts of each tree to sell from the holding yard through Spring, Summer, and Fall. All of the trees that are placed in the holding yard are on drip irrigation and ready to be planted at any time. Once, the nursery has sold out of certain trees, and digging is over for the Spring. That certain tree can be ordered, but planting would have to wait for the trees to go dormant when the nursery starts to dig in the Fall.

The nursery uses different size tree spades to dig trees properly in the fields. Each root-ball needs to be the correct size for each individual tree and its size. Jamie, from Spring Grove Nursery, will start the digging process by hand selecting and tagging each tree. He will spend a few days among the trees, measuring the caliper of each tree and making sure each tree is perfect to Spring Grove Nursery’s quality standards. He then places a size and label tag on each tree. When it is time to start digging, the crew arrives at each tree with the spade attached to a skid steer and starts digging.

Below is an excellent video showing the digging process...

The spade will wrap around the base of the tree and start digging into the dirt. Once the spade has finished, the skid steer lifts the tree out of the ground, with most of its roots and soil intact. A few members of the crew are beside the tree waiting with a burlap bag and basket. The skid steer operator will place the tree into the burlap bag and set the tree into the basket. The crew members then seal up the bag and place biodegradable twine around the metal basket to hold the root ball together. After that is done correctly and very perfectly, a tool is used to crimp the sides of the basket to ensure soil/root security. This process will take around 2 minutes and 20 seconds per tree.

-There you have it, a perfectly dug 2.5 inch caliper Red Sunset Red Maple ready to be planted in your yard.

What are you doing on Arbor Day?

Marlee Harford — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 10:52:00 -0500

Arbor Day, the day set aside just to show the importance of trees in our everyday lives. J. Sterling Morton, who was living in Nebraska at the time, proposed the tree-planting holiday on 1872 as "Arbor Day". Arbor Day later became a legal holiday on April 22nd, 1874, which happened to be J. Sterling Morton's birthday. April 22nd, 1874, students of Nebraska came together to plant trees and celebrate. There were over 1,000 students in participation that day and more than a million trees planted. J. Sterling Morton said a wonderful speech and the rest is now history. To this day schools, businesses, organizations, and many more celebrate Arbor Day every year, in many different ways.

What will you do this Arbor Day?

Arbor Day is a great opportunity to educate and bring awareness to your community, on the importance of trees. There are so many wonderful benefits to trees. A single tree planted doesn't seem like a lot, but the benefits are endless for decades to come.

Here are some ideas of easy ways you can celebrate this Arbor Day. April 27th, 2018.

- Plant a tree of any size

- Read a book about trees- Books on trees

- Take a hike and identify trees along the way

- Become a member of the National Arbor Day Foundation

- Conduct an Arbor Day celebration within your community, ask your local official's to be involved

- Volunteer at your local park to help clean up waste

- Contact your city forester to honor their commitment to tree planting in your community

- Volunteer at a local school to help educate our youth on the importance of trees

- Check with your local events calendar to see if there is a celebration already in place

Feel free to visit the Arbor Day Foundation website for additional information and facts about Arbor Day. Let us know in the comments below how you will celebrate Arbor Day this year.

APRIL 27th, 2018

NOW GO OUT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Grower Talk- Digging and Planting Update

Marlee Harford — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 12:35:00 -0500

Becky Thomas, of Spring Grove Nursery, has an update on the tree digging happening throughout the nursery.

iTrees.com purchases most all of our trees through the wonderful wholesale nursery, Spring Grove Nursery, who also happens to be my sister-in-law. I plan to provide talks and information as often as possible to our iTrees.com customers, directly from Becky and Jamie Thomas, Spring Grove Nursery's owners and growers.

-GROWER TALKS!-

Becky Thomas- Spring Grove Nursery

"Spring has arrived at Spring Grove Nursery! We are in full swing of planting & digging now. The crews are also keeping up with pulling the trees in from the field to stage for shipping. We are already done digging several ornamentals and moving along with shade trees.

Our new crop of liners has arrived and is already planted! We could not be more happy with how perfectly the crop went into the ground. For more on planting check out our PLANTING 2018 VIDEO

As we continue digging, we will also start shipping soon. We will be pulling the trees in from the field to our loading area & our Holding Yard."

- This is great news for iTrees.com. iTrees.com and Spring Grove Nursery are both small, family-owned business who strive to help one another out. During early Spring, all labor efforts go towards digging trees in the nursery as well as the planting of the nursery's new crop. Once those things are finished, iTrees.com will be in full swing delivering and planting trees for our customers; all over the Chicago land area. You will see our crew members Kyle and Austin working hard providing the much-needed nursery help in the "PLANTING 2018 VIDEO".

We anticipate starting our delivery and planting schedule the first or second week of May. Orders can be placed at any time before or after this time. Planting large balled and burlaped trees can be done throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall; iTrees.com will be planting trees from May through November of 2018.

Blooming Brief- April 20th

Marlee Harford — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 03:38:00 -0500

April 20th- Blooming Brief...

Red Maple- believe it or not, if you look really close at the branches of a Red Maple you may see tiny little red, sometimes yellow flowers. You may have to look at the top of the Maple to see the blooms, as Maples usually produce this flower where there is the most sunlight. The small flowers are not known to be fragrant, but they are a great indication that Spring is on its way. You will often see the red flowers appear on Red Maple trees in early Spring. Often they are the first tree to flowering each year.

Here is our Red Maples...

Burgundy Belle Red Maple

Red Sunset Red Maple

October Glory Red Maple

Redpointe Red Maple

Sun Valley Red Maple

Grower Talk- New Trees added to the line up.

Marlee Harford — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 02:55:00 -0500

New Trees!

The staff at iTrees.com make it a priority to keep our customers educated and aware of the importance of planting a diverse tree canopy. When planting trees is it is best to plant diversity. Planting too many of the same kind of tree can be a worry for the health of the future tree canopy. All though we hope it never happens, we can never be sure when or if a disease, insect, or other deadly environmental cause will develop and wipe out one species or type of tree.

We believe it is important to encourage tree planting of all types and varieties. Placing a variety of trees in the landscape will ensure the tree canopy for many years to come.

"He who plants trees loves others besides himself"

- Thomas Fuller

Becky Thomas, from Spring Grove Nursery, explains their new trees that are available in 2018, as well as the new crop of trees planted for future.

"We have some fantastic fresh new trees in the field this spring! Some of the new varieties that we will be digging this spring are Heritage River Birch, Turkish Filbert, Worplesdon Sweetgum, Slender Silhouette Sweetgum, White Shield Osage Orange, Ruby Vase Parrotia, Pink Flair Cherry, Scarlet Letter Oak, and Jack Pear.

We also have a great new crop of liners to plant this spring. Some new varieties we are excited to be trying out are Spaeth’s Alder, Emerald Avenue Pyramidal Hornbeam, Fire King American Hornbeam, Heartland Catalpa, Red Fox Katsuratree, True North Kentucky Coffeetree, Sparkling Sprite Crabapple… just to name a few.

Supply is tight this season due to increased demand in the market. But don’t worry – we still have a great supply of trees available yet this spring! We will also be planting a full crop into the field as we have continued to do every year. Our consistent planting schedule over the years ensures our customers that we can supply their tree needs each season. With greater demand, however, early ordering & long-range planning will be a good way to make sure we have the trees ready in the season you need them."

Blooming Brief- April 26th

Marlee Harford — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 03:19:00 -0500

Royal Star Magnolia, Jane Magnolia, Leonard Messel Magnolia, Ann Magnolia, Dr. Merrill Magnolia... just to name a few. These beautiful, eye-catching trees are in bloom! What is not to love about this vibrant, colorful tree?

Magnolias come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some varieties have bright pink flowers, some are pale pink, and others are sparkling white. To top it off, their sweetly fragrant flowers are a sure way to kick off your spring.

Stop!- take in the sight of these beautiful trees as you're walking down the street. You'll understand why Magnolias are a much-desired tree.

Spring on the Farm

Marlee Harford — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 02:07:00 -0500

iTrees.com is located outside of Morris, IL in Chris's hometown. Mazon, IL- a very small farm community about 90 minutes just outside of Chicago. When you drive down route 47, headed toward our office, you'll find miles and miles of open fields. In mid Spring, you'll probably see a few green and red tractors working in those fields. Come through on a mid-sunny day and you'll feel the calmness come over you.

Some of you may already know, but alongside planting trees, Chris and Marlee own and operate a 5th generation corn and soybean operation. When Chris's father retired in 2012, Chris and I were able to take the farming operation over and now Chris works very hard to keep it going for future generations. SPRING, all though busy, is our favorite time of year! Currently, Chris is in the fields putting our 2018 corn crop in the ground. This is a long, weather dependent process. It takes many working hours, but when it's done we are grateful. In a "normal" Spring, corn will be planted first and then soybeans. Once the planting is done, the work is not over. There are many hours, days, and nights that go into growing a successful, profitable crop. Whether, it be selling last years crop, spraying this year's crop, or "scouting" fields for large weeds, which can interfere with the growth of the new crop. There always seems to be work that needs to be done. We are very proud to be operating our family farm which has been passed down to us through many generations. We love how we are fortunate enough to be able to show our children the importance of agriculture and how it impacts everyone's daily lives.

-Chris is in the planter, driving to the next location to start planting more corn.

When our customers come to visit and pick out their trees, we enjoy sharing our little piece of bliss. Customers get to see the fields of corn and soybeans growing all around the nursery. We encourage them to bring their children, grandchildren, and nieces, and nephews. Teaching and showing others this part of Agriculture, some never get to see, is an exciting thing. Super cool too, when customers come out to visit, in July or August, they are welcomed to pick and bring home fresh sweet corn. If you wait until Fall, you'll see the fields being harvested, which is an entirely different thing, with new excitements.

- Sweet Corn picking in 2017

- 2018 Corn corp being planted in the ground

- Mid Summer Sunset

Make an appointment to come out and visit us at any time!

Grower Talk- Grower's Picks

Marlee Harford — Tue, 01 May 2018 09:27:00 -0500

Have you checked out our "GROWER'S PICKS" category? If not, you need too!

All though all the trees we sell are exceptional, Becky and Jamie, of Spring Grove Nursery, have listed their favorite, proven performers. This list of trees has been known to withstand our unpredictable winters, drought-stricken summers, and long, cold springs. -we often time experience. They have shown to come out ahead though rough conditions within the nursery setting and homeowner's yard.

-Becky Thomas, explains why Spring Grove Nursery selected the trees they did, for their "Tried and True Selection". iTrees.com calls them our "Growers Picks"

"Tried & True Selections From your Growers at Spring Grove Nursery"

"Here is a highlighted list of trees we have found to perform well in our nursery and in the landscape. These trees thrive in our fields despite the extreme climate fluctuations we have experienced in recent years. We are always evaluating which selections seem to flourish despite a wide range of extremes, yet still, offer ornamental interest in the landscape. Everything we grow here at the nursery is worth merit, or we wouldn’t grow it! These are just a few selections that have caught our attention in recent years:"

Blooming Brief- May 3rd

Marlee Harford — Thu, 03 May 2018 02:03:00 -0500

Purple!!! Do you see that beautiful, native tree out there? The one with the little purple flowers- What is that? I NEED IT!

I know that is what you have been thinking the last few days...

Redbud! The answer is Redbud.

Redbud trees are fantastic. Their small purple flowers, close to each branch, really make a statement in any yard. If you pay attention as you're driving down the road, you'll most likely see a few wild Redbuds in the timber along your way. These native trees grow wonderful wherever they are placed. Their beauty does not stop at their early spring flower. Once the flowers fall off, a large heart-shaped leaf will emerge. Some Redbuds, such as Ruby Fall Redbud, even have heart-shaped purple foliage. Both the Ruby Falls and the Lavender Twist are weeping forms. The Eastern Redbud is the more common Redbud which will be 20-25 ft tall and wide. Eastern Redbuds can be placed in the open away from the house, or up close to a patio for shade as well as decorative. They are commonly found off corners of houses in landscape beds.

You will often see Ornamental Pears of all kinds on parkways. They have a large cluster of white flowers that fill the entire tree before the leaves pop. The new varieties of Ornamental Pear have a symmetrical look about them. Cleveland Select Ornamental Pear is the narrow variety. It has a 15' spread and 30' height at maturity, with a pyramidal shape. Aristocrat Ornamental Pear is a larger Pear. 40 ft tall and 28' wide makes for a large shade and ornamental tree. We can't forget about the little one of the bunch, Jack Ornamental Pear. This Pear tree is a great accent tree. It can be placed next to the house, or in the smallest of places. All Ornamental Pear trees have great red-orange fall color. Ornamental Pear trees have it all. White flowers in the spring, dark green glossy leaves, and bright red-orange fall color. All while acting as a wonderful medium-sized shade tree.

Serviceberry trees have a dainty feel to them. Their multiple small branches, which have white flowers in the spring, are great for the spot at the corner of your house that has always seemed to need something. They have a small red or blue, a berry that attracts birds. You can even harvest the berries to make jam, but you'll have to be quick to get them before the birds. Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry has proven to be a very strong tree, which has a fantastic shrub-like look.

Grower Talk- Soybean Cover Crop

Marlee Harford — Tue, 08 May 2018 11:16:00 -0500

Soybeans!

Cover crops are used for different reason across the world. The idea behind placing a cover crop in a nursery setting is to improve soil quality and increase organic matter. Soybeans are used as a cover crop throughout empty tree rows at Spring Grove Nursery, Inc. Soybeans will be planted in the Spring after a row of trees have been dug and the ground has been prepared. That fall the soybeans will be harvested and the following Spring a new crop of trees will be placed in.

Cover crops can improve soils fertility by adding or eliminating nutrients that are important to plant growth. Often times, nitrogen that is released into the ground after a cover crop is planted can eat away at the certain nutrients that were left behind after harvesting of the good. This is known to balance out the soils PH to prepare the soil for the best crop the following year.

Other benefits to cover crops-

Erosion control
Fertility improvements
Weed suppression
Insect Control
Nutrient retention/availability

Don't always look at covers crops as being a large operation. It is recommended and encouraged to use cover crops in your own personal vegetable garden. Peas, hairy vetch, wheat, oats, and grains rye are suggested after you have harvested all vegetables before winter. Be sure to till the cover crop up before it goes into seed and 3-6 weeks before planting your new vegetable crop.

Below is quick information from Becky Thomas of Spring Grove Nursery, as well as great pictures of last years cover crops.

"Our new crop of soybeans is up in the nursery! We use soybeans as our cover crop on areas in our field while the land is in between tree crops. The soybeans help add nitrogen back into the soil while holding our soil in place during the season as protection from wind & water erosion. Caring for our soil is a top priority at the nursery.

As we have mentioned before, Becky is the 5th generation on our family farm. We have kept our farms productive & healthy for so long by taking the utmost care of our soil. Becky’s Dad, Doug Harford, was one of the first farmers in the US to implement no-till farm management in his corn & soybean operation. Through years of no-till farming, our soil has become naturally porous & rich in organic matter.

By using cover crops & minimal tillage in the nursery, we can continue the legacy of conservation started many years ago on our land. We are proud to pass on healthy soils to the next generation!

PS: Shout out to Becky’s brother, Chris Harford for planting & harvesting our soybeans. Thanks, Bro!"- BECKY THOMAS

Check out these websites for more information on the benefits of cover crops...

- Illinois. Gov

- University of Illinois Extension

- United States Department of Agriculture

Blooming Report- May 16th

Marlee Harford — Wed, 16 May 2018 05:16:00 -0500

Crabapple trees have been in full bloom for over a week. Some are even starting to lose their beautiful flowers. You'll start to notice their leaves emerging soon. Now is your time to go out and pick a few blooms for your kitchen table centerpiece.

Royal Raindrops Crabapples have a deep purple leaf color throughout the spring/summer and Prairifire Crabapples have a mixture of deep purple and green leaves. Newer varieties of Crabapple trees produce a few small hard berries. They are not messy and provide a great appearance and character to the tree. Spring Snow Crabapple, however, has been bred to not produce any berries at all.

Whether it be the bright, pink or white cluster of flowers in the spring, the red, green, or gold crabapples, or the green and purple leaf color in the spring, you will not be disappointed with the wonderful appearance of a Crabapple variety.

The large pointy, yellow cluster flowers, sticking out among the dark green large pointed leaves, is a Yellow Buckeye! A great dense shade tree that will add color in the Spring to your beautiful yard. Bonus- it will have a yellow/red fall color too.

Grower talk- View From Above

Marlee Harford — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 02:24:00 -0500

My father-in-law, Doug Harford, spends his much-deserved retirement flying all over in his airplanes. He enjoys taking, "whoever wants to go", up in his 2 seater Kitfox plane. We love to take full advantage of this opportunity and would like to take you along for the ride...

Take the "high in the sky" tour of the nursery with Becky, of Spring Grove Nursery

Blooming Brief- June 5th

Marlee Harford — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 10:52:00 -0500

One might think by June, blooms on trees are non-existent. However, there are many trees that bloom later in the year. This is truly what makes these trees unique. They get their own special time to shine!

Tulip Tree

Standing 60 ft tall and 30 ft wide. The Tulip Tree is a remarkable shade tree. Its fast-growing nature makes it a much-desired tree. There are not many large shade trees that produce flowers and the Tulip Tree is maybe one of the most unique. You can't forget its large "Tulip" shaped green leaf. This is a tree that all your neighbors will stop to look at.

Northern Catalpa

Another large shade tree that produces a large cluster of bright white flowers. The large heart-shaped leaf in contrast with the flower in June is an eye-catcher. These trees are great on city streets and in your backyard for a dense amount of shade.

Pagoda Dogwood

It's white/cream small cluster of flowers on the tips of each branch makes for a fragrant delight. At maturity, the Pagoda Dogwood will be 20-25 ft tall and 20-25 ft wide. Its dense look will provide great privacy and a wonderful view.

H.O.P.E. Program Comes to iTrees.com and Spring Grove Nursery!

Brittany Johnson — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 01:18:00 -0500

It was a hands-on day in the nursery for IGIA H.O.P.E. program participants hosted by Spring Grove Nursery and iTrees.com and we're going to walk you through it!

H.O.P.E. stands for Horticulture Occupational and Professional Experience and the mission of this program is to share real-life industry knowledge and experience with high school and college students who are currently enrolled in a 2-year or 4-year horticulture or green industry related area of study. During the program, students are introduced to different professional aspects of the Illinois Green Industry and potential career opportunities.

“Literally this is the BEST time to be an aspiring hort professional. There is a huge shortage of qualified employees in this industry. I do not see many challenges or hurdles actually, only limitless possibilities!” says Becky Thomas of Spring Grove Nursery. For this reason alone it’s crucial for the future of the green industry that students with a background or an active interest in horticulture get involved and excited about real-life learning opportunities like the H.O.P.E. program. According to the IGIA website, there is a short list of student participant requirements which currently include free registration/participation with the stipulation of committing to attending the program and making an honest effort to engage in the day’s activities.

As event hosts this year, Spring Grove Nursery and iTrees.com took this educational opportunity very seriously, dedicating their resources and an entire workday to introduce students to nursery planting and growing productions, retail sales and website operations, and the tree delivery and installation processes.

When asked why this program was important to iTrees.com and Spring Grove Nursery, Marlee Harford said, “I believe it gives a great opportunity for students who are interested in the green industry to see first-hand this side of the industry is about. I also think it has the opportunity to become a more popular program and in the end, benefits the industry as a whole.” Becky Thomas replied, “In every industry, it is important to inspire & educate the next generation of employees. At Spring Grove Nursery we were very proud to be able to show and teach young students about what it takes to grow a tree from start to finish. It was a great opportunity for our employees to take a day off from their normal work and share what they do to grow quality trees. They were able to take pride in their job and hopefully inspire others to join this great green industry.”

Becky & Jamie Thomas of Spring Grove Nursery and their crew along with Chris and Marlee Harford of iTrees.com and their staff welcomed students early on a very chilly and windy Wednesday morning. Students gathered in the nursery and the hosts made their introductions. The students were joined by IGIA Executive Director, Kellie Schmidt and J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. nursery partner and friend, Roger Purcell.

Prior to the event, students were advised that this event would be entirely outdoors and to dress appropriately for the weather. This is all part of working in the horticulture industry, dealing with and anticipating inclement weather conditions.

The students, all bundled in hats, gloves, scarves and winter coats were lead on a hayride to the Northside of the 90 + acre nursery where this year’s fresh crop of trees are planted. The students broke up into two groups and headed to their workstations. One group would be staking and the other would be pruning before they swapping stations.

At the tree staking workstation rows of young Bald Cypress that were planted in March of this year were accessorized by tree stakes laying on the ground near the trees throughout several rows which caught the student’s attention. Soon they would be getting hands-on experience with the tree staking process. Before handing over the staking tape, Becky went over the importance of no-till farming and the grass strips in between nursery rows as to how it affects soil conservation in the nursery and her experienced crew demonstrated and explained the staking process.

Nearby at the pruning workstation students were led by Jamie and Roger. Students were handed pruners and were guided along in rows of River Birch, Maples and Chokecherry trees. Jamie and Roger explained the importance of pruning in the nursery, removing dead branches and more importantly shaping and structuring the trees so that as they mature the trees will take on an architecturally sound form, important not only for aesthetics but also for the health of the trees.

After a few working hours in the field, the students were undoubtedly thrilled for their lunch break! The unique lunch location was hosted by Doug and Deb Harford, parents of Becky Thomas and Chris Harford, in Doug’s airplane hangar. The students were welcomed by the perfectly selected menu for this crisp fall day, steaming chicken noodle soup, deli sandwiches, salad and a dessert tray catered by R-Place, a local favorite. Kellie with the IGIA took this opportunity to thank the hosts and gave an encouraging talk about the H.O.P.E. program.

Spring Grove Nursery and iTrees.com introduced the students to their websites. The internet and technological accessibility are taking on a critical role in how businesses in the green industry operate. iTrees.com is a leader in the green industry with more than a decade of experience as an E-Commerce business. Becky Thomas gave a brief explanation of how retail customers and wholesale clientele can utilize and navigate both websites.

Roger Purcell opened up discourse during lunch about his experience at J. Frank Schmidt and how what he does integrates with Spring Grove Nursery on a personal and professional level. Students were engaged and asked questions about the nursery and iTrees.com’s business operations.

After lunch students met on the Southside of the nursery and were introduced to the tedious process of taking inventory and the stages of harvesting. Again, they broke off into two workstations. Students were handed their very own calipers, donated by Dayton Bag & Burlap that they would soon be using and could later take home for keeps. Becky and Roger educated the students on proper caliper measuring and tree size labeling. Students teamed up and measured and tagged rows of beautiful Red Maples, just starting to get their notable fall color.

Meanwhile, just across the field Jamie and crew demonstrated the digging process. Students got up close and personal, helping to guide the Kentucky Coffee trees into the burlap and wire baskets.

From there the students took another hayride around the nursery where Becky and Jamie discussed the trees in the nursery including some inventory loss due to the uncontrollable winter elements Illinois experienced last year.

Students hopped off of the hay rack and walked rows of Eastern Redbud trees, Oak trees, Sweetgum trees, just to name a few, having conversations about tree identification, commenting on tree characteristics and then eventually ended up at the iTrees.com and Spring Grove Nursery Holding-Yard.

At the last stop for the day, students learned about tree maintenance and retail sales. Chris and Marlee Harford gave detailed explanations of the retail side of things regarding getting the trees ready and loaded for shipment. The students helped to load and tarp the truck as the iTrees.com crew showed and explained the equipment used for loading and unloading the trees on and off of the iTrees.com truck.

As the day came to an end, the H.O.P.E. students wrapped it up with a tree planting demonstration of a River Birch tree by iTrees.com. Students observed the process from start to finish, they were handed shovels and helped to backfill and plant the tree. Chris Harford discussed the importance of executing proper tree planting techniques, keeping a clean workspace and cleaning up well after the crew is done planting while Marlee talked about the customer service side of the business.

"Our goal is to leave the homeowners yard exactly the same as when we arrived only with a new tree there," said Chris Harford, founder of iTrees.com. Chris and Marlee emphasized that as an E-Commerce business, tree planting knowledge and quality customer service is the key to their success.

The takeaway, both iTrees.com, and Spring Grove Nursery are full of great “HOPE” for the future of the Illinois Green Industry!

“I hope that more students will see the benefits of job shadowing and see that there are careers in the green industry; It seems like more and more colleges are getting away from offering horticulture as a program and I hope that with this program it will bring to light the need for horticulture and labor issue within the industry.” – Marlee Harford

“The students really reacted with enthusiasm to the hands-on activities. Seeing how the equipment worked and then being able to jump in and try it for themselves was definitely a highlight of their day; I hope the program continues to build momentum and result in more students participating. At our event, there were only students from 2 community colleges and 1 high school. There is certainly room for more schools around the state to be represented.” – Becky Thomas

Check out our Video to see more photos from H.O.P.E. Day!

For students interested in learning more about the H.O.P.E. Program and how they can register for future events, click here.

Be sure to follow us on social media!

2018 Fall Color Recap

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 10:30:00 -0600

While fall color and intensity can vary year to year depending on the weather, this year’s colors have not yet disappointed. According to WeatherBug.com meteorologists, "Weather plays a very large role in determining how vibrant the fall color will be. A warm, wet period during the autumn will decrease the brightness of the foliage. A severe frost early in the season will likely kill the leaves, turning them brown and causing them to fall from the tree. Severe drought could delay the fall colors by two to three weeks."

So it seems here in northern Illinois we must've had the perfect mix of elements for fall color this year. If you haven’t had the chance to get out and take a look at these remarkable colors there may still be time this week to do so. Below is a short list of ideas for finding fall color →

Drive around your town, scenic and historic routes, local parks or state parks and simply take in the beauty of it all.
Take pictures and post to social media using the hashtags #itreesfallcolor #itrees or #itreeschicago to share with your community of followers— inspiring them to get outside and find the beauty of fall too! (We may even feature your photo on social media!)
Hit the trails & go for a hike! Starved Rock in Oglesby, IL is a great spot to visit this time of year!
Collect leaves in your neighborhood for a festive fall display, journaling or for crafts with the kids in your life.

Once you start looking around for fall color it will be hard to stop!

Marlee grew up in Illinois and the fall color in our area is very special to her. She looks forward to it each year as do most local residents. Check out our 2018 Fall Color Highlight Reel where she takes you out and about in Grundy County to discuss some of this year’s best fall colors!

Resources:

https://extension.illinois.edu/fallcolor/

https://www.enjoyillinois.com/

WeatherBug.com Meteorologists. "The Science Behind Fall Foliage." WeatherBug.com, https://www.weatherbug.com/news/The-Science-Behind-Fall-Foliage. Accessed 05 Nov. 2018.

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Fall Planting Brief

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 10:37:00 -0600

Here at iTrees.com, we take tree orders all year long even during the offseason. We plant trees May through November, which does surprise some of our customers. We get a lot of inquiries asking if summer or fall are "ok times" to plant trees or not. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time to plant is right now!

In all seriousness, summer and fall are a great time for tree planting. Regarding the trees’ health, it matters more so when the trees are dug out of the ground rather than when they are planted. To reduce stress on the trees, all trees should only be dug out of the ground when they are in dormancy. So either spring before they "leaf-out" or fall when they start to lose their leaves. But they can be planted at any time as long as they are properly watered. Our availability is dependent on the nursery and what they’re able to grow and when they’re able to dig. Spring Grove Nursery’s guideline’s for digging will dictate what and when we can plant.

iTrees.com will begin the planting season in spring and depending on the weather we will start to plant trees in mid-May. We continue to plant trees all throughout the summer and well into fall, up until the ground begins to freeze. This is usually right around Thanksgiving time, but just like the beginning of our planting season in spring, the end of our planting season is also dependent on the weather. Last year, we planted through the first week of December before the ground froze and we had to call it off for the year.

The nursery will do a spring dig and a fall dig. In spring, they’ll dig deciduous trees, such as Maples, Oaks, Elms, and Crabapples, just to name a few, before the trees have “leafed-out” and they’ll dig Evergreens after they’ve finished pushing their new growth (by the way, the smell of Spruce and Pines at that time of year is AMAZING). After the trees are dug they’re then placed in our holding-yard for rest of the year and put on irrigation until they’re ready to be loaded on the truck for delivery and installation.

For fall digging, the nursery will wait for the trees to enter dormancy before they dig and at that time whatever’s not in our holding-yard and needs to be dug will be done so on a dig-to-order basis. The nursery has a strict set of guidelines for digging, assuring that when your tree is planted, it’s the best time to plant for your tree’s health.

We had the pleasure of planting all throughout fall this year. Early fall is quite different from late fall, where it may be chilly in the morning but the sun still warms things up in the afternoons. You can check out the differences in the videos below from October to November (the first video was filmed in October and the other two are from November).

Our Crew Manager, Kyle Bromberek used his drone to film a chilly November day in the life of iTrees.com— beginning at the nursery loading the trees all the way to completing planting at the job site, planting in the snow!

At one of our last jobs this November, the iTrees.com crew planted 24 trees at this home which added privacy, shade, beauty and much more to the already beautiful landscape!

We have had a wonderful fall planting season and we're so happy to share these videos with you. We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below!

One more note, regardless of the season, the most important thing to remember is properly caring for your newly planted tree, this will assure a healthy tree for decades to come. Spring, summer and fall your tree will still need to be watered, according to our tree care instructions. Something that is a big help to our customers is our Treegator’s, they really simplify the watering process, worry-free watering! Also, for some trees going into winter, tree wrapping is essential, so if you have a newly planted Maple, for example, it’s a great idea to use DeWitt Tree Wrap, to wrap the trunk and protect it from frost crack and sunscald in the winter months. Learn more about these tree care options at the resources linked below.

Helpful Resources:

Tree Care Instructions

Purchase DeWitt Tree Wrap

Check Out the Tree Wrap Video Demonstration

Purchase Treegator® Jr. Pro Slow Release 15 gal. Watering Bag

Learn more about how ordering a tree online works here → https://itrees.com/how-it-works

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iTrees.com Joins the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 11:19:00 -0600

Last month iTrees.com received a warm welcome as a new Member of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce (NACC).

A significant portion of our customer base is located in Naperville, Illinois. Our office is not physically located in Naperville, however, as an E-commerce business based out of rural Mazon, Illinois it’s important for us to connect and build relationships within the metropolitan communities of our Chicagoland service area. Being involved in the communities that we serve is not only important for getting a pulse on the different area’s needs from a business standpoint but also so we can stay involved and can actively contribute to the vitality of each community.

The NACC is a large, accredited organization of 1,200 active business Chamber Members and being a Member of this Chamber will allow our business to learn and grow alongside other professionals in the Naperville area. The NACC's mission is to strive to drive economic growth through active engagement and advocacy within their business community. With approximately 40% of Chamber Members actually located outside of the City of Naperville, according to the NACC website, we are not alone in our venture to reach out and connect through the NACC.

Right away, we felt connected to other businesses in the NACC. iTrees.com owner, Marlee Harford humbly commented on the very warm welcome, “I think it is great that people from other businesses in the Chamber have taken the time to send out information about their businesses, as well as, simply welcome our business to the Chamber.”

The NACC regularly engages with their Chamber Members consistently through emails, regular newsletters and across all social networking platforms. The Chamber’s true success, however, is because of their diligence in building relationships on a personal level, “There will never be anything to replace face-to-face relationships… sitting down with other businesses, sharing stories and learning about their challenges and successes builds that trust. With that trust comes business. Relationships are business builders,” says NACC CEO, Nicki Anderson in her most recent President's Corner blog post.

There is a long list of upcoming events where business owners can meet and connect face-to-face. For more information on NACC's calendar of events check out their list of Programs & Events.

The Naperville Area Business Directory is just one of the many useful resources that they offer to their Chamber Members and area residents. There you can search for an array of trusted businesses and resources from A to Z! Check out our listing here!

Other Resources:

NACC Website: https://www.naperville.net/

Calendar of Programs & Events: https://napervilleilcoc.wliinc23.com/events?oe=true

iTrees.com NACC Directory Listing: https://napervilleilcoc.wliinc23.com/Landscaping/itreescom-26115

Learn more about our other association involvement: https://itrees.com/blog/post/associations-involvement

"Present's Corner - Lesson's Learned From NACC Members." NACC, https://www.naperville.net/presidents-corner/lessons-learned-from-nacc-members. Accessed 3 December 2018.

"The Region" NACC, https://www.naperville.net/the-region.html. Accessed 3 December 2018.

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5 Best Trees for Creating a Windbreak

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 03:14:00 -0600

Creating a windbreak is an excellent idea if you want to reduce the general wear and tear of your home and to help to reduce heating costs. Generally, a windbreak is made up of sturdy trees that help to redirect the wind over the top of the trees and in part filter through the trees.

Here we’ve listed our top 5 picks:

1. Black Hills Spruce:

This tree is tough, rugged, dense and cold-hardy which makes it our top pick for creating a windbreak.

2. Norway Spruce:

Norway Spruce has many uses, from a specimen tree in the landscape to act as a privacy tree or even as a large shade tree, to being used to create a windbreak.

3. Vanderwolf's Pyramid Pine:

Our third pick is the versatile Vanderwolf's Pyramid Pine. It can be used along property lines, in planting beds around the house or even in open areas of the lawn and of course, in windbreaks.

4. Green Giant Arborvitae:

This large and vigorous tree is great as a screen, hedge, single specimen or as a windbreak.

5. Colorado Blue Spruce:

This tree is a very popular choice and it does great in well-drained soils. Check out Marlee's Tips for Creating a Windbreak below, you'll see two rows of Colorado Blue Spruce are included in a 4-row windbreak.

Bonus Tree Suggestions & Tips

You won’t believe these bonus suggestions… include deciduous and clump form trees into your windbreak! Yes, you read that right! An excellent deciduous tree option would be the ever-hardy White Shield Osage Orange Tree. This is a single-trunk form tree and it's known for its hardy trunk and resilience against strong winds. Another great option would be multi-stem clump form trees such as Dogwood and River Birch trees. The caveat for this to work would be to do a row of Evergreens then a row of deciduous trees or clump form trees to add some texture and visual interest on your property. The second row could be staggered as well for added wind protection. Of course, the main protection from the wind would be the row of Evergreens. It's a good idea to diversify your plantings so that if there's a disease spreading it won't knock out your entire windbreak. Choosing between 2-3 varieties of trees should do the job and keep your property safely protected for many years to come.

One last note, the mature size of a tree should be taken into consideration when planting trees for a windbreak. Other things to consider would be the planting location in relation to the troublesome winds. Ideally, windbreaks are most effective when perpendicular to the prevailing winds. Typically, this would be the northern or northwestern sides of your home. To learn more about tree placement check out our knowledge base articles in our Design Center and head to our resources linked below for more detailed information. As always, if you liked this post please give it a thumbs up on social media or comment on the blog post below. We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Resources:

iTrees.com Design Center: https://itrees.com/kb/topic/design-center/

Plan Your Tree Layout: https://itrees.com/kb/tree-layout.html/

University of Illinois Windbreak Manual: https://web.extension.illinois.edu/forestry/iwm_complete.pdf

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iTrees.com's Year in Review

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 03:28:00 -0600

It was an exciting start to the year for iTrees.com with the beginning of the year surrounding preparations for the launching of our new website along with the normal hustle and bustle that comes along with getting orders and trees ready for spring delivery & installation. Heading into fall, Marlee had the awesome honor of receiving the 2018 Grundy County Women of Distinction Award and it was a great way to round out the year.

Below are our favorite moments from 2018:

New website launching in March- You're looking at it what do you think?
Attending the ILCA iLandscape Expo, which is always a fun start to the year
Arbor Day- We helped to plant over 100 trees in Coal City alongside volunteers from Spring Grove Nursery, ComEd & Exelon and with contributions made by the Village of Coal City, Trees Forever and The Morton Arboretum
Lakewood Prairie's CommuniTrees Launch Party was a great way to kick of our CommuniTrees Partner Program with this community, complete with a tree planting ceremony, a bounce house and face painting for the kiddos
Hosting the Grundy County Farm Bureau for their annual GC Farm Bureau Tour
Being recognized as one of the best in the 2018 Grundy County Readers Choice Best Of Awards
Marlee being honored with the 2018 Grundy County Women of Distinction Award
Hosting the H.O.P.E. Program Event alongside Spring Grove Nursery
Joining the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce
Bell Ringing for We Care of Grundy County & The Salvation Army

It’s been a great year and looking back we couldn’t be more grateful for our wonderful new & continued customer base, and for our friends and family who help us to succeed every single day! Thank you all, from the bottom of our hearts. From our crew to you, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a VERY Happy New Year!

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5 Best Tree Types for Adding Curb Appeal and Increasing Your Property Value

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 11:53:00 -0600

Simply put, curb appeal matters. Not only does it show pride in ownership but also care for your neighborhood and community. Also, if you’re a homeowner looking to sell, prioritizing your landscaping and planting healthy trees is the best, most affordable and easiest way to increase your property value AND the value of neighboring homes, according to Forbes.com. In addition, your Return on Investment (ROI) could be as much as a 20% increase. Yes, you read that right, 20%!

Below we've compiled our top 5 Tree Types for Adding Curb Appeal and Increasing Your Property Value. Under each tree type, you'll see a short list of suggestions. Please be advised that these are not exhaustive lists by any means and there are many more trees well suited for this task. So be sure to head over to our Shop Trees page when you're done here and check out our complete list of Tree Species and Collections.

1. Parkway & Shade Trees

Planting trees on your parkway is an easy way to not only beautify YOUR home but also your neighborhood. Street trees have many benefits, they moderate local climate, increase aesthetic value and they filter the air... just to name a few!

Shade trees can be planted around the home so that you’re optimizing your energy bill. “Large deciduous trees planted on the east, west, and northwest sides of your home create soothing shade from the hot summer sun and reduce summer air conditioning costs by up to 35%,” according to The Arbor Day Foundation. Now that’s something to think about!

Seedless Maple Trees: Sun Valley Red Maple, Autumn Blaze Maple, and Celebration® Maple just to name a few
State Street Maple Trees
Norway Maple Trees: Deborah Norway Maple, Emerald Lustre Norway Maple
Red Oak Trees
Elm Trees
Hackberry Trees
Kentucky Coffee Trees
Linden Trees
Purple Robe Black Locust Trees
Exclamation!™ London Planetree

2. Privacy Trees

When you plant privacy trees you’re actually planting a living wall and it becomes an extension of your home. It will make your backyard seem like a special private outdoor oasis. You can stagger trees, plant them in a row, you can plant them closer together, depending on the species, to create a hedge and you can even plant a variety of evergreen and deciduous trees for added aesthetic interest. There are so many options and you really can get creative here. It doesn’t have to be boring! The video at the end of this post will show exactly what we're talking about.

Birch Trees
Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry Trees
Pyramidal European Hornbeam Trees
Evergreens
Columnar Oak Trees: Kindred Spirit® Oak, Regal Prince® Oak, Crimson Spire™ Oak
Japanese Lilac Trees

3. Windbreak Trees

Not only will these trees add curb appeal and increase your property value, but homeowners could also see as much as a 30% reduction in heating costs!

See our list of the 5 Best Trees for Creating a Windbreak here.

4. Ornamental & Flowering Trees

Adding ornamental interest to the front of your home will draw the eye in and offer guests a warm welcome. These trees will intrigue the senses with their sometimes fragrant and beautiful spring flowers, bright fall color and through their branching structure and overall architectural appeal in the winter months. These beautiful features will be something special that home buyers can look forward to each season.

5. Long Living Trees

Have you ever heard the saying by Nelson Henderson, “The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”? It’s such a sweet sentiment and really the point is, not only you will see a return on investment but you will also have the assurance of many years of enjoyment for multiple generations and/or homeowners. Some of the trees listed below can have a lifespan of well over 100 years!

Bonus Video

Tree Tour with iTrees.com owner, Chris Harford!

Be sure to watch until the end and just wait until you see this homeowner's Privacy Trees!

Resources:

https://itrees.com/blog/post/sell-your-house-for-more-plant-trees

https://itrees.com/kb/topic/design-center/

https://www.angieslist.com/articles/4-ways-trees-add-value-your-property.htm

https://www.arborday.org/trees/benefits.cfm

https://www.arborday.org/trees/climatechange/summershade.cfm

https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliadellitt/2018/06/29/3-ways-to-increase-your-home-value-in-the-first-year/#3d359b7f4bf7

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"Jazz is about being in the moment."-Herbie Hancock

Marlee Harford — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 10:43:00 -0600

iTrees.com and Spring Grove Nursery were happy to attend and support our local Grundy County Morris Hospital 51st Annual Charity Gala. This year all proceeds benefit Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers' "Rhythm of Our Youth Program". "Rhythm of Our Youth Program" is a fantastic, free of charge program offered in over 14 different local schools by the staff of Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers'. The program is set up to prevent the occurrence of Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD), which claims more than 2,000 lives of children and adolescents in the United States each year and approximately 3-5% of the deaths that occur in children between the ages of 5-19. The programs' goal is to detect underlying heart conditions in our youth, which many times can be treated.

During the Gala, we had the pleasure of listening to three different beneficiary families of the program. All beneficiaries participated in the screening during school hours, which then resulted in abnormal EKG's. Since the program started 3 years ago there have been over 4,000 screenings and 90+ abnormal EKG's detected.

Overall, the event seemed to be a perfect success. iTrees.com and Spring Grove Nursery was happy to donate a 2.0-inch caliper tree of choice delivered, planted and warrantied for the event's silent auction.

references:

https://www.morrishospital.org/resources/rhythm-of-our-youth/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-cardiac-arrest/symptoms-causes/syc-20350634

https://www.morrishospital.org/support-us/fundraising-events/2018-morris-hospital-auxiliary-gala/

http://springgrovenursery.com/

https://itrees.com/

Fruit Trees, we got 'em!

Marlee Harford — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 11:38:00 -0500

Order your fruit trees today to be delivered and planted this Spring!

All pricing below is local to Grundy County only. If you are outside of Grundy County and are interested in our fruit trees please contact us.

All of our fruit trees will be in containers being approximately 6-7 ft tall. They can be picked up at the nursery by appointment only, or delivered and planted, starting in late May.

Nursery Pick-up: $100 each

Delivery and Planting: $200 each

Apple

Gala Apple- The Gala Apple is known for the large number of apples it produces. The golden apple will be ready to pick in early August and is a great apple choice for baking. If picked during their ripe period you'll enjoy its fantastic juicy-tart flavor. The Gala Apple tree will need another type of Apple tree to pollinate and produce apples. A good pick for a pollinator tree would be, Golden Delicious or Honeycrisp.

Honeycrisp Apple- Honeycrisp Apples are great pollinator tree for other apple trees, but you'll also need to have another apple tree nearby for the Honeycrisp Apple tree to produce apples. Honeycrisp Apples are bright red with yellow markings making for a pretty site in September when the apples can be picked from the tree and enjoyed for its juicy sweet-tart flavor.

Red Fuji- Medium to large in size with a light red-yellow mixed appearance. Its taste is juicy and crisp with a creamy white flesh. The sweet flavor can add a honey and citrus taste to your mouth. Fuji apples are often used to make jams and strudel or are great for pairing with sharp cheddar cheese. You'll need a pollinator close by and can expect to harvest the apples in late October.

Golden Delicious- This small to medium golden colored apple has a crisp, fresh, sweet flavor. The Golden Delicious apple is a well-rounded apple, great for slicing and placing on a fresh salad or baking into an apple crumble cake. It will need a pollinator close by but is also a great pollinator for other apple trees. Harvest in late September.

Cherry

Rainier Cherry- The color of the skin on this cherry is something to see. It's golden colored, kissed with tones of pink and red, make for an attractive sight. When you bite into it's golden inside you won't forget the sweet, caramel-like taste. Rainier Cherry are self-pollinators, so you'll only need 1 tree in your yard to produce these lovely cherries.

Bali Cherry- It's very deep red fruit with a kick of sour-tart taste make for a great choice for baking your favorite cherry pie or enjoying fresh off the tree branch. Very cold resistant which makes for a great adaptable tree in our climate. LIke the Rainer Cherry, Bali Cherry is self-pollinating.

Stella Cherry-You'll enjoy its early flower blossoms in the spring and have the pleasure of indulging in a large number of cherries produced in early summer. The Stella Cherry is one of the only self-fertile sweet flavored cherry trees. Its fruit is most popular for the fresh sweet flavor which can be eaten directly off the tree.

Pear

Comice Pear- You'll be surprised by their jumbo size fruit which it produces in early September, with a greenish-red color. You'll want to pear (ha!) your Comice Pear with a slice of Brie however because of it's large amount of juice they are not recommended for baking.

D'Anjou Pear- You'll enjoy its bright green fruit in late September when they are ready to be picked. Its crisp firm taste will sure to delight your taste buds. The D'Anjou will need a pollinator in order to produce fruit.

Peach

Reliance Peach- This Peachtree is cold hardy and adaptable, with red blush or orange color peaches. The compact size will be great for most locations, at maturity the Reliance Peachtree will be 8-10 ft tall and 8-10 ft wide. The mild sweet taste will be great for an afternoon snack or that perfect peach pie in the middle of summer. Self-pollinating.

Important Note: When fruit trees need pollinators that means you'll need another tree of the same kind but different species in order for the tree to pollinate and produce fruits. It will normally take 2-3 years for a fruit tree of any kind to start producing fruit after being transplanted.

Please CONTACT US to order any fruit trees.

If you have any questions feel free to comment below or contact us.

815-448-2138

info@itrees.com

1255 W Spring Rd. Mazon, IL 60444 (nursery location)

Top 10 Trees for Tight Spaces

Marlee Harford — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 10:38:00 -0500

We all have that one place in our yard that's too narrow, most larger shade trees will be too big, but smaller ornamental trees could be too small. You know the spot in your yard we're talking about... the one that's next to your patio and fence line? Is it in your backyard? Up close to the house? Along the street? On the side of the house...?

Here are Our Top 10 Countdown→

10. Little Twist® Cherry

What a cute tree! At 8-10 ft tall and 6-8 ft wide, it is great for smaller spaces, as well as, acts as an accent to complete your landscape. Put it up close to your house or in your landscape bed that needs a little height. In the spring you will be delighted by its small, white flowers with a dapple of pink in the center.

9. Cleveland Select Ornamental Pear

The best of all worlds. The Cleveland Select Ornamental Pear comes to life with clusters of bright white flowers first thing in spring. Its dark green glossy leaves will add character in the late spring and into summer. When in fall, you'll be amazed by its brilliant, red and orange firey-fall color. At maturity, the Cleveland Select Ornamental Pear will be 35 ft tall and 15 ft wide.

8. Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry is often found hanging out in landscape beds on the corner of houses. Sitting there in all its glory completes the look of the house. Placing them up close to a house is ideal because they will only be 15-20 ft tall and 15 ft wide at maturity. You'll enjoy its small white flowers in early spring and red berries in mid-summer. When fall hits the bright red fall color will catch your eye and you will be in love. Bonus: those red berries can be harvested for jam or baked in a pie!

7. Jack® Ornamental Pear

The perfect tree for under those electrical wires hanging in your front parkway. This dwarf tree will mature to 16 ft tall and 10 ft wide. You'll never have to worry about the branches getting into the overhead lines and you'll enjoy its clusters of bright white flowers in the spring and gold fall color right before winter.

6. Quaking Aspen

Picture this: you're sitting on your back porch looking out into the yard and you're enjoying the leaves of the Quaking Aspen glistening in the breeze. Its small leaves twinkle through the air. The dark green leaves pop against its bright white trunk and in the fall you'll be able to enjoy its striking, bright gold fall color. These trees are a great option for privacy in your backyard. They will grow to be 30 ft tall and 15 ft wide.

5. Pyramidal European Hornbeam

Pyramidal European Hornbeam is unique in its symmetrical and formal appearance. It is known for being particularly heat, drought, disease, and pest resistant. This tightly pyramidal tree with a strong form is best used in the landscape as an accent, for articulation, or as a tall hedge. Pyramidal Hornbeam is an excellent landscaping choice for privacy situations.

4. Regal Prince® Oak

A newer variety of columnar oak, the Regal Prince® Oak is an improvement over many older varieties of columnar oak. This tree is a cross between Swamp White Oak and the Columnar English Oak. Regal Prince® Oak has a stronger and fuller branching structure than other trees in this category, and the two-toned green leaves contrast beautifully. Regal Prince® Oak is resistant to mildew and is notable for its excellent columnar form.

3. Emerald Green Arborvitae

Emerald Green Arborvitae is one of the most popular arborvitae varieties and is known for its extremely narrow habit of growth. This narrow arborvitae has a bright green foliage color that holds well all winter. Emerald Green will grow about 12-14 ft tall by 3-4 ft wide.

2. Kindred Spirit® Oak

Kindred Spirit® Oak is a unique selection as it's among the tightest of columnar trees, narrow with a low canopy. Admirable foliage that stays a shiny, dark green throughout the growing season.

1. Red Jewel Crabapple

Red Jewel White Flowering Crabapple is our no. 1 recommended white flowering crabapple selection and it's no. 1 on our countdown for the Top 10 Trees for Tight Spaces! This tree EXPLODES with stunning, fragrant white flowers along its branches in mid-spring, which gives way to persistent red fruits in the fall.

Grower Talk: What's New for 2019

Brittany Johnson — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 11:55:00 -0500

Spring is always an exciting time of year around here! Spring Grove Nursery is busy in the field planting new tree liners and soon they'll begin digging.

This year, Spring Grove Nursery has us excited for the return of Rugged Ridge® Maple, White Pine and NEW to iTrees.com are Urban Sunset® Shantung Maple, Butterflies Cucumbertree Magnolia, Arnold Tulip Tree, Swedish Columnar Aspen, Hill’s Oak (Northern Pin Oak), Green Whisper® Bald Cypress, and the ever-stately Jefferson Elm! We can’t tell you how thrilled these additions make us!

While the majority of our superb high-quality trees will come from Chris’ sister’s family owned nursery- Spring Grove Nursery, on occasion we do purchase from other local, high-quality nurseries for specialty specimens that SGN doesn’t grow. This year, however, is different. Due to high customer demand, iTrees.com is proud to introduce specimen Juniper Trees from Doty Nursery to our website. Sizes and quantities will be limited.

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Blooming Brief is back— Yippee!

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 09:06:00 -0500

Here's What's in Bloom Right Now →

Magnolia

Magnolia buds hold tightly until they'll suddenly burst open with the return of the first warm day.

Red Maple

#funfact - they bloom! Take a look around and you won't be able to stop once you start noticing the red maples in bloom!

Here's a list of our Red Maples →

Red Sunset® Red Maple

Redpointe® Red Maple

Burgundy Belle® Red Maple

October Glory® Red Maple

Sun Valley Red Maple

Other similar options →

Autumn Blaze Maple

Autumn Fantasy® Maple

Celebration® Maple

Vernal Witchhazel

For comparison, here's what we saw in bloom last year →

Red Maples- April 20th

Magnolia- April 26th

Pear, Redbud & Serviceberry- May 3rd

Crabapple & Yellow Buckeye- May 16th

Tulip Tree, Catalpa & Dogwood- June 5th

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Grower Talk: Anticipation

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 07:26:00 -0500

Spring is Spring Grove Nursery's cue that the trees are beginning to wake up from their long winter's nap. The nursery runs a tight operation within a short 6 week period of time where they not only have dig all of their trees (and ours) for the spring and summer season but they also have to plant their new liner trees in the field. This is all on top of normal day to day tasks that they have to do. It poses its challenges but at the same time, it's what they live for. In Becky Thomas' words, "The challenges of springtime often make us wonder why we are in this business. But those same challenges – and the entire process of what happens in the spring – is EXACTLY why we are in this business. We love trees, we love the outdoors, we love the magic of spring, and we love that this is our job."

Last week when Becky was in the field getting a count in anticipation of which trees were next on the dig schedule for her crew to get out of the ground before they leafed out she was unexpectedly stopped in her tracks while photographing her trees.

"I was caught off guard by a different kind of anticipation – one that was unfolding before me. This anticipation presented itself as a brief glimpse of what is yet to grow on the trees for the rest of the season. We generally focus all of our efforts on staying ahead of the process so that we can complete our field work tasks. For that afternoon, it was nice to actually recognize this anticipation as the true gift that it really is."

What a beautiful sentiment and observation to usher-in the beginning of the spring season!

Check out SGN's blog post → https://springgrovenursery.com/anticipation/

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Blooming Brief: Redbud, Serviceberry, Ornamental Pear & More!

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 03:49:00 -0500

With the perfect 70 something weather, these trees started to bloom in and around Grundy County over this past weekend— the epitome of springtime! Some are just beginning to bud and bloom and some are in full bloom. Once you start looking around for trees that are beginning to flower, you won't be able to stop!

Let's take a look at what's in bloom this week →

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Best Trees to Plant to Attract Birds & Butterflies

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 11:00:00 -0500

Trees: The Ultimate VIP Lounge for Birds and Butterflies! 🌳🦋

There are SO many benefits to trees! Trees help save energy, clean our air, purify water, and even help to reduce stress. BUT have you ever thought about the benefit of the wildlife they attract?

Trees provide food and shelter for many species of wildlife, including the showcase of this blog post— birds, butterflies, and even moths. Trees produce fruit, seeds, nuts, nutlets, and flowers, all providing nutritious benefits to birds and other wildlife. Birds call many trees home and build their nests high up branches. In addition, trees are a safe harbor for butterfly and moth larvae, where their branches house them until they’re ready to open and fly away.

Birds and butterflies are also a benefit for our trees. Birds consume not just nectar and seeds but also feast on unwanted pests. This symbiotic relationship enhances the beauty of our environment while ensuring the health of our trees.

Choosing Trees to Entice Birds and Butterflies in Your Landscape

Selecting the right tree can transform your landscape into a thriving sanctuary for birds, butterflies, and pollinators. By choosing a tree that complements your space's mature size and placement, you can create a healthy habitat that adds value, shade, and natural beauty to your property. Our wide variety of trees in various shapes and sizes ensures the perfect fit for your Chicagoland landscape. Invest in a vibrant ecosystem today and enjoy the benefits for years to come!

Oak

If you're looking to attract a diverse array of wildlife to your landscape, look no further than the magnificent oak tree. These trees are not just beautiful; they're nature's very own wildlife hotels. Think about this, a single, mature native oak tree hosting over 500 species of wildlife! That's right— 500! This incredible statistic underscores the oak's status as the ultimate tree for fostering biodiversity.

Consider the bounty it provides: oak acorns are a nutritious feast for small mammals, while the tree's expansive canopy offers shelter and sustenance for countless birds and butterflies. From the cheerful songbirds to the striking Blue Jays and Nuthatches, your yard will buzz with the sounds of vibrant life when you incorporate oak trees into your landscape.

It's not just birds that benefit; butterflies, such as the stunning Hairstreak and Duskywing, thrive in the protective embrace of oak canopies, where they find food and safe places to lay their eggs. By planting an oak, you’re not only enhancing your own outdoor space but also contributing to the health of local ecosystems.

So, if you want to create a thriving sanctuary for wildlife and enjoy the beauty of nature right in your backyard, consider planting an oak tree. It’s a decision that will pay off in breathtaking scenery and the joy of watching the vibrant life it attracts. Make the choice today to support our winged friends and foster a rich, diverse habitat—plant an oak tree and become a steward of nature!

Autumn Brilliance® Serviceberry

Let Autumn Brilliance® Serviceberry turn your yard into one that enchants throughout the year. In spring, it dazzles with clusters of crisp white flowers, each adorned with sunny yellow centers, creating a breathtaking display that signals the arrival of warmer days.

As summer unfolds, these delicate blossoms give way to delectable, blueberry-like fruits that are not only a treat for your palate but also a culinary delight for wildlife. Picture the joy of watching Cedar Waxwings, Robins, and Baltimore Orioles flock to your yard, feasting on the luscious berries while adding a symphony of color and song to your outdoor space.

The beauty doesn’t stop there! Come autumn, the tree transforms yet again, showcasing brilliant foliage that ignites your yard with vibrant hues of red and orange. This seasonal spectacle captivates the eye and elevates the charm of your landscape, making it a true focal point.

With the Autumn Brilliance® Serviceberry, you’re not just planting a tree; you’re inviting a lively ecosystem into your backyard. It’s a source of beauty, flavor, and joy that you—and the wildlife—will cherish for years to come. Don’t miss the opportunity to enhance your outdoor experience; let this remarkable tree be the centerpiece of your yard or garden areas!

Pagoda Dogwood

Pagoda Dogwood is not just any tree; it’s a captivating Chicago native that can transform your landscape into a vibrant oasis. This tree's wide-spreading branches create a stunning horizontal design element, bringing a unique charm as it matures over the years. This ornamental flowering tree boasts a thick canopy of lush green leaves that spectacularly turn a bold red in the fall, providing a stunning seasonal display that will leave your neighbors in awe.

The beauty of the Pagoda Dogwood goes beyond its appearance. The small white clusters of flowers and the dark, blue fruit that grace its branches are not only visually appealing but also serve a vital role in our ecosystem. They attract a variety of pollinators, including the delightful Snout Butterfly, while also providing a sanctuary for songbirds. By planting a Pagoda Dogwood, you’re not just enhancing your property; you’re contributing to the environment and supporting local wildlife.

This whimsical tree is the perfect addition to any home’s landscape, offering both aesthetic appeal and ecological benefits. Don’t miss the opportunity to invite nature into your yard and create a picturesque setting that will enchant everyone who visits. Choose Pagoda Dogwood and watch your landscape come alive!

Birch

Birch trees are not just any landscape tree; they are a remarkable addition that can transform any outdoor space into a vibrant and inviting environment. Their versatility and adaptability make them suitable for various settings, whether in residential yards, parks, or commercial landscapes.

One of the most compelling reasons to choose birch trees is their stunning aesthetic appeal. With rich, serrated green leaves that transition to a breathtaking golden yellow in the fall, birch trees offer a dynamic display of color throughout the seasons. Additionally, their unique ornamental bark adds texture and character, making them a striking focal point in any landscape design.

Beyond their beauty, birch trees provide essential ecological benefits. They support local wildlife, serving as a habitat for numerous species. Their catkins, those delicate dangly flowers, are not only visually appealing but also act as a magnet for birds, butterflies, and moths. By planting birch trees, you’re not just enhancing your landscape; you’re also creating a thriving ecosystem that supports biodiversity.

Incorporating birch trees into your landscape is a decision that pays off in both beauty and environmental impact. They are a testament to nature’s elegance and a commitment to fostering a healthier planet. Don’t miss the opportunity to enrich your surroundings with these magnificent trees; choose birch and watch your landscape flourish!

Eastern Redbud

As winter's grip finally loosens, the vibrant Eastern Redbud will greet you with its stunning display of dark magenta buds that burst into soft blush pink blossoms. This breathtaking transformation not only captivates our senses but also serves as a vital lifeline for the local ecosystem.

As some of the first blooms of spring, these flowers attract a variety of native birds, from the striking cardinal to the enchanting rose-breasted grosbeak, as well as butterflies and moths. This tree plays a crucial role in rejuvenating our environment and providing essential nourishment for these fluttering creatures.

The enchantment doesn’t stop there; hummingbirds are particularly drawn to Eastern Redbud's delicate flowers, making it a must-have addition to any yard. By planting this tree, you not only beautify your surroundings but also contribute to the survival of these beloved species.

Let’s embrace the arrival of spring by celebrating Eastern Redbud. Plant one in your yard, and you’ll be rewarded with not just a feast for the eyes, but a bustling habitat beaming with life. Don’t miss out on the chance to support our local wildlife and create a vibrant sanctuary right outside your door!

Fort McNair Horsechestnut

Fort McNair Horsechestnut is a vibrant tree with bright pink flowers adorned with bold yellow centers, captivating everyone who passes by. These stunning blossoms burst forth in late spring to early summer, transforming the landscape into a breathtaking spectacle. The beauty doesn't stop there— Fort McNair Horsechestnut also hosts a lively celebration for hummingbirds, who flock to indulge in the sweet nectar of its showy trumpet-shaped flowers. One thing to note is recommended to keep this tree from areas where pets, horses, or grazing livestock may roam, as all parts of the tree are toxic if ingested.

By planting Fort McNair Horsechestnut in your yard or community space, you’re not just enhancing the aesthetic appeal; you’re creating a lively ecosystem that attracts these enchanting birds, bringing joy and wonder to everyone around. Don’t miss the opportunity to invite nature’s beauty into your life. Choose this tree and watch as it becomes a centerpiece of color and life, delighting both the eyes and the heart. Join the celebration— plant this tree and let the magic unfold!

Northern Catalpa

Northern Catalpa is a unique addition to spacious landscapes that not only enhances the surrounding beauty but also supports local wildlife. This magnificent ornamental and flowering shade tree is a sanctuary for large nesting birds, including majestic owls that grace your very own yard with their presence. But that’s just the beginning!

During late spring to early summer, the tree bursts into bloom with exquisite orchid-like bell-shaped flowers that create a breathtaking display. These blooms attract vital pollinators, turning your yard into a vibrant hub of life. Picture butterflies flitting gracefully from flower to flower, while hummingbirds dart in and out, drawn by the tree's nectar.

By choosing Northern Catalpa, you’re not only beautifying your space but also contributing to the health of the ecosystem. It's a perfect way to invite nature into your home while enjoying the serene ambiance that comes with a thriving environment. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to create a living masterpiece that nurtures both your spirit and the wildlife around you!

Vernal Witchhazel

Turn your yard or garden into a vibrant haven for wildlife with the enchanting Vernal Witchhazel. This charming shrub-like tree, reaching a modest height of about 8 feet, not only enhances your landscape but also plays a vital role in supporting local ecosystems.

As autumn approaches, Vernal Witchhazel reveals its delightful fruit, which bursts open to release black seeds. These seeds are not just a feast for the eyes; they are a cherished delicacy for native birds, drawing them in and creating a lively atmosphere in your outdoor space. Picture yourself enjoying the serene sight of various bird species flitting about, nourished by the bounty your garden provides.

By planting Vernal Witchhazel, you're not only adding beauty to your yard but also contributing to the well-being of local wildlife. It's a small yet impactful way to nurture nature and invite the wonders of the wild into your life. Don't miss the chance to cultivate a thriving environment that benefits both you and the birds. Choose Vernal Witchhazel and watch your landscape come alive!

Tulip Tree

Tulip Trees are not just any trees; they are majestic giants that can transform your outdoor space into a vibrant oasis of life and beauty. Picture this: standing tall and proud, these native wonders offer a generous canopy that provides ample shade on those sunny days when you want to unwind outdoors. That's just the beginning!

In late spring, Tulip Tree dazzles with its unique, tea-cup-like flowers, painted in stunning shades of yellow with vibrant orange centers. These blooms are not just visually striking—they serve as a magnet for the enchanting Ruby Throated Hummingbird, who flutters around, sipping the sweet nectar. We are already dreaming about the joy of witnessing these beautiful birds as they dance among the flowers!

Tulip Tree also draws in a plethora of butterflies and birds, including the elegant Tiger Swallowtail, cheerful Cardinals, and delightful Goldfinches. With such a diverse array of wildlife flocking to your yard, every glance upward becomes an adventure. Grab your binoculars, and immerse yourself in the captivating world of nature right outside your window!

Planting a Tulip Tree is not just about adding a tree to your landscape; it's about creating a thriving ecosystem that supports local wildlife and enhances your outdoor experience. Don't miss the opportunity to invite this stunning tree into your life and watch as it transforms your landscape into a vibrant haven for both you and the creatures that share our world. Choose a Tulip Tree today, and let nature's beauty unfold before your eyes!

Crabapple

Crabapple trees are truly a treasure among flowering trees, and their allure is undeniable. These trees burst forth boldly in spring with an explosion of flowers that coat the branches. Crabapple trees are moderately sized, making them ideal for any landscape— big or small. What truly sets crabapple trees apart is their breathtaking spring display. When they burst into bloom, it's as if nature has painted your surroundings with an artist's brush. The profusion of flowers attracts a delightful array of wildlife, including enchanting hummingbirds and playful butterflies that bring life and movement to your home's yard.

Why settle for an ordinary yard when you can cultivate a stunning landscape that invites nature in? With crabapple trees, you don’t just plant a tree; you create a vibrant ecosystem that fosters beauty, serenity, and joy. Don't miss the opportunity to enrich your space—choose crabapple trees and let their magic unfold in your landscape!

Moonglow® Sweet Bay Magnolia

Moonglow® Sweet Bay Magnolia tree has southern charm with a northern climate’s cold-hardy disposition! With this tree, you'll look forward to stepping into your yard during the warm months, greeted by the enchanting sight of Moonglow’s creamy-white, waxy flowers. Their vibrant, lemony aroma wafts through the air, creating an irresistible invitation for butterflies and other delightful pollinators. This natural spectacle not only enhances the beauty of your outdoor space but also supports the essential ecosystem around you.

What’s even more captivating is the possibility of a second bloom later in the season. This means you won’t just have one chance to witness the graceful dance of butterflies among your tree’s flowers; you’ll have multiple opportunities to experience this magical interaction with nature. By choosing Moonglow® Sweet Bay Magnolia for your landscape, you’re not just adding a stunning plant; you’re cultivating a vibrant habitat that celebrates life and beauty all summer long. Don’t miss out on the chance to transform your yard into a haven for both you and the pollinators!

Lilac Trees

Lilac trees are more than capable of transforming your yard or garden areas into a vibrant oasis that delights the senses and attracts enchanting wildlife. Although this tree may not be native, it thrives spectacularly in the Chicagoland area, proving itself as a resilient performer. Picture the stunning display of its fragrant panicles of creamy-white flowers, which not only beautify your landscape but also create a haven for butterflies and charming hummingbirds.

By choosing this tree, you’re not just planting a tree; you’re inviting nature’s wonders right to your doorstep. Embrace the opportunity to enhance your outdoor space with a spectacular bloom that captivates both the eye and the heart!

Most trees are a surefire way to attract beautiful singing songbirds and fluttering butterflies. To best help local ecology, consider native trees!

Overall, the trees on this list are each strong in their ecological roles in supporting both bird and butterfly populations.

Other trees that attract a host of birds, butterflies, and other wildlife:

There are plenty of other trees not listed here that are not often referred to when thinking about attracting birds and butterflies. Many other trees draw in an array of wildlife including birds and butterflies, although they may not be as well-known for these attributes. Check out the blog post linked below for more trees to consider for attracting wildlife.

What Trees Should I Plant to Attract Wildlife?

Other Helpful Resources to Checkout →

For further research, we’ve linked a few other resources below for you to check out.

Arbor Day 2019 Style

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 12:13:00 -0500

This year's Arbor Day tree planting celebration was attended by Parkview Christian Academy where the students learned about the history of Arbor Day, the importance of trees and even helped to plant a Greenspire Littleleaf Linden tree on the school's campus!

Check out the video slide show of the event →

Check out some of our past Arbor Day events below →

http://www.braidwoodjournal.com/content/arbor-day-activities-bring-bit-color-coal-city

https://www.morrisherald-news.com/2016/04/29/local-companies-come-together-to-replace-trees-lost-during-the-coal-city-tornado-last-year/ar96ug6/

https://www.daily-journal.com/news/local/tree-mendous-effort-to-green-up-coal-city-again/article_7e2a97f8-9538-53cb-b76d-6e138b6a1648.html

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Grower Talk: Elms & Oaks

Brittany Johnson — Fri, 03 May 2019 11:00:00 -0500

Let's see what was going on in the nursery this time last week... before all of that rain!

The nursery was busy digging trees and hauling them to the holding yard last week before the torrential downpour started! Check out the digging and hauling action videos below!

Check it out! →

Elms!

Oaks!

Want to pick out and tag your own tree this spring? Call now to get scheduled for your tree tagging appointment!

815-448-2138 or email us at info@itrees.com

Resources:

SGN Blog- https://springgrovenursery.com/blog/

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Blooming Brief: Crabapple & Chokecherry Trees

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 06 May 2019 11:00:00 -0500

What's in bloom— week of May 6th

Crabapple Trees take the show in mid-May! They explode with white, rose-pink & fuchsia flowers! You won't be able to miss this spectacle of trees and their fragrances (if only these pictures were scratch and sniff!)

This week you'll also notice Canada Red Chokecherry Trees with their small, soft panicles of white blossoms in bloom.

Be sure to stop and take in the beauty of it all or better yet, plant your very own Crabapple or Chokecherry Trees and you can enjoy them year after year!

Are you in Chicagoland and looking to enjoy Crabapple flowers right now? Check out Chicago Botanic Garden and take a Crabapple Walk— https://www.chicagobotanic.org/walk/crabapple

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Tree of the Week: Eastern Redbud

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 08 May 2019 11:00:00 -0500

Is this a popularity contest? Well, maybe and if it is... Eastern Redbud might just be the winner of our hearts!

Eastern Redbud is the essence of spring! Its bloom time ranges from April to May. The flowers are small and a bright pink to fuchsia color that appears tightly held along the widespread branches.

Reasons we love it →

Attractive heart-shaped leaves ♥
Adorable spring flowers
Buttery yellow fall color
Moderate to a fast growth rate
Comes in a single stem or multi-stem clump form (clump form is excellent for privacy & screening)

Check out some pictures of Eastern Redbud in our nursery & holding yard setting!

*For more information head to our Eastern Redbud product page to see more pictures and get tree statistics.*

**Be sure to check out the VIDEO below!**

Resources:

Eastern Redbud Product Page: https://itrees.com/eastern-redbud.html

The Morton Arboretum Tree Description: https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/redbud

GardenClips YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GR6I2kZkjc

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Tree Planting Day: What You Can Expect

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 13 May 2019 03:49:00 -0500

You've just made the best decision of your life: You've decided to have iTrees.com (not us *blushing*) deliver and plant your tree for you. Before you know it, our expert tree-planting crew will be on their way with your new tree— ready for its new home!

To help ensure a smooth tree-planting day, we've put together a few tips and a helpful tree-planting-day checklist.

Get the Checklist Right Here.

Utility Locates & Planting Site

Scheduling:

Before our crew arrives, we’ll be in contact with you about scheduling. Please keep an eye on your email and your contact information up-to-date.

You will receive an email with about a one-week notice to coordinate your tree planting date and time. Please be sure to add us to your contacts so that you don't miss any communications.

If you can’t be home for the planting, that is no problem at all. Our crew will happily plant wherever you’ve indicated. So long as they have adequate access to the site and the area is marked— they can get the job done.

Utility Locates:

Upon scheduling your planting, we will need to submit a J.U.L.I.E. dig ticket. We do this for the safety of everyone and because it is the law.

Use a labeled white flag or stake to pre-mark the planting site. This is helpful to the utility company locators and to our crew. Please communicate where you want to plant with us before you’re scheduled. This way, we can have that information when we put in the dig ticket.

Next, utility companies will then come out to mark out where any underground utilities are using either spray paint or flags (sometimes both).

J.U.L.I.E. does not locate private utilities. This is the responsibility of the property owner. We will not be responsible for any damages incurred. Examples of private utilities would be, septic, irrigation, any private electrical or gas line, and more. Please be sure to have these located before our crew arrives.

Planting Site & Access:

Please be sure to select a planting site about 5-10 feet away from any stump. Our crew cannot plant on top of a stump. Flexibility is needed.

Our crew will need adequate access to the site. Please be sure to communicate any instructions for accessing the site, and any issues to the iTrees.com staff in advance.

Delivery & Planting

On the day of planting, your tree will be hand-selected by the nursery. That is unless you have come out to our holding yard and tagged your tree ahead of time. Our crew will have your trees loaded on the iTrees.com truck, secured, and ready to go very early in the morning. You can expect delivery within the two-hour time slot found in your scheduling email.

We try to be as diligent as possible to notify you if we are running early or late. If there is inclement weather in the forecast, we will wait to call you until the day of planting. If we need to postpone planting, we will get back to you about rescheduling as soon as we can.

We will dig the hole either by hand or using our Toro Dingo. The Toro Dingo is a 3 Ft Wide piece of equipment that is as turf-safe as they come. The Toro Dingo is used to move the trees off the truck and to their location. It is also used to help dig the hole for planting. In some cases, such as a narrow pathway, our crew may use a ball cart to move the tree.

After we dig the hole using the Toro Dingo, the crew will plant the tree, backfill, and mulch around it. There can be situations where hand-digging to plant is needed. We will also haul away any leftover dirt or sod. It’s important to us that your home looks as it was (or better) when we leave, except for now it has a tree there!

Tree Care

The most crucial part of tree care is watering. Newly planted trees require routine and thorough watering regularly for at least 3 years after planting.

Water Your Tree Immediately:

Water your tree immediately after planting. Consistent tree watering with a newly planted tree for the first few growing seasons will ensure a healthy tree for many years to come. The growing season in Chicagoland is usually mid-April to the middle/end of November. Yes, you will still need to water your tree throughout fall.

Water Once a Week:

Once a week, put your hose at the base of the trunk and let the hose run on a very slow trickle for one hour. Quality hoses are a good investment. They will last the longest and will hold up when left outside. There are a few options here.

You can use a traditional garden hose, or for more controlled water release, use a soaker ring, soaker hose, or a tree watering donut.

Pro-Tip →

Use a slow-release watering donut. This method is hands down the easiest and most efficient way to water your tree. Tree watering donuts take a lot of the guesswork out of watering. Our crew should have these on the truck, available for purchase at the time of planting. Also, you're welcome to order from our website directly, at the link below.

Order Tree Watering Donut HERE

View Full iTrees.com Tree Care Instructions HERE

For long-term tree care, have an Illinois Certified Arborist get eyes on your tree at least once a year.

Our customers highly recommend SavATree & Bartlett Tree Experts. Or, you can find an IAA Illinois Certified Arborist in your area right here.

Understanding Transplant Stress

Your newly planted tree is an investment— so you care for it like the asset that it is. You water it, nurture it, and then one day you start to see some leaves yellowing and browning, dropping even. You ask yourself, "Is my tree dying?"

We understand this can be a scary thought, and we are here to reassure you that your tree is probably not dying. Instead, the tree is suffering from what is commonly called transplant shock or transplant stress. iTrees.com takes careful precautions to minimize stress on trees during the delivery and installation process. Please understand that signs of stress due to transplanting are normal and expected.

What it Looks Like:

Yellowing and browning of leaves

Leaves wilting and dropping

What Happens if My Tree Is Dying:

Trees are living organisms. Sometimes, they do not make it. There are a few reasons why this could happen. We will personally work with you to remedy the situation and your concerns or replace your tree through our iTrees.com Assurance™ Full Replacement Warranty.

We are here to help. Please do not hesitate to call us to discuss your tree planting in more detail. We look forward to getting your tree in the ground- so you can start reaping the multitude of benefits it will provide.

Thank you for choosing iTrees.com!

Tree of the Week: Red Jewel White Flowering Crabapple

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 15 May 2019 11:49:00 -0500

This tree is often our no. 1 choice for homeowners looking for a stunning flowering crabapple.

Here's why we love this gem of a tree →

♦ Explodes with stunning fragrant white flowers mid-spring

♦ Persistent red fruit in the fall

♦ Small versatile size

♦ Safe to plant under utilities

♦ Upright oval shape

Check out pictures of Red Jewel in our Holding Yard!

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Blooming Brief: Horsechestnut Trees!

Brittany Johnson — Fri, 17 May 2019 04:27:00 -0500

Let's take a look and see what's in bloom this week!

Autumn Splendor Horsechestnut

Autumn Splendor Horsechestnut, a very attractive ornamental hybrid, is an excellent choice. Dark green, shiny leaves are scorch resistant and turn vivid maroon-red in the fall. Beautifully adorned in springtime with short spikes of yellow flowers. Attracts wildlife with its production of large nuts. Marlee and Chris have one of these beauties planted at their home!

Fort McNair Horsechestnut

Fort McNair Horse Chestnut is an attractive, medium-sized, round-headed, shade tree. In spring it will show off its yellow-throated pink blooms, followed by golden foliage in the fall. This tree is favored by hummingbirds. These aren't currently available this year but if you look around you may spot them in bloom! Heres' a few pictures of one that was seen in Morris! Its foliage is pretty noteworthy too so I included a picture of its leaves too since they're huge and beautiful!

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5 Best Flowering Shade Trees

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 21 May 2019 11:03:00 -0500

Flowering shade trees are really in a category all of their own. They can sometimes grow to be quite large and offer substantial shade. Yet they bloom, with delicate bright flowers! Plant a flowering shade tree and your home will surely be the showcase of the neighborhood!

Here are our top 5 picks →

1. Tulip Trees

One of the tallest native trees of Eastern North America, Tulip Tree features uniquely shaped leaves. The best part is they're hard to spot from afar but if you look closely you'll see large yellow tulip-shaped flowers!

2. Linden Trees

Linden Trees are a magnificent shade tree option. They have a formal, pyramidal shape and will bloom in early summer when many flowering trees have long finished their bloom cycle. Linden flowers are fragrant with dainty yellow petals. A true delight!

3. Catalpa Trees

These native trees are as hardy and tough as they come! Don't be fooled by their somewhat rugged appeal, in late spring to early summer they will show off with large panicles of beautiful white flowers! Definitely, a sight to see!

4. Black Locust Trees

Purple Robe Locust has bluish-green foliage which emerges burgundy in spring. The oval leaves turn yellow in fall. It has chains of fragrant rose pea-like flowers with yellow eyes hanging below the branches in late spring. This tree is definitely a head turner worth paying attention to!

5. Ornamental Pear Trees

Ornamental Pears are extremely versatile. Perfect for the parkway, and are a great option for the front or back landscape of the home. They provide shade and will work well as an accent tree. These beauties will get stunning clusters of white flowers and are the first of the season to emerge! Check out the video below to learn more!

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Tree of the Week: American Hornbeam

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 22 May 2019 02:51:00 -0500

We are honoring the Red, White & Blue this week with the tried and true, American Hornbeam!

American Hornbeam is a widely adaptable small ornamental shade tree. Outstanding red-orange fall color sets this tree apart! You may actually know this tree by a different name, Blue Beech, Ironwood, or Musclewood— all inspired by its unique trunk and bark!

American Hornbeam is often used as an accent in the landscape due to its smaller size. However, it can definitely still be used as a small shade tree! It can be used anywhere from open spaces to parkways.

Reasons we adore this American beauty →

Chicagoland native
Unique foliage (leaves) that emerge with hints of reddish-violet before changing to a dark green and then turns a vibrant red-orange color in the fall
Small Tree (15-25 feet)
Extremely versatile in the landscape
Attracts wildlife

Check out this VIDEO slideshow of American Hornbeam in the nursery!

→ Head to our American Hornbeam product page to see more tree pictures and get tree stats.

Resources:

American Hornbeam Product Page- https://itrees.com/american-hornbeam.html

The Morton Arboretum Tree Description- https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/american-hornbeam

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Grower Talk: May Notes from the Field

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 23 May 2019 02:50:00 -0500

Spring Grove Nursery is our sister company and our main tree supplier. April and May have been really wet at the nursery! We had snow at the beginning of April and then lots of rain this month with even more rain in the forecast! Our trees are looking healthier than ever but when we have inclement weather it affects not only the work in the field but also our delivery and installation schedule. We are very busy staying on task and getting orders out as fast and timely as possible and we appreciate our customer's patience with us and all of this unpredictable weather.

Let's take a closer look at what's been going on at the nursery this month.

SGN Tree's Notes from the Field →

"We started out May pretty wet, and it seems that we will end the month in the same boat. But despite the weather, we have had a very productive spring none the less! We finished our evergreen digging and are wrapping up pulling the last ones in from the field. Our Above Ground Holding Yard is well stocked and the trees look better than ever! We have been busily shipping hundreds of trees out daily, and we will continue to ship daily for projects coming up in season. Next, we will transition to the rest of our spring field work like pruning, staking, mowing, and spraying. The newly planted liner crop has been enjoying these spring rains, and they all appear to be off to a great start.

Our fields have been shining with beautiful flowers and fresh green foliage this spring... Springtime in the nursery always brings a fresh perspective on a bright future ahead!"

- Becky Thomas of Spring Grove Nursery

Here are a few pictures of Crabapple in the field, loving the rain, thriving and exploding with fragrant blooms!

Check out Spring Grove Nursery's blog post to see more pictures from their May field notes!

https://springgrovenursery.com/may-notes-from-the-field-4/

Resources:

iTrees.com Crabapple Selections https://itrees.com/shop-trees/shop-by-tree-species/crabapple-trees.html

SGN Blog https://springgrovenursery.com/blog/

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Blooming Brief: Dogwood & Hawthorn Trees

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 28 May 2019 03:25:00 -0500

Let's see what's in bloom— Week of May 20th through the week of May 27th

Take a look on through of what we spotted in bloom at the end of last week and over the long weekend! Dogwood and Hawthorn trees began blooming in our area last week. Hawthorn is already beginning to wrap it up but they were seen in full bloom over the weekend in Evanston which is about 2 hours north of our nursery and holding yard. Also, spotted in Evanston over the weekend were more Horsechestnut trees pushing out those beautiful yellow trumpet-like flowers!

June Snow™ Dogwood

Pagoda Dogwood

Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn and Winter King Hawthorn are in bloom in our holding yard now!

Here's a bit of what you may have missed on our Instagram and Facebook stories from over the weekend and what we spotted in bloom in Evanston!

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Tree of the Week: Redpointe® Red Maple

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 29 May 2019 11:54:00 -0500

Redpointe® Red Maple is one of those tried and true selections that we can't say enough about!

Reasons why we think this tree is on point →

Exceptional tolerance to high pH levels (which can cause some maples to yellow prematurely, this is called chlorosis)
Beautifully consistent red fall color
Remarkable pyramidal form
Perfect shade or parkway tree
Moderate to Rapid growth rate
Strong central leader and sturdy branch structure

Check out these pictures of Redpointe® Red Maple in the Nursery and in our Holding Yard!

Check out the *VIDEO* below to learn more about Red Maples

Resources:

Redpointe® Red Maple Product Page- https://itrees.com/redpointe-red-maple.html

J. Frank Schmidt Redpointe® Maple Page- http://www.jfschmidt.com/redpointe/

Spring Grove Nursery's Tried & True Selections- http://springgrove99.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Tried-True-Selections.jpg

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Blooming Brief: Tulip Trees!

Brittany Johnson — Fri, 31 May 2019 04:56:00 -0500

Tulip Tree, named for its whimsical teacup, tulip-like flowers are in bloom RIGHT NOW!

If you stop to take a look, you may notice that they're almost something out of the imagination of author Lewis Caroll's mind.

Tulip Tree is native to Eastern North America and can grow to be as tall as 60 Ft Tall at maturity with a width of 30 Ft Wide! Tulip Tree is a flowering shade tree meaning it will offer significant shade due to its size and density when its fully leafed out in spring and summer but will also flower once a year, usually in mid-late spring in the Chicagoland area.

Here are a few reasons why we love this tree →

Rapid growth rate
Beautiful spring flowers— yellow, tulip-like flowers that are painted with brushstrokes of orange and green in their centers
Unique leaves
Gold to yellow fall color
Extremely tolerant tree

Check out these pictures of Tulip Tree seen in bloom in Grundy County!

Bonus *VIDEO* of Chris Harford, iTrees.com owner dishing on this tree in the nursery!

Chris says, "Tulip Tree... which is a really cool tree that's starting to become really popular. There's a bunch of really neat things about this tree!"

If you love this tree be sure to check out Arnold Tulip Tree and Emerald City Tulip Tree!

Arnold Tulip Tree is unique from the native Tulip Tree in that it has a narrow/columnar form getting to be about 15 Ft Wide at Maturity, allowing itself to shade and beautify smaller landscapes. Whereas, Emerald City Tulip Tree still grows to be quite large with more of an upright oval form and darker, more glossy deep green foliage.

Resources:

Tulip Tree Product Page- https://itrees.com/tulip-tree.html

J. Frank Schmidt Tulip Tree Data Sheet- http://www.jfschmidt.com/pdfs/tuliptree.pdf

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Tree of the Week: Greenspire Littleleaf Linden

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 11:08:00 -0500

Greenspire Littleleaf Linden is likely the tree people think of when they think of a Linden. It's beloved for its formal look, a strong central leader which lends itself to a symmetrical and pyramidal form.

Reasons why we love this magnificent Littleleaf Linden →

Strong central leader
Very uniform pyramidal form
Tolerant of urban conditions
Very adaptable and versatile in the landscape
Fragrant flowers in spring
Outstanding gold fall color

Resources:

http://www.jfschmidt.com/pdfs/greenspirelinden.pdf

http://www.jfschmidt.com/articles/lovelylindens/

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Grower Talk: June Nursery Notes

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 11:33:00 -0500

Spring Grove Nursery has a new office building and location in the works which ultimately will be more practical not only in the way of location (up near the nursery instead of its current location on the family farm) but also the way it functions for their business, their crew and our business as well. In conjunction with this change, the above ground holding-yard has been relocated for better access and loading.

The nursery has over 1000 trees ready for planting in our holding yard right now!

Check out some pictures of trees in their new location →

June in the Field

The amount of rain we had in May was absolutely record-breaking. Now, with a few dry days in the forecast (finally) and the holding yard well stocked, the nursery has begun their fieldwork. The nursery crew is carefully pruning, staking, spraying and mowing getting their trees off to a healthy growing season. Weed control is a top priority.

As Becky Thomas of SGN Trees says, "This time of year it is extremely important to maintain the clean trees and fields in a timely manner. By doing this we can successfully grow a healthy crop year after year. A little bit of work on the front end prevents a lot of work later on. We are happy with the progress we are making so far in the fields to keep weeds and pests out of our fields!"

Read more about their fieldwork in their June Notes From the Field blog post!

Resources:

https://springgrovenursery.com/new-above-ground-availability/

https://springgrovenursery.com/june-notes-from-the-field-5/

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Tree of the Week: Skyline® Honeylocust

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 09:31:00 -0500

As the name suggests, this tree offers the perfect contrast to our beautiful Chicagoland skyline.

Reasons we adore this tree →

Unique leaves
Podless and thornless
Offers a relaxing dappled shade
Rapid growth rate
Yellow-gold fall color
Very adaptable
Broadly pyramidal shape at maturity

Check out these pictures of Skyline® Honeylocust in our holding yard this year!

Product Review: Skyline® Honeylocust

Thoughts From the Field: Skyline® Honeylocust

Going back to 2017, Easter week when Chris Harford, owner, was in the tractor doing some tree planting. Here he discusses the many pluses of planting a Skyline® Honeylocust tree.

Resources:

Skyline® Honeylocust Product Page https://itrees.com/skyline-honeylocust.html

J. Frank Schmidt Data Sheet http://www.jfschmidt.com/pdfs/skylinehoneylocust.pdf

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Blooming Brief: Northern Catalpa & Japanese Tree Lilac

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 10:08:00 -0500

Check out these beautiful images of Northern Catalpa and Japanese Tree Lilac Trees in bloom! These were spotted and captured by our very own, iTrees.com owner, Marlee Harford in the Coal City area this past weekend!

Northern Catalpa

Japanese Tree Lilac

Resources:

J. Frank Schmidt Data Sheet https://www.jfschmidt.com/pdfs/ivorysilklilac.pdf

J. Frank Schmidt Data Sheet http://www.jfschmidt.com/pdfs/northerncatalpa.pdf

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Top 10 Best Accent Trees

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 09:27:00 -0500

Accent trees are like the accessories of your home's exterior. They accentuate your landscaping, add personality, beauty, and act as a focal point in your yard. Accent trees tend to be small to medium sized trees, however, they are certainly not limited to that size requirement.

One of the best things about accent trees is their versatility and depending on size, they can be placed in a variety of places. Put them in your garden beds, near entrances, as an exclamation point in the landscape, or anywhere in the yard that needs a little extra something to draw in the eye.

1. Hot Wings® Maple

Hot Wings® Maple is a rare combination of the dependability of a Maple plus a refreshing decorative quality, all in one tree.

2. Whitespire Birch

Whitespire Birch trees are also commonly used in the front or back landscape to provide accent or anchoring, or around a deck or patio to provide shade and screening.

3. Pagoda Dogwood

Whether it's white flowers, blue fruit, or red fall colors, this tree provides beauty in every season making it a great choice for any yard.

4. Jack® Ornamental Pear

Jack® Ornamental Pear is a one of a kind Ornamental Pear tree. A dwarf growth rate results in a tree that matures at less than half the size typical of the species.

5. Winter King Hawthorn

Winter King Hawthorn is the new "in vogue" accent tree for home use, and with good reason. Winter King has clusters of white flowers in mid-spring. The glossy, pointy leaves turn yellow in the fall. The fruits are showy red berries carried in abundance from early fall right through to late winter.

6. June Snow™ Dogwood

June Snow™ Dogwood can be enjoyed all year long with its ornamental features of white spring flowers, unique fall color, and interesting branching structure that plays contrast against the winter snow. Place this tree where you need extra screening or privacy or as an accent in the landscape.

7. Eastern Redbud

This knockout blooms early in spring and is later adorned by large heart-shaped leaves. Its dainty pink-purple blooms attract hummingbirds, butterflies and are sure to stop your neighbors in their tracks. This tree either in single trunk form or multi-stem clump form is perfect in the landscape as an accent to the front or back landscape and adds a bit of privacy screening too!

8. Worplesdon Sweetgum

This outstanding specimen will instantly make it the focal point of any landscape.

9. Amur Flame Maple

This Maple tree is a hidden gem! It flowers, it's smaller and with a rounded crown with interesting foliage. It's truly one of the best ornamental Maples around, perfect as an accent in the landscape or near your back patio.

10. Taylor Juniper

Taylor Juniper has it all! A unique columnar form, handsome silvery blue-green foliage that will turn shades of bronze in the winter, powdery blue berries that dot the branches spring to winter and rugged exfoliated bark.

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Tree of the Week: New Horizon Elm

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 11:45:00 -0500

New Horizon Elm is a hybrid between the Siberian Elm and Japanese Elm. Highly resistant to Dutch Elm disease. Classic upright form with unique double-serrated leaves offers a beautiful texture in the landscape.

Why we love this hybrid elm →

Upright oval form
Large Tree (more than 40 feet)
Excellent shade tree and parkway tree
Cold Tolerant
Disease Resistant
Interesting double-serrated leaves

Check out these pictures of New Horizon Elm from our holding-yard & at a job site!

Be sure to watch the *VIDEO* below to learn more!

Resources:

New Horizon Elm Product Page- https://itrees.com/new-horizon-elm.html

The Morton Arboretum Tree Description- https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/new-horizon-elm

Missouri Botanical Garden Tree Details- http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d471

J. Frank Schmidt Data Sheet- http://www.jfschmidt.com/pdfs/newhorizonelm.pdf

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Blooming Brief: Linden Trees!

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 10:38:00 -0500

You may have seen them and even smelled them this past week... they are none other than sweet, sweet Linden Trees!

According to Spring Grove Nursery's Instagram post last week, "American Lindens (aka Basswood) are blooming in the field! Did you know the flowers or honey from lindens are a natural remedy for colds, fever, high blood pressure, and anxiety?" Now, how neat is that!?

Check out these pictures of Linden Trees from around the Grundy County area!

Resources:

iTrees.com Linden Trees https://itrees.com/shop-trees/shop-by-tree-species/linden-trees.html

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Tree of the Week: Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 09:30:00 -0500

Nothing is quite as *BRILLIANT* as this week's tree!

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry is covered in stunning clusters of white flowers in early spring, and its dark green foliage turns to a brilliant brick red in the fall. It produces edible reddish-blue berries in late spring, which can be consumed by humans or wildlife. Not enough can be said about this beautiful and useful tree.

**Why we love this BRILLIANT tree →**

It's a 3 season tree!
Dainty, white spring flowers
Small Tree (15-25 feet)
Versatile shrub-like form: great for ornamental purposes, as an accent near a patio or deck, or for privacy and screening
Rapid growth rate
Edible Blueberry-like fruit, yum!
Attracts Wildlife
Striking red-orange fall color

Check out these pictures of Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry in each season!

Spring

Summer

Fall

Resources:

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry Product Page- https://itrees.com/autumn-brilliance-serviceberry.html

J. Frank Schmidt Data Sheet- https://www.jfschmidt.com/pdfs/autbrillianceservice.pdf

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10 Perfect Ash Tree Alternatives

Brittany Johnson — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 09:30:00 -0500

Ash Trees are the perfect example of why we need to diversify tree plantings. This applies not just to community areas like city parks and parkways (street trees), but also in homeowner's landscapes and in neighborhoods. The idea behind diversifying is that if some pest or disease comes along and wipes out an entire species like we are seeing with the Emerald Ash Borer and the Ash Tree, then we still have other tree species alive and thriving that can support the immediate environment.

So, the question begs to be asked, are you ready to replace that dying Ash Tree?

We've got the Top 10 Perfect Ash Tree Alternatives right here →

1. Ginkgo Trees

Ginkgo trees are truly ancient relics, and the species has been around for over 150 million years. The uniquely fan-shaped leaves turn from a lawn green to deep gold in the fall.

2. Pyramidal European Hornbeam

Formal in appearance yet incredibly tough. This tree is drought and heat resistant and has proven to be adaptable to urban growing conditions. It can be hedged or planted individually as a parkway tree or in the landscape as an accent tree.

3. EXCLAMATION!® London Planetree

EXCLAMATION!® London Planetree is extremely durable and can be used nearly anywhere in the landscape. It is a popular choice for parkways, malls, parks, shopping centers, or anywhere where you need a tough, fast growing, and unique shade tree.

4. Native Hackberry

Hackberry is always a safe bet and is a must for places where tough growing conditions exist.

5. Kentucky Coffee Tree

Stark and rugged in the winter, the Kentucky Coffee Tree’s picturesque native, the midwest look becomes tropical in appearance in the summer. Kentucky Coffee Tree features huge fans of doubly compound green leaves which emerge to cast filtered shade.

6. Tulip Trees

One of the tallest native trees of Eastern North America, Tulip Tree features uniquely shaped leaves and large yellow tulip-shaped flowers.

7. American Hophornbeam

American Hophornbeam also is known as Ironwood or Musclewood, is a handsome, small tree that will offer substantial shade and subtle yellow fall color. Pest-resistant and its hardwood weathers damage from ice and snow.

8. Purple Robe Black Locust

9. Skyline® Honeylocust

Podless & thornless, adaptable and with a beautiful pyramidal form, this tree will offer a subtle dappled shade with its lace-like foliage. As the name suggests, this tree offers the perfect contrast to our beautiful Chicagoland skyline.

10. Oak Trees

Oak trees and trees in general help to reduce flooding, clean our air and water. Plant native Oak trees such as White Oak, Swamp White Oak, Bur Oak, Shingle Oak or Chinkapin Oak & choose a nice sunny location so that they can thrive!

Learn more about the importance of planting Oak Trees in Illinois here → https://itrees.com/blog/post/happy-oaktober

The bonus *VIDEO* below is an excellent example of how to diversify plantings in your yard!

Resources:

J. Frank Schmidt Ash Tree Alternative Data Sheet- https://www.jfschmidt.com/pdfs/JFS%20Shade%20Trees%20Poster%202015.pdf

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Tree of the Week: Dawn Redwood

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 09:30:00 -0500

Dawn Redwood is an ancient beauty and was once thought to be extinct... and it's our tree of the week!

Dinosaurs once brushed up against these trees, yet here they still stand! Prehistoric, yes but well suited nonetheless for the modern landscape. Dawn Redwood is a deciduous conifer, meaning it has characteristics of evergreens but it will lose its fern-like needles in the fall after turning a brilliant rusty-red color. Unique shedding bark is an additional attractive feature. This tree works well as an accent tree in the landscape or for shade. Plant Dawn Redwood where there is plenty of room for it to grow, flourish and be enjoyed.

Reasons we love this prehistoric tree →

Unique fern-like leaves
Beautiful rusty fall color
Shaggy, red shedding/peeling bark
Perfect shade, parkway or specimen tree
Tall & pyramidal form, the crown will become rounded with age
Tolerant of most conditions and does excellent in wet locations

Resources:

J. Frank Schmidt Data Sheet http://www.jfschmidt.com/pdfs/dawnredwood.pdf

The Morton Arboretum https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/dawn-redwood

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Tree of the Week: Red Sunset Red Maple

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 10:54:00 -0500

Acer rubrum 'Franksred' was developed by J. Frank Schmidt Jr., and is noted for being the standard to which all Red Maples are compared. This tree's striking red to red-orange Fall color is the perfect accent for ushering in autumn.

Reasons why you should plant this tree right now →

Versatility! This shade tree can be planted just about anywhere. Plant it in open spaces of your yard, for added screening near a deck or patio, as a specimen, on the parkway and it has even been proven as reliable in parking lot island areas.
Vigorous fast grower
Tiny pink-red Spring flower that signals the arrival of spring
Strong and symmetrical branching
Incredible display of Fall color

Check out Red Sunset® Red Maple in early autumn right before the trees begin to change colors →

Here's the spectacular Red Sunset® Red Maple after it's changed colors →

Resources:

Red Sunset® Red Maple Product Page- https://itrees.com/red-sunset-red-maple.html

J. Frank Schmidt Data Sheet- https://www.jfschmidt.com/pdfs/redsunsetmaple.pdf

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Grower Talk: July at the Nursery

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 10:22:00 -0500

July has brought it's A-game with the sunshine and the heat!

"The trees have been soaking up some sunshine and heat which is adding some good growth and caliper." ~ Becky Thomas of SGN Trees

Let's take a peek at what's been going on at the nursery this month!

Pruning Oak Trees →

The nursery has been removing the tree stakes from the oak trees to let them bend and "flex" around a bit, they prune and also will re-stake any trees that need it. Seen here is Jamie Thomas of SGN Trees pruning and finishing up Chinkapin Oaks that will be ready for next Spring's dig.

Pruning Honeylocust Trees →

Serviceberry Trees are in full (delicious) fruit!

Check out Japenese Tree Lilac in bloom up at the nursery →

Resources:

Spring Grove Nursery's July Blog Post- https://springgrovenursery.com/july-notes-from-the-field-4/

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Tree of the Week: Shingle Oak

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 10:50:00 -0500

This week's tree is long overdue for a showcase and it just happens to be iTrees.com owner, Marlee Harford's favorite tree! Shingle Oak is a native to the midwest and more specifically to the #CHICAGOLAND area. This large shade tree has unique unlobed leaves, which are different from what we are used to seeing in an Oak.

Reasons why Marlee loves this tree →

Dark green, glossy leaves in the spring & summer
Unique Oak tree with its unlobed leaves
Gold to rusty red fall color
Large shade tree
Native tree
Attracts wildlife

Check out our video montage of Shingle Oak in the nursery and holding-yard

Resources:

Shingle Oak Product Page- https://itrees.com/shingle-oak.html

J. Frank Schmidt Data Sheet- https://www.jfschmidt.com/pdfs/shingleoak.pdf

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Summertime Tree Planting

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 09:38:00 -0500

iTrees.com begins our planting season in spring, and this is usually after the nursery has completed their spring dig and stocked the holding-yard. Depending on the weather, we will start to deliver and plant trees around the 1st or 2nd week of May. A lot of the time our customers don't realize that we will continue to plant trees throughout summertime and well into fall. We'll stop planting trees right before the ground begins to freeze, usually, this is around the last week of November.

As Marlee Harford, iTrees.com owner puts it, "It matters more so when the trees are dug than when they are planted." The nursery will do a spring dig and a fall dig and certain tree species can only be dug in certain seasons. For example, the nursery will only do an Oak dig in the spring but Oaks can indeed be planted all spring, summer, and fall long.

Let's take a look at some of our fun summer tree planting jobs!

Something extra special that takes a bit more planning and um let's say maneuvering than usual are rooftop or decktop tree plantings. We had the pleasure of getting to do a couple of these this summer.

Another fun job was this Arborvitae living wall that we put in along the homeowner's driveway. Now, these homeowners can sit back and sip their sweet tea in privacy!

HOA Tree Plantings! Increasing the property value within the neighborhood all while beautifying the community too!

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Tree of the Week: Native Hackberry

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 10:49:00 -0500

Are you looking for a tough & fast-growing shade tree? If so, THIS IS YOUR TREE. Native Hackberry is one of the toughest trees available and one of the fastest-growing. Native to Illinois it's an excellent choice for adding shade anywhere in your yard.

Reasons why this tree rocks →

Rapid growth rate
Yellow/Gold fall color
Attracts wildlife
Handsome & unique textured bark
Very adaptable

This particular Native Hackberry tree was planted somewhere around 8 years ago and it's maturing beautifully! This tree's rough, textured bark and lush canopy really caught my eye!

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Voted One of the Best!

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 11:25:00 -0500

The 2019 Greater Grundy County Readers' Choice results are in... and we are humbled to announce that we were voted One of the Best for the 2nd year in a row!

Thank you for taking the time to vote for iTrees.com as One of Grundy's Best in Landscaping/Gardening!

Check out last year's results and the full issue here.

Tree of the Week: Emerald Lustre® Norway Maple

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 10:43:00 -0500

Emerald Lustre® Norway Maple is becoming one of our most popular tree selections for city parkways & parks, however, it's proven extremely well suited for open areas of the yard. It's one of our most highly recommended shade tree options.

Here are a few of the reasons we love this ♦lustrous♦ tree →

Very tolerant of tough/urban growing conditions
Perfect park, parkway, and home landscape shade tree
Striking yellow-gold fall color
Mature upright, round form
Offers dense shade

Get iTrees.com owner, Chris Harford's take on Emerald Lustre® Norway Maple in the video below!

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Tree of the Week: Purple Catalpa

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 09:14:00 -0500

Chicagoland residents are used to the feeling of looking forward to seeing the leaves change color in autumn but did you know that some tree species change color in the spring too? Purple Catalpa is one of those special trees that will not only change color in autumn but will first go through a color change in spring/early summer! How neat is that?

Purple Catalpa leafs out in the spring with beautiful deep purple leaves that unfurl to a huge size. Large panicles of yellow and purple-spotted white flowers crown the canopy in late spring as the foliage begins its transition to bronze-green summer color. Come autumn you can expect to see yellow-gold fall color. It's a beautiful sight to see.

What makes this tree SO special →

Unique changing foliage
Large panicles of flowers
Large Tree (more than 40 feet)
Heart-shaped leaves ♥
Versatile tree; this tree will offer substantial shade but can be used as an accent in the open landscape

Check out this *VIDEO* montage of Purple Catalpa in our holding-yard!

Resources:

Purple Catalpa Product Page https://itrees.com/purple-catalpa.html

J. Frank Schmidt Data Sheet https://www.jfschmidt.com/pdfs/purplecatalpa.pdf

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Trees for Today and the Future

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 09:41:00 -0500

At this 2019's Illinois Green Industry Association InVigorateU conference, J. Frank Schmidt's Director of Communications, Nancy Buley gave an informative presentation on what's new in trees.

*Cue excited tree people leaning in a bit closer, and busting out the pen and paper to take notes!*

These trees have proven to stand up to the test of hotter, drier climates all while tolerating more extreme weather from heavy rains, windstorms, flooding, and severe drought. Nancy also emphasized the importance of tree diversity in the landscape and in urban settings. There are many options to choose from when selecting the right tree for the right space.

Here are some of the trees off her list to include in your home landscape, neighborhood parks or community areas →

Redpointe® Red Maple

This vigorous grower is top-performing Red Maple! Redpointe® Red Maple is pest and disease resistant, and heat tolerant. It matures with a noticeable symmetrical canopy, a strong central leader that assures sturdiness and uniformity. Its leaves have good resistance to leaf chlorosis, which allows for a more consistent deep/dark green leaf in spring and summer then transitioning to an outstanding brilliant red in fall.

Crimson Sunset® Maple

Crimson Sunset is a newer more improved version of the popular Crimson King, better leaf quality and more heat tolerant. This tree flourishes in hot weather and alternatively in humid weather. Proven to be heat and drought tolerant while its leaves are tatter and scorch resistant. This trees, rich dark leaf color maintains through summer. Its strong central leader allows for more symmetrical branching and perfectly shaped tree. This is an excellent option for parkway plantings or adding shade to your home's landscape.

Espresso™ Kentucky Coffee Tree

A great Ash Tree alternative, tolerant of heat, drought, and cold. This is a seedless selection as opposed to its original counterpart, the Kentucky Coffee Tree making it an even better choice for the parkway. It's branching is similar to that of an elm tree and its foliage gives it a tropical feel in appearance. This unique tree is perfect for parks, parkways, and open areas of the yard.

Emerald City® Tulip

A new take on the native Tulip Tree, Emerald City is a new cultivar with a more straight and upright form as it matures, including a strong central leader. Its foliage is a deeper more shiny green.

Royal Raindrops® Crabapple

As the name implies, this tree is superior! Performs exceedingly well in windy climates due to its strong branching structure and upright growth habit. This vigorous grower is disease resistant, and adaptable to heat and drought. More remarkably, are exploding magenta blooms and it's a dark purple, deep cut-leaf foliage that transitions to a bright orange-red in the fall. This is a 3 season accent tree!

American Hophornbeam

This tree is as tough as they come! Considered to be one of Illinois' toughest native hardwood trees. This tree offers ornamental features with its handsome grey bark and golden fall color but also has proven to be pest resistant and is tolerant of ice and snow.

American Dream® Oak

This dreamboat of a tree is a vigorous grower, which says something because oaks tend to be slower growers. It's beautiful peeling bark and attractive broadly pyramidal form, glossy green foliage make this a stand out choice for your home! Anthracnose and powdery mildew resistant. Turns a beautiful buttery yellow in fall.

Chinkapin Oak

This midwest native does well planted in groups, parks and large open areas of the yard. This is one of the best oaks around for alkaline soils. Resistant to anthracnose, oak wilt, and two-lined chestnut borer.

Heritage® Oak

Selected for its proven performance and resistance to mildew. This tree's broadly pyramidal form allows it to be the perfect parkway tree!

Streetspire® Oak

Dark Green leaves are mildew resistant held more tightly on branches and turn a bright red in the fall. They will not hold through winter like the similar Crimson Spire™. This tree's upward sweeping branching creates a more storm-resistant structure.

Green Whisper® Bald Cypress

The brightest, greenest and most fluffy cypress award goes to this tree!

Shawnee Brave™ Bald Cypress

Shawnee Brave has proven to be adaptable in urban settings, it will grow in just about any a variety of soil conditions including standing water and well-drained soil.

Jefferson Elm

This National Arboretum and National Park Service introduction has proven the test of time, showing to be Dutch Elm Disease resistant. The original tree is on the National Mall in D.C.

Triumph™ Elm

Triumph™ Elm is definitely one of our top picks! It's not only on Nancy's list but also a Chicagoland Grows® Pick, Grower Pick, and a Morton Arboretum Pick! This tree has proven time and time again to be the right tree for that perfect place! Dutch Elm Disease resistant, resistant to Elm Yellows, Elm Leaf Beetle and is a large lustrous tree with deep green leaves in spring and summer, turning yellow in the fall.

Resources:

https://www.jfschmidt.com/

http://www.jfschmidt.com/pdfs/2019_InVigorateU_JFS.pdf

Grower Talk: August at the Nursery

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 02:11:00 -0500

The nursery's trees in the field and holding yard are flourishing and growing vigorously due to the amount of spring rain and timely summer rains and sunshine we've had. The nursery is finding that they have to do a second round of pruning on some trees so that the canopy stays in proportion to the tree's caliper. The nursery's attention to detail makes for healthy and strong trees come digging time. Next up, is fall inventory where the nursery will determine what's getting dug for fall planting and what will remain in the field for further growth until their spring dig.

"Most of our initial pruning work is done. We are going back now and putting the finishing touches on some blocks of trees for future crops. Some of the new growth has been vigorous this season due to all of the early spring rains, so we are finding the need to start back through pruning some trees a second time. We want to stay ahead of the top growth so that the heads can stay in proportion to the trunk caliper and we don’t need to stake any more than necessary."

Our holding yard is looking lush and the trees are ready to be delivered and planted.

"In the Above Ground Holding Yard, the trees are still looking great! We have a diverse selection of trees available including several spring dig only trees like Oaks, Red Maples, Birch, Hornbeam, Dawn Redwood, Baldcypress, Redbud, etc. Everything is fresh and ready to go for fall planting projects."

The nursery's cover crop coming in as healthy as ever.

Check out this cool view of the nursery from above!

"Becky’s Dad also captured some great nursery pics from his plane the other day. You can see our new shed/office project underway on the corner."

Here's a closer look at the nursery breaking ground on their new shed. This is a very exciting undertaking for the nursery and we couldn't be happier for them and their next chapter.

Be sure to check out the nursery's notes from the field here.

Tree of the Week: Regal Prince® Oak

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 04:25:00 -0500

Regal Prince® Oak (Quercus robur x bicolor ‘Long’ PP 12673)

This tree is a cross between Swamp White Oak and the Columnar English Oak. Regal Prince® Oak has a stronger and fuller branching structure than other trees in this category, and the two-toned green leaves contrast beautifully.

Here are all the reasons we love this *princely* tree →

Narrow/columnar form
Glossy bright green summer foliage
Yellow/gold fall color
Mildew resistant
Versatile for hedging & screening, windbreaks, as a specimen tree or on the parkway

Our Top 15 Best Selling Trees

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 09:51:00 -0500

All of this year's Best Sellers are worthy of the title and unsurpisingly several selctions are part Spring Grove Nursery's "Tried & True" Grower's Picks tree list.

15. Bald Cypress

Bald Cypress is a truly unique tree and has been gaining in popularity in recent years. Voted urban tree of the year in 2007, this tree's interesting characteristics make it a truly stand out specimen shade tree.

14. Celebration® Maple

Celebration® Maple stands out for its unique yellow-red fall color. This magnificent tree will light up your yard in more ways than one, from its yellow to orange deeply cut leaves that change in the fall to its strong wood branches that resist snow and ice damage. Make this maple the centerpiece of your yard.

13. Royal Raindrops® Crabapple

Royal Raindrops® Crabapple features bright pinkish-red flowers combined with deep purple cutleaf foliage which presents a unique new crabapple variety. Growth is outstanding, and it displays excellent resistance to common crabapple diseases.

12. Norway Spruce

Norway Spruce is a popular evergreen choice throughout much of the United States. It has many uses ranging from lumber to beautiful specimen trees for any landscape offering sufficient shade year-round.

11. Pacific Sunset® Maple

Pacific Sunset® Maple is an exciting new Maple hybrid released by J. Frank Schmidt Nursery. This hybrid Maple brings the best of two trees, the Shantung and Norway Maples. The outstanding glossy green foliage turns magnificent shades of yellow, orange, and red in the fall.

10. October Glory® Red Maple

October Glory® Red Maple is truly a show stopper in the fall. This tree is one of the last Red Maples to change color and when it does it explodes with stunning red fall color.

9. Whitespire Birch

Whitespire Birch has a nice narrow, pyramidal size and a chalky white bark that looks great all season long. The bright green leaves rustle in the wind and turn the brightest yellow in the fall.

8. River Birch

One of the most popular landscape trees available, River Birch is an excellent addition to any home. River Birch is a multi-stemmed clump tree, making it one of the best trees for screening and privacy.

7. Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry is an extremely popular choice among homeowners. A great three-season accent tree, Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry's shrub-like form make it perfect for adding privacy screening to the landscape.

6. Burgundy Belle® Red Maple

Burgundy Belle® Red Maple provides an excellent long-lasting, brilliant red, turning to an intense burgundy fall color. It's oval, and symmetrical shape makes for a great parkway or shade tree.

5. Emerald Green Arborvitae

4. Eastern Redbud

Eastern Redbud is an absolute knockout in the spring and is a definite focal point for any landscape.This tree is a spectacular spring bloomer, with very showy pink to purple flowers held tightly on bare branches in early spring.

3. Colorado Blue Spruce

Colorado Blue Spruce is a popular and sought-out evergreen accent tree for northern landscapes. The silvery-blue needles add interesting texture and color to the landscape providing a refreshing burst of color at otherwise colorless times of the year.

2. Autumn Blaze Maple

Autumn Blaze Maple is a hybrid of the Silver Maple and Red Maple. This tree mixes the dependable, rapid growth of a Silver Maple with the fall color and toughness of the Red Maple.

1. Techny Arborvitae

Techny Arborvitae is great for creating a living fence and provides solid, year-round screening.

Check out our complete list of Best Sellers right here.

Tree of the Week: Autumn Blaze Maple

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 03:08:00 -0500

This week's tree is by far our most popular shade tree option for homeowners.

Autumn Blaze Maple is a hybrid that mixes the rapid growth rate of Silver Maple with the toughness, dependability and red fall color of Red Maple.

Reasons we think this tree is amazing →

Vigorous growth rate
Drought tolerant
Nearly seedless
Attractive medium green leaves in spring and summer
Bright red fall color
Upright, oval shape

Our Favorite Fast-Growing Shade Trees

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 01:48:00 -0500

Pretty often our customers will come to us asking for large and/or fast growing shade trees. There could be a variety of reasons for this need, sometimes it's to replace an existing tree that was removed and the homeowners are really missing that shade. They want something that won't take too long to catch up and will start doing some of the work that the old tree was doing. No matter the reason, the trees on this list are sure to meet your requirements for a fast-growing shade tree option.

For the first couple of years, your new tree will focus the majority of its energy on establishing its root system. Once your fast-growing shade tree is well established it can grow a couple of feet per year. That is, given the right tree care, site conditions and, of course, taking weather into consideration.

Our 15 Favorite Fast-Growing Shade Trees →

1. Exclamation!® London Planetree

This fast-growing shade tree is as durable and attractive as they come. Matures to 55 Ft Tall with a mature spread of 35 Ft Wide with a pyramidal shape.

2. Autumn Blaze Maple

This tree is a hybrid of the Silver Maple and Red Maple. It combines the rapid growth rate of the Silver Maple and the incredible red fall color of Red Maple. Matures to approximately 50 Ft Tall and 40 Ft Wide.

3. River Birch

This tree does well in wet locations but it will typically thrive anywhere in the landscape given adequate water. A rapid grower that reaches 40 Ft Tall and about 35 Ft Wide.

4. Native Hackberry

As tough as they come and one of the fastest-growing trees around, Hackberry is a wonderful native shade tree option for your landscape. Reaches 45 Ft Tall and 35 Ft Wide.

5. Bald Cypress

Rapid growth rate, very adaptable in wet areas and is tolerant of most conditions. This large shade tree grows to be about 55 Ft Tall and about 30 Ft Wide.

6. Skyline Honeylocust

Rapid growth rate combined with a subtle dappled shade allows this tree flexibility to planted in a variety of places. Skyline Honeylocust reaches 45 Ft Tall and has a mature spread of 35 Ft Wide.

7. Kentucky Coffee Tree

Perfect for parks, parkways, open areas of the yard or any space in need of a rapidly growing, large and uniquely tropical-like shade tree. Kentucky Coffee Tree reaches about 50 Ft Tall and 35 Ft Wide.

8. New Horizon Elm

This tree is a "growing" favorite, rapid grower and tough and durable. New Horizon Elm will reach 55 Ft Tall and grow to be about 40 Ft Wide.

9. Northern Catalpa

This moderate to rapid grower has an interesting pyramidal shape with a rounded crown. These large shade trees also flower! Mature height, 50 Ft Tall with a mature spread of about 40 Ft Wide.

10. Redpointe® Red Maple

Plant this perfect tree where you can best enjoy its shade and remarkable fall color display. Moderate to rapid growth rate reaches 45 Ft Tall and 30 Ft Wide.

11. Moraine Sweetgum

A rapid grower with an oval shape, large size and a spectacular fall color show this tree has it all. Mature height 40 Ft Tall, mature spread 25 Ft Wide.

12. Tulip Tree

This flowering shade tree's rapid growth rate caps off quite large at 60 Ft Tall and a mature spread of about 30 Ft Wide. This tree does best in open areas of the yard, in parks or in the parkway.

13. Heritage® River Birch

This Midwest native's rapid growth rate and pyramidal form reach 40 Ft Tall and 20 Ft Wide.

14. Emerald Lustre® Norway Maple

Emerald Lustre® is a rapid grower offering dense shade. Matures to 50 Ft Tall and 40 Ft Wide.

15. Deborah Norway Maple

Moderate to rapid growth rate, this unique tree matures with a rounded canopy reaching 45 Ft Tall and 40 Ft Wide.

There are so many benefits to planting a shade tree. They not only look beautiful but they will help reduce your home's energy costs, all while increasing your property value and beautifying your community in the process.

Tree of the Week: Profusion Pink Flowering Crabapple

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 09:16:00 -0500

Profusion Pink Flowering Crabapple is very popular among homeowners for its deep pinkish-red flowers combined with deep purple, fading to bronze foliage which presents a unique new crabapple variety. Growth is outstanding, and it displays excellent resistance to common crabapple diseases.

Why Profusion Crabapple is SO adored →

Unique changing foliage (leaves). They unfurl in spring as a red-violet and then turn a bronze green before turning an amber color in the fall
Bold, pinkish-red spring flowers
Disease resistant
Extremely versatile in the landscape: plant in garden beds around the house, on property lines, in open areas of your lawn
Decorative maroon colored crabapples that attract wildlife

Check out these pictures from the nursery!

Head to our Profusion Pink Flowering Crabapple product page to see more pictures and get more tree stats.

Resources:

Profusion Pink Flowering Crabapple Product Page- https://itrees.com/profusion-pink-flowering-crabapple.html

J. Frank Schmidt Data Sheet- http://www.jfschmidt.com/pdfs/profusioncrab.pdf

Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Details- http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=263923&isprofile=0&

Best Trees to Plant for Fall Color

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 11:40:00 -0500

Best Trees to Plant for a Stunning Fall Color Display

All of the trees on this list are true show-stoppers come autumn.

Red Sunset® Red Maple

Red Sunset® Red Maple bursts with bright red fall color, and will have the neighbors wishing they had one in their yard as well!

State Street™ Maple

This fantastic tree has an interesting, textured bark which is complemented by a unique leaf pattern. Even better, this tree stands out in the fall when it bursts with vibrant yellow fall color.

Autumn Fantasy® Maple

This dependable and fast-growing tree will be the envy of your block every fall when the beautiful leaves turn bright red.

Amur Flame Maple

Amur Flame Maple is somewhat of a hidden gem but has been gaining popularity in recent years. This shrub-like tree explodes with a striking red fall color that will be sure to turn some heads.

Autumn Blaze Maple

Brilliant and long-lasting Red/Orange fall color. This is a customer favorite!

Emerald Lustre® Norway Maple

Emerald Lustre’s striking, bright yellow fall color adds much-needed diversity to the fall palette.

Pacific Sunset® Maple

This tree's outstanding glossy green foliage turns magnificent shades of yellow, orange, and red in the fall.

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry's dark green foliage turns to a brilliant brick red in the fall.

Red Oak

Red Oak is a beautiful and artistic shade tree with a picturesque rounded shape and a striking red fall color. It is one of the fastest-growing, and toughest Oak trees available.

Aristocat® Ornamental Pear

Homeowners can look forward to this tree's outstanding deep red color in the fall.

Ginkgo Trees

Princeton Sentry and Windover Gold Ginko trees have uniquely fan-shaped leaves turn from a lawn green to deep gold in the fall.

Pink Flair® Cherry

Pink Flair® Cherry makes a beautiful and big impact for a compact in height tree. Homeowners can expect to see a wonderfully, consistent Orange/Red fall color.

Fall Fiesta® Sugar Maple

Fall Fiesta® Sugar Maple is "muy caliente" with its blazing autumn colors of reds, oranges, and yellows.

Afterburner® Black Tupelo

Afterburner Black® Tupelo features rich green glossy foliate which ignites with brilliant fall color, ranging from scarlet to maroon, yellow, and orange.

American Hornbeam

American Hornbeam is a widely adaptable ornamental, or small shade tree, with outstanding gold to bright orange-red fall foliage.

Moraine Sweetgum

Homeowners can enjoy this tree's foliage year-round but can expect a brilliant red/yellow in the fall.

Please note, some of these trees are available now, as well as, this fall but you'll need to be on the lookout for a few of these come spring 2020!

Tree of the Week: Sun Valley Red Maple

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 04:50:00 -0500

Sun Valley Red Maple is an SGN Tried & True Selection and it's this week's #treeoftheweek

Sun Valley Red Maple is a U.S. National Arboretum introduction that glows in the fall with reliable bright red color. A hybrid between Red Sunset Maple and Autumn Flame Maple, it is completely seedless and features a very uniform, dense oval head.

Why we love this reliable tree →

Homeowners LOVE the fact that this tree is seedless!
Brilliant red fall color
A medium-sized tree which allows itself to be planted in a variety of places in the landscape
Beautiful shade due to its dense branching and oval form
Moderate to a rapid growth rate

*Head to our Sun Valley Red Maple product page to see more pictures and get more tree stats.*

Resources:

J. Frank Schmidt Data Sheet http://www.jfschmidt.com/pdfs/sunvalleymaple.pdf

HOT Trees for Fall Everyone Wants! RUN!

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 03:38:00 -0500

Get 'em while they're HOT!

The nursery will be doing their fall dig of trees soon and we have some great trees coming in from the field to add to our holding-yard.

***Due to the popularity of the trees on this list, limited quantities are usually available and they will sell out fast!!!***

Order now to assure your trees are held for you and we will deliver and plant your trees this fall.

Crimson Sunset® Maple

Crimson Sunset® Maple, known for its heat tolerance, will flourish in the summer, unlike most purple-leafed plants. This trees upright, compact oval shape makes this tree an asset to lawns all over the Chicagoland. This reddish-bronze beauty will be an exceptional focal point in your impressive yard come fall.

Fall Fiesta® Maple

When young, the Fall Fiesta® Sugar Maple is sturdy and compact but grows to be a large, symmetrical shade tree, great for any backyard fun.

Redpointe® Red Maple

Redpointe® Red Maple is one of the few trees with a straight and dominant central leader, which results in strong branch angles that make it easier to grow. Its beautiful red fall color is a fantastic stand out feature for any yard or landscape.

Princeton Sentry® Ginkgo

The Princeton Sentry® Ginkgo has a narrow shape and is seedless. Ginkgo trees are truly ancient relics, and the species has been around for over 150 million years. The uniquely fan-shaped leaves turn from a lawn green to deep gold in the fall. Because of its unique leaves and beautiful history, Ginkgo is sure to be a great conversation starter for your next backyard barbeque.

Worplesdon Sweetgum

This tree offers a striking pyramidal to oval form adding a vertical accent to the landscape. It has narrow, deeply lobed, light-green, glossy foliage that turns an artistic pallet of apricot-orange to purple in the fall.

June Snow™ Dogwood

This accent tree can be appreciated in all seasons! After flowering, the branches will give way to clusters of blue-black hanging fruit that will be sure to attract wildlife! In the fall, homeowners can expect a display of incredible fall color with mottled hues of orange, yellow, red and purple-red. In winter, its dark purple branching offers a unique contrast against the stark winter snow.

Skyline Honeylocust

Skyline Honeylocust is one of the most unique additions that you can make to your home landscape. One of our highest recommended trees, Skyline Honeylocust provides qualities that no other shade trees possess.

Tree of the Week: Fall Fiesta® Sugar Maple

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 10:10:00 -0500

Fall Fiesta® Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum ‘Bailsta’

Fall Fiesta® Sugar Maple is a beautiful Sugar Maple option with remarkable fall color!

Reasons we love this SHOW-STOPPING tree →

♦ Striking red-orange to yellow fall color
♦ Resistance to Japanese Beetle
♦ Sturdy trunk with symmetrical crown
♦ Attractive dark green summer leaves

ORDER NOW FOR FALL DELIVERY & INSTALLATION!!

Call or email to place your order to assure your tree is held for you.

Fall Fiesta® Sugar Maple will sell out fast!!!

815.448.2138 | info@itrees.com

Tree of the Week: Amur Flame Maple

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 10:45:00 -0500

Amur Flame Maple

Acer ginnala 'Flame'

This shrub-like tree explodes with a striking red fall color that will be sure to turn some heads.

Reasons why we love this HOT tree →

♦ Small Tree (15-25 Ft)
♦ Useful under utility wires, for privacy or screening or as a specimen tree
♦ Remarkable RED fall color
♦ Extremely tolerant
♦ Unique aesthetic appeal

Tree of the week: Canada Red Chokecherry

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 09:58:00 -0500

Canada Red Chokecherry may be a small tree but it's tough as nails and can grow in almost any planting site conditions!

Order this tree now for fall delivery and installation!

Why we love this tough tree →

Unique leaves that emerge green in the spring and then turn a deep purple in summer
Beautiful small white flowers in spring
Small bluish-black fruit that attracts wildlife
Small Tree (15-25 feet)
Tough, adaptable and cold-weather hardy

Here are some photos of Canada Red Chokecherry in springtime and the summer; note the change in foliage (leaf) color.

Spring →

Summer →

*Head to our Canada Red Chokecherry product page to see more pictures and get more tree stats.*

Grower Talk: September Notes from the Field

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 10:30:00 -0500

Let's take a look at what the SGN crew has been up to this month.

♦ Fall Tree Planting ♦

The nursery just completed their fall tree planting of Evergreens, a fresh crop for the future!

"This season we put in some nice Norway Spruce and White Pine from Evergreen Nursery in Wisconsin. Thanks to them for always shipping us beautiful plants! We unloaded and planted within 2 days, and that night got 3/4″ of rain. Just what our new trees needed to settle them in nicely!"

♦ SGN Trees Measure Up! ♦

"We have been busy counting & measuring out in the field and we are pleased to report that the numbers don’t lie… we have a great crop of trees ready to plug into your fall or spring equations! We found terrific growth in the field on many varieties, so now is the time to get your orders for both Fall 2019 & Spring 2020 in!"

♦ SGN's Commitment to Soil Conservation ♦

"After a new crop of tree liners are planted in the field, we use minimal tillage to prepare the area for our cover crop. Every year on Labor Day, we plant grass strips into our new tree crop blocks. This year, we got a few timely rains right after planting so our grass is already up and off to a great start! "

Catch up on all of Spring Grove Nursery's latest blog posts here.

Meet the iTrees.com Crew

Marlee Harford — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 09:48:00 -0500

With the fall dig and planting season about to begin, we thought we'd take a moment to reintroduce ourselves, and our crew!

Marlee started working at iTrees.com in 2013 when she decided to jump into the growing family business, and since that time she has really run with it. Marlee is a true people person, and her passion for design has helped her catch on fast. In only four short years, Marlee has effectively taken over, running all day to day operations at iTrees.com including sales, scheduling, customer service, administration, and marketing! Marlee truly cares about her customers and is very knowledgeable about all types of trees. She can help with tree layout, design, and selection- and has truly become an expert! Her favorite part of the job is meeting with customers, and helping them beautify their yard. She loves trees- and is always excited when she is able to spread that love of trees to her customers! Marlee loves working at iTrees.com and helping to make the earth gorgeous, but even more, she loves owning and working in a family business. In her spare time, Marlee enjoys time with her husband and three children, and loves spending time outdoors!

Chris started iTrees.com in 2007, after graduating from the University of Illinois. Having grown up on the farm and with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, Chris decided to move back to his hometown, start his own business, and eventually take over the family farm. With his love of technology, trees, and agriculture- iTrees.com was born, and it took off from day one. The company was born from a simple idea- make it as convenient and simple as possible for homeowners to find an affordable, and diverse selection of trees! In 2012 Chris took over the family farm as well, becoming the fifth generation to own and operate Harford Farms, raising corn and soybeans. Marlee stepped up to the plate, and now Chris and Marlee work side by side running both businesses. In his spare time, Chris enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, working on the farm, spending time outdoors, and writing!

Kyle started with iTrees.com in 2013, and has since become the crew manager, and is in charge of all tree installations for customers. Kyle comes from a farm family and has a strong background in agriculture and hard work. Kyle is extremely personable, and loves talking with customers- he always goes out of his way to make sure customers get exactly what they want, and makes sure that he leaves their property looking better than it was when he arrived! Kyle has a strong work ethic, as well as a strong desire to make his customers happy. We are constantly receiving praise from our customers on his positive attitude and friendliness. Kyle is very knowledgeable about trees and enjoys the satisfaction of seeing the job before, and after, and seeing the impact that trees make on the landscape. In his spare time, Kyle enjoys spending time with his fiancee, daughter, and son, working on his family farm, and working on trucks in his shop!

Brittany started working with iTrees.com right in the middle of our busy spring season of 2017. She has been a huge asset to iTrees.com in the short amount of time she has been with us. Brittany pays close attention to our customer's needs and continues our strive for excellent customer service every day. She takes on many roles as iTrees.com's administrative assistant, one is social media marketing and blog writing. In Brittany's spare time she likes to spend time with her husband and daughter. She enjoys painting, drawing, creating, and being outdoors. As a published illustrator her creative, enthusiastic mind is a treasured asset to our team at iTrees.com.

Learn more about iTrees.com's roots here.

Tree of the Week: October Glory® Red Maple

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 10:19:00 -0500

Order this tree now for fall delivery and installation!

Reasons why we love this ◊ glorious ◊ tree →

◊ Show-stopping red fall color

◊ Moderate to a rapid growth rate

◊ Round to oval mature shape

◊ Provides substantial shade in the summer months

Check out some pictures of the ever beautiful October Glory® Red Maple along with a video of iTrees.com owner, Chris Harford talking Red Maples →

Order Now!

Call or email us for questions on availability, pricing or our service area.

815.448.2138 or info@itrees.com

New Fall Tree Linup!

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 04:12:00 -0500

NEW TREES FOR FALL!

We've got 'em and you know you want 'em!

Our new lineup of fall trees will be dug out of the field very soon, it is all dependant on the weather and our nursery must wait until the trees go dormant (lose their leaves) before digging them out of the ground.

If you place your order now it will assure your trees are held for you and the nursery will put you on their dig list, as these are dig-to-order trees. We will be able to deliver and plant them this fall. iTrees.com's fall planting will begin around mid-October and will continue throughout November, up until the ground begins to freeze.

Green Mountain® Sugar Maple

Green Mountain® Sugar Maple is the standard for comparison in Sugar Maples. It is the most widely planted selection and has proven itself well over time.

Heartland® Northern Catalpa

Heartland® Northern Catalpa has a more narrow and upright form than its counterparts allowing it to be more versatile in the landscape and on the parkway. Its large, dark green heart-shaped foliage transitions to a subtle buttery yellow in the fall. Late summer, the tree will bloom with large panicles of white fragrant flowers.

Beijing Gold® Tree Lilac

Beijing Gold® Tree Lilac, also commonly known as the Peking Tree Lilac, is part of the Chicagoland Grows® Plant Introduction Program and introduced to Northern America through the NACPEC (North America-China Plant Exploration Consortium) and The Morton Arboretum. Selected for its summer plumes of fragrant yellow flowers, dark green foliage, attractive bark, upright growth habit, and warm yellow fall color.

Musashino Japanese Zelkova

Musashino Japanese Zelkova is a unique shade tree selection. This tree has a beautiful columnar form with slender serrated medium green leaves. Autumn brings an array of tones, from yellow to rusty red-orange. Musashino Japanese Zelkova’s slender form makes it the perfect choice for tight spaces.

Call or email for any questions or to begin the ordering process.

815-448-2138 or info@itrees.com

Tree of the Week: Green Mountain® Silver Linden

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 10:57:00 -0500

Green Mountain® Silver Linden's beauty secret is hidden on the underside of its leaves. When the wind blows, a shimmering effect is created as the silver underside of the leaves are exposed.

What we dig about it →

Unique leaves that are dark green on top and silvery-white on the underside
Mature symmetrical pyramidal form
Yellow-gold fall color
Tolerant of heat and drought
Medium-sized tree
Faster growth rate

Check out the VIDEO below!

*Head to our Green Mountain® Silver Linden product page to see more pictures and get more tree stats.*

Resources:

Morton Arboretum's Tree Description- https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/silver-linden

J. Frank Schmidt's Data Sheet- http://www.jfschmidt.com/pdfs/greenmountainlinden.pdf

Saluting Branches

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 10:50:00 -0500

Together with local volunteers, tree care professionals and Arborists United for Veteran Remembrance, iTrees.com joined Saluting Branches to plant trees at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

Beth Corrigan, Account Manager of Tree Plotter™ and Jim Teiber, Certified Arborist for the City of Joliet coordinated this year's Saluting Branches tree planting event at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. This location was one of a handful throughout Illinois and among many throughout the nation who came together to plant trees for Veteran Remembrance. It was so nice to see so many green industry professionals come together alongside local volunteers to do something more, not for networking, but to give back and everyone really gave it their all.

Trees, shrubs, and plants were donated by local nurseries including our very own, Spring Grove Nursery. Other tree care professionals donated time and equipment for regular tree care and maintenance of pruning, stump grinding and removal of dead or dying trees.

"Saluting Branches... is an opportunity for tree care professionals throughout the country to unite and do what we do best – provide exceptional tree care – to keep our veterans' cemeteries safe, beautiful places for all those who visit."

"Saluting Branches will expand the reach of the project beyond the chainsaw with a significant tree planting initiative.“While hazard tree removal and proper pruning will always be part of Saluting Branches, we wanted to leave a legacy,” said Ben Cooper, Saluting Branches Board President. “Our National Cemeteries are memorials to our veterans, but what about those that never came home? We learned that there are 1,589 Vietnam War POWs and MIAs that are still unaccounted for. We will plant a tree to honor each one of these men and women so they and their families know they are never forgotten.”

Read more about the 1,589 Tree Planted in Remembrance of our Veterans here.

10 Front Yard Tree Options

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 10:22:00 -0500

When it comes to home improvement, front yard trees are the place where you really get more bang for your buck. It's where you welcome guests, make first impressions and add some serious curb appeal (while upping your property value). These trees offer beauty and interest all while providing shade, screening or shelter. Front yard trees are where you find hummingbirds getting their first spring treat on bright blossoms and where you find kids jumping in crisp autumn leaves. Front yard trees are what make a house a home.

Top 10 List of the Best Front Yard Tree Options →

1. Autumn Blaze Maple

This tree is a top choice for homeowners and it will be sure to put on a show in the fall with its bright red-orange fall color.

2. October Glory® Red Maple

This tree has a desirable round shape with attractive green foliage in the summer that burst with color in the fall.

3. Prairifire Pink Flowering Crabapple

With its distinctive horizontal shape, Prairifire Crabapple makes a definite statement in the landscape.

4. Black Hills Spruce

The formal, pyramidal shape is familiar in the landscape adding a native look, as well as creating a focal point in the lawn.

5. State Street™ Maple

This fantastic tree has an interesting, textured bark which is complemented by a unique leaf pattern. Even better, this tree stands out in the fall when it bursts with vibrant yellow fall color.

6. Beijing Gold® Tree Lilac

Selected for its summer plumes of fragrant yellow flowers, dark green foliage, attractive bark, upright growth habit, and warm yellow fall color.

7. Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry is an extremely popular choice among homeowners. A great three-season accent tree, Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry's shrub-like form makes it perfect for adding privacy screening to the landscape.

8. Celebration® Maple

This magnificent tree will light up your yard in more ways than one, from its yellow to orange deeply cut leaves that change in the fall to its strong wood branches that resist snow and ice damage.

9. Aristocrat Ornamental Pear

Aristocrat Pear can be used anywhere from the parkway to the front landscape and can provide shade as well as accent.

10. Eastern Redbud

Eastern Redbud is an absolute knockout in the spring and is a definite focal point for any landscape. This spectacular spring bloomer will attract birds and butterflies with its very showy pink to purple flowers. Possibly, the perfect front yard tree!

Tree of the Week: Northern Catalpa

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 01:34:00 -0500

This flowering shade tree offers the best of both worlds! Homeowners adore this tree's large panicles of flowers and huge heart-shaped leaves but also appreciate the fact that it offers substantial shade to their home.

Northern Catalpa is a Spring Grove Nursery Tried & True Selection. This tree does exceptionally well in the nursery, despite the unpredictable changes in Illinois' weather.

Why we heart this flowering shade tree ♥

Large white flowers, dotted in their centers with a contrast of deep purple specks and bright yellow spots
Large heart-shaped leaves
Tolerant of heat and drought
Native tree
Attracts wildlife
This large tree can get upwards of 50+ Ft Tall
Pyramidal form

Pictures of Northern Catalpa →

Check out this *VIDEO* slideshow of Northern Catalpa in our holding-yard!

Resources:

Spring Grove Nursery Tried & True Selections- http://springgrove99.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Tried-True-Selections.jpg

J. Frank Schmidt Data Sheet- http://www.jfschmidt.com/pdfs/northerncatalpa.pdf

Tree of the Week: Windover Gold Ginkgo

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 10:40:00 -0500

Imagine planting a tree that can be enjoyed for thousands of years to come! Ginkgo trees are truly ancient relics, and the species has been around for over 150 million years. Also, because of its unique leaves and beautiful history, Ginkgo is sure to be a great conversation starter for your next backyard barbeque. Because of their popularity, limited quantities are usually available.

Why we love this ancient treasure of a tree →

Windover Gold Ginkgo trees are among the oldest living trees and can live more than 1,000 years
Incredibly unique fan-like leaves
♦ Golden ♦ Fall Color
Broad, symmetrical form
Large size, making it excellent for shade
According to The Morton Arboretum, it's a non-fruiting male.

The Importance of Memorial Trees

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 08:52:00 -0500

Honor and Celebrate Your Loved One with a Living Legacy

Memorial trees are planted to honor significant moments. Their serene canopies offer solace and healing, serving as a tranquil space for reflection and gratitude. Trees represent fresh starts and the continuous cycle of life. They embody resilience, strength, wisdom, growth, and beauty.

The Significance of Gifting a Legacy Tree

Giving a tree as a gift is a meaningful and lasting gesture that can be cherished and appreciated for years to come. Whether you're honoring the memory of a loved one, celebrating a new addition to the family, or marking a significant milestone like moving to a new home or retirement, a tree serves as a distinctive gift that brings a multitude of benefits.

Ideal Locations for Planting Memorial Trees

Memorial trees can be planted in a wide range of places. We have successfully planted them in various settings, such as parks, schools, universities, churches, and memorial gardens.

Backyards or front yards— Planting a memorial tree in your yard can serve as a meaningful gift to yourself. It offers numerous advantages, including providing shade, enhancing beauty, attracting wildlife, and creating a tranquil outdoor escape right in your landscape. Choose a location for the tree where it can be appreciated both from outside and through a window. This living tribute is sure to bring you daily joy and comfort to a healing heart.

Parks— Planting a memorial tree in a local park not only enhances the environment but also benefits the entire community. These park tree plantings hold significant meaning, serving as a tribute to a special place where cherished memories and joy can be found.

Cemeteries— We collaborate with local cemeteries to plant trees, enhancing the beauty and comfort of the surrounding landscapes. Typically, these trees are situated along pathways or in nearby open spaces.

Churches— Numerous churches in the Chicago area have had us plant memorial trees in their prayer gardens or on church grounds. These tree plantings serve as a tribute to retirements, celebrate new additions to the church, or mark special occasions.

Schools & Colleges— Often, these trees are planted in shared spaces on the campus grounds, such as near main walkways, and entrances where students and staff can appreciate the tree for many years ahead.

Community Gardens— iTrees.com partners with, local communities, and homeowners' associations (HOAs) to establish Memorial Tree garden spaces. In these instances, the trees are planted in dedicated spaces, typically along walking paths, in parks, or near ponds within the community.

Selecting a Memorial Tree

Prior to selecting a memorial tree, it is essential to consider a few key factors. To assist you in this process, we have created a helpful list.

Consider a Gift Card— If the tree is intended as a gift, you may wish to consider giving an iTrees.com Gift Card. This will enable the recipient to choose the tree themselves and eliminate any uncertainty.

A gift card for a tree is a straightforward way to give a thoughtful present.

Consider the Seasons— When purchasing a tree to represent a special occasion or sentiment, seasonal color is an important factor to consider. Choose bright spring flowers or vibrant autumn hues. These colors can evoke feelings of warmth and tranquility.

Selecting a tree that changes with the seasons offers anticipation and joy throughout the year. From spring flowers to fall colors, colorful trees will provide beauty and comfort in all seasons.

Think About Mature Size— The size of the tree you plant will be determined in part by the location where the tree will be planted. If it is going in a park, you have the full gamut of options from big majestic oaks to small flowering understory options. If the tree is going in a tight location such as near a front window of a home, or in a garden, you may want to consider a tree with a more moderate stature.

Get it B&B and Get it Local— This may be the final point, but it is certainly not the least important. In fact, it may be the most crucial factor to consider. Opt for a high-quality, locally grown ball & burlap (B&B) tree. This is a superior choice to purchasing a tree from a large retail chain. In most cases, trees from those big box stores have unknown origins and are less likely to withstand the harsh conditions of Illinois winters and summers.

Ultimately, to avoid unnecessary stress for both yourself and the tree, it is advisable to purchase from a local, reputable supplier.

Something else worth nothing, the possibility of a memorial tree not surviving can be stressful. Fortunately, we offer a simple solution: the iTrees.com Assurance™ Full Replacement Warranty. Our warranty provides peace of mind for both the gift-giver and the recipient.

When you choose iTrees.com to deliver & plant your memorial tree, you can be confident that you have selected a top-notch, locally-grown tree, backed by our warranty. Furthermore, our expert crew will plant the tree with exceptional care and professionalism.

What do you get when you hire iTrees.com to deliver and plant your Memorial Tree?

Accommodations are Available:

— Reading & Performances: We can set aside time for readings or musical performances.

— Commemorations: Honor the planting with a plaque, sign, or dedication.

— Assist with the Tree Planting: Family & friends are invited to help plant the tree.

Planting & Scheduling:

At iTrees.com, we invite families to unite in honoring their loved ones by planting a lasting legacy. We will work closely with your family to determine the ideal time for planting your tree, ensuring that everyone can participate in this heartfelt occasion.

Our goal is to foster a warm and soothing atmosphere during this important moment of planting and remembrance. We will handle all the essential planting arrangements, allowing your family to unwind and fully immerse themselves in the legacy tree planting experience.

In closing, we are here to support you on your tree planting journey. Feel free to reach out to us, and one of our team members will be happy to help you.

A Printable PDF flyer is available below.

To enhance your tree planting experience, we have thoughtfully assembled a selection of our favorite trees to plant as a living tribute.

Browse our Memorial Trees Collection

Other Resources:

iTrees.com | Legacy Tree Program

Spring Grove Nursery | Legacy Trees — Memories to Last a Lifetime

Tree of the Week: Swamp White Oak

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 09:43:00 -0500

Available for delivery and installation Spring 2020

We're closing out the month of OAKtober (Oak Awareness Month) with none other than the beautiful, unique & tough Swamp White Oak.

Oaks in general are slower growers Swamp White Oak, however, is our fastest-growing Oak tree!

Why we love this outstanding Oak→

Tough & native tree
Fast-growing Oak
Large shade tree reaching 45 Ft Tall and about 45 Ft Wide
Yellow/Gold-Brown fall color
Does well in wet and poorly drained soils

Here are some pictures of Swamp White Oak in our nursery and holding yard setting →

Let's hear what iTrees.com owner, Chris Harford has to say about this tree.

Available for delivery and installation Spring 2020

Chicagoland Grows® Tree Picks

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 11:42:00 -0500

Chicagoland Grows® Plant & Tree Introduction Program is in partnership with the Chicago Botanic Garden, The Morton Arboretum and the Ornamental Grower's Association of Northern IL (OGA). Through this program, they are able to specially select new cultivars that are well adapted to the growing conditions in the Chicagoland area. Although this program does have a regional focus, the trees in this program have proven to be well adapted in all upper mid-western zone appropriate areas.

State Street™ Maple

This tree was selected for it's exceptional tolerance to heat, drought, acidic or alkaline soils. Notable and attractive traits are it's rugged, textured bark, and medium-dark green leaves that transition to an incredible gold-yellow in the fall.

Crescendo™ Sugar Maple

Selectively bred and is native to the Chicagoland region. This tree will stun with its striking red-orange fall color. Perfect for residential properties and parks.

EXCLAMATION!® London Planetree

Well adapted and is resistant to anthracnose and frost cracking. It's wonderfully attractive peeling bark and unique foliage is something to exclaim about!

Accolade® Elm

Originated from seed at The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University in 1924 and cloned from the collections at The Morton Arboretum. Resistant to Dutch Elm Disease and Elm Leaf Beetle. This handsome tree has glossy green leaves in spring and summer and turns a warm yellow in the fall. Truly perfect for parkways, parks, and yards offering shade in that too sunny location.

Triumph™ Elm

Selected for its strong branching and lush, glossy green leaves. Triumph™ Elm has shown excellent resistance to disease and pests as well as drought tolerance. A wonderful choice for homes, parks, and parkways!

Beijing Gold® Tree Lilac

Also commonly known as the Peking Tree Lilac, was selected as part of the Chicagoland Grows® Plant Introduction for its summer plumes of fragrant yellow flowers, dark green foliage, attractive bark, upright growth habit, and warm yellow fall color. This outstanding specimen tree can be planted in groups in the landscape, along driveways, patios, and does well on the parkway.

Resources:

Chicagoland Grows® Plant Introduction Program http://www.chicagolandgrows.org

Chicago Botanic Garden https://www.chicagobotanic.org/

The Morton Arboretum https://www.mortonarb.org/

OGA https://www.ogaoni.com/

Tree of the Week: Autumn Fantasy Maple

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 11:27:00 -0600

When you're day dreaming of the perfect shade tree for your home what qualities does it have? Beautiful dense shade, strong branching, deep green leaves that turn a stunning bright red in the fall!? Yeah, that's what we were thinking too!

Why we love this dreamy tree →

Dependable & fast-growing
Broadly oval
Dream worthy red fall color
Perfect shade tree
Considered to be nearly seedless (no helicopters/samaras)

Tree of the Week: Kentucky Coffee Tree

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 08:24:00 -0600

This week's tree has a tropical feel in the summertime but come winter it takes on a rugged and native look.

Reasons why we love this rugged tree →

Large mature size (more than 40 Ft Tall)
Yellow/Gold fall color
Interesting appearance
Rapid growth rate
Very adaptable, does well in both dry & wet locations
Offers filtered shade

Tree of the Week: Winter King Hawthorn

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 08:26:00 -0600

This week's tree is one you can enjoy year-round.

Why we think this tree is an all-around keeper →

Unique low-branching structure
Horizontally spreading form
A small tree (15-25 feet)
White spring flower
Beautiful foliage that turns bright orange in the fall
Decorative red fruit in the winter
Attracts wildlife

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Tree of the Week: Norway Spruce

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 08:28:00 -0600

Norway Spruce has it all!

Homeowners love it for it's faster growth rate of all the spruce varieties we grow, it's beautifully unique branching habit as it matures, the fact that it offers privacy and screening with its year-round evergreen needles, all while they help to reduce energy costs but maybe the best feature of all, is that they attract wildlife!

According to The Morton Arboretum, "Norway spruce is a large, pyramidal tree with long, cylindrical cones that hang like ornaments from the weeping branches against the dark green foliage. This sun-loving, 50-80 foot-high tree is often used as windbreaks, screens, or hedges in large-scale landscapes."

Why we love this architectural tree →

♦ Large Tree (more than 40 feet)
♦ Moderate to a rapid growth rate
♦ Useful as a windbreak for privacy & screening or as a specimen tree in the landscape or for open areas in parks
♦ Beautiful weeping branches and dark green needles
♦ Pyramidal form
♦ Interesting flaky gray bark
♦ Attracts wildlife

iTrees.com is no longer delivering and planting Evergreen trees this fall. There is a general rule in the green industry to try to stop planting evergreens by the end of October to the middle of November. It is best to give the evergreens trees some time before the cold cold winter sets in, to establish it's root system and be settled in for the winter. Also, the nursery will usually stop digging evergreens out of the ground for this reason as well.

We will begin delivering and planting Evergreen trees again next spring.

Healthy Hedges

Brittany Johnson — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 11:55:00 -0600

You may be wondering why "healthy hedges"? Invasive species pose the threat of wiping out entire native species and forests. It is critical now, more than ever to take action. The best thing you can do is remove these species from your own backyard and replant a healthy hedge.

Resources:

Chicago RTI Healthy Hedges Initiative http://chicagorti.org/HealthyHedges

University of Illinois Extension's Vegetation Management Guideline: Bush Honeysuckles

Illinois Forestry Association's Invasive Species Identification http://illinoisisam.blogspot.com/2012/12/identification-and-control-of-woody.html

Plant Joy This Holiday Season

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 09:24:00 -0600

Do you want pretty much the greatest gift idea of all time? How about giving your friend or loved one the gift of trees?!

It’s time to change the course of your gift-giving forever. Trees are a perfect gift for any occasion: new babies, weddings, holidays, birthdays or whatever you’re celebrating.

Trees also make fantastic memorial gifts, after all a tree is a perfect monument to your loved one that will last for generations to come. So get your friend or loved one an iTrees.com gift card today!

They can use their gift cards on iTrees.com to purchase a variety of trees. Please keep in mind that we only service the Chicagoland area.

Grower Talk: New SGN Shed Update

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 08:30:00 -0600

"Our new office/shed project is coming along nicely! We are hoping to be moved in by the end of the year. We had some help the day our concrete was poured by our son, Joey, and niece & nephews, Cash, Sky, & Jett. It was a fun way to commemorate our new project 20 years in the making. More info to follow once we get moved in with a new address in 2020!" - Becky Thomas of SGN Trees

October 30, 2019, Kelli Rodda | photos by seth morris photography

"From their first plans laid out on paper to their current bustling operation, Becky and Jamie Thomas run Spring Grove Nursery with a meticulous approach."

2019 Project Highlights

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 11:00:00 -0600

As we reflect on our 2019 jobs we can’t help but feel grateful for the customers who chose us to plant their trees and hopeful for what the next year will bring.

Probably more than anything, we love seeing our customers and communities excited about tree planting! ICYMI: Here are a few highlights from our social media accounts.

Now Accepting Spring 2020 Orders

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 03:03:00 -0600

We Are Now Accepting Spring 2020 Orders

It's almost Groundhog's Day and whether or not Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, we should all be thinking spring. Wintertime is THE time to start your spring tree planting and landscaping projects, this is because you have time to get a jump start and gather your information without feeling scrambled to pull it together as the weather begins to warm up.

Order now to assure your tree is held for you for spring delivery and planting. We will update you as the trees are being dug from the field and orders are getting ready to go out, depending on the weather, this is usually around the middle of May.

P.S. If he sees his shadow, that means 6 more weeks of winter.

Not sure where to begin?

That's ok, we've got you covered. There are so many helpful resources out there which can be confusing so to help you get started I've gone ahead listed a few for you below and I've put them all in one place, right here on our website.

Let's help you get started with your spring tree planting project!

This is where you can find information about selecting the right tree, determining tree placement, tree care and SO much more →

Expert Advice— Design & How To's
Browse design advice, how-to articles, tree care advice... and more from our tree experts.

How it Works— Delivery & Planting
1. Choose Your Trees
2. Delivery & Planting
3. Enjoy!

Project Gallery— See Our Work
Take a look at some of our recent projects!

Video Gallery— Behind the Scenes
We've got everything covered in our video catalog from what goes on up at the nursery to how to select the right tree.

815.448.2138 | info@itrees.com

What Are the Best Wintertime Activities to Do in the Naperville Area?

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 09:19:00 -0600

It's that time of year again, the space between winter and spring, and well you may find yourself thinking and maybe if you're anything like us, Googling something a bit like this: "What are the best wintertime activities to do in the Naperville area?"

Wintertime can feel dreadful if you're stuck doing the same old thing day in and day out and let's be honest, in Illinois winter lasts FOREVER. Just as soon as we think spring is coming early we get hit with a mountain of snow to shovel and maneuver around.

The thing is, despite the weather, if we dress for the conditions and prepare for the roads there's actually a lot going on AND... and, and did you know people who get outside and stay active during the wintertime are actually healthier!? There's actually "...scientific proof that going outside — even in the winter — makes us healthier!"

If you're running out of ideas for wintertime activities to do alone or with the family, we've got a good mix of both indoor and outdoor activities right here for you to check out and the best part is, they're all right here in the Naperville area.

Please comment below if you have any great ideas that weren't included in this post!

Two Boston's GALENTINE'S YAPPY HOUR

Naperville, IL 60540
February 13, 2020
6 - 7:30 PM

Take some extra time to celebrate your furry loved ones at our Galentine's Yappy Hour event! They will have refreshments for pups and people, along with photo backdrops so you can make the memories last!

See their full list of upcoming event details here.

Cross-Country Skiing at The Morton Arboretum

The season runs November 29, 2019, through March 13, 2020

There are wonderful skiing destinations across the Arboretum grounds: Ski Trail Map.

Get the full details here.

Naperville Pizza Wars

Wednesday, February 19th, 2020
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm @ Naperville Central High School

Who has the best pizza in Naperville? Come out to sample and vote for your favorite - all while supporting a great cause!

Get the full details here.

Naperville Plays at DuPage Children's Museum

Saturday, February 22 | 9:00 am-Noon

"Visitors will quadruple their fun at the Museum during this partnership of programming with a fun, hands-on activities provided by the Museum, Naper Settlement, Knoch Knolls Nature Center, and Naperville Public Library that relate to S.T.E.A.M. concepts."

Get the full details here.

Adult Hike with a Naturalist

Friday, February, 28th, 2020 or Saturday, February, 29th
10 am - 11:30 am

Join a naturalist on a wintry morning hike at Knoch Knolls Park to learn about local wildlife. The trails may be snowy. Wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather.

FREE but registration required

Get the full details here.

Naperville St. Patrick's Day Parade/St. Paddy's Day 5K

Saturday, March 14, 2020!
St. Paddy’s Day 5K – 8 AM
St. Patrick’s Day PARADE – 10 AM

May the luck of the Irish be with you!
Get the full event details here.

For additional 5K details head to this link http://www.stpaddysday5k.org/

Plant & Grow Your Love This Valentine's Day

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 07:00:00 -0600

PLANT & GROW YOUR LOVE THIS VALENTINE'S DAY

Show that someone special your love for them is deeply rooted by planting a tree in their name.

Valentine's Day is THIS Friday, February 14th and it's an opportunity to tell that special someone just how much they mean to you. This is also universally recognized as a day to celebrate all of your valued relationships, from your parents, siblings, and friends to the children in your life.

Plant a tree in honor of someone special— there's nothing more meaningful than planting a tree and being able to watch it flourish and grow into something amazingly beautiful.

Purchase an iTrees.com gift card that the recipient can use on iTrees.com to purchase a variety of trees. Or simply order a tree for delivery and planting and we will take care of the rest this spring. Please keep in mind we currently only service the Chicagoland area.

Shop our diverse selection of Shade Trees, Ornamental & Flowering Trees, Evergreen Trees & Privacy Trees.

Shop Now

- or -

Purchase Gift Card

#STARTPLANTINGONLINE

iTrees.com COVID-19 Update

Marlee Harford — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 01:29:00 -0500

To our valued customers,

As you all know by now there have been many uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 virus. With heightened awareness and restrictions in place, we wanted to keep you informed on how we plan to best serve you while moving into our 2020 planting season.

Currently, our partner nurseries are working safely and diligently digging trees from their fields. They have put necessary measures in place to keep all employees safe. A significant portion of iTrees.com and nursery work is done outdoors, which makes it easier for employees to keep their distance from each other. Our valued crew members, Kyle and Ray, will be working in the nursery fields during this time to help move “tree field digging” along as needed to allow iTrees.com the ability to schedule our tree plantings and deliveries as planned, this May.

Chris, Brittany and I are working in our office, and at home when needed, being sure to use precautionary measures and will continue to be available via email or phone. This time of year is a very busy time in the green industry and we plan to keep moving forward in anticipation of our tree planting season. Now is a great time to think about your yard's shade, privacy, and charm and our team will be available to help with any tree suggestions or questions you may have.

Our entire team is doing everything possible to help restrict the spread of the virus and “flatten the curve”. The safety of all of our employees and customers is and has always been our number one priority. It is our commitment to you to keep you informed and updated with any changes iTrees.com may develop.

We send positive vibes to you all and are confident in time we will all rise stronger than ever before.

“STORMS MAKE TREES TAKE DEEPER ROOTS”- Dolly Parton

Sincerely,

Marlee Harford

iTrees.com, INC. Owner

Email Us: info@itrees.com Call Us: 815-448-2138
PO BOX 249 MORRIS, IL 60450

Why Trees Reduce Stress & Anxiety

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 01:39:00 -0500

We’re always preaching the benefits of trees- and for good reason!

Trees benefit us in so many ways!

Environmentally
Socially
Increase property values
Add shade, privacy, and beauty
Benefit our mental & physical health

People of all ages can benefit from trees. Trees offer kids a place to play in autumn when the leaves begin to fall, they bring beauty and fragrance with their spring blooms and bring a sense of peace to all who come into their presence.

Not only do trees improve the quality of air that we breathe, and produce food for us to consume and products for us to use but they also are known to boost our mood! Trees can help eliminate stress and anxiety which is so important in a time like now when stress can wreak havoc on our immune systems.

So how do trees reduce stress and anxiety? Just stepping out in nature or even looking at a picture of a tree has been scientifically proven to lower blood pressure. That's just one example! Get outside and look up at the trees today and go see for yourself.

Royal Raindrops® Crabapple adds beauty and tranquility in a backyard garden.

“...trees have important social, communal, and calming effects on ourselves and our communities. Urban tree canopies significantly reduce workplace stress levels and fatigue, correlate with lower crime rates and reduced traffic, and have even been known to decrease the recovery time needed after surgery. Also, trees are often planted as living memorials- and humans can develop strong bonds with trees we have planted and loved!”

Plant a tree in your yard from the view of your home office, bedroom, living room, or wherever you spend a lot of time. Another great option is to place your tree where you can view it from your kitchen so that while you do the dishes, or are cooking you will have a beautiful view… or simply plant wherever you want to add beauty or block out those pesky neighbors (whatever makes you the happiest)!

River Birch adds privacy & beauty along the back end of the backyard.

Here are a few tree suggestions for improving your quality of life even if you’re stuck inside →

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry

Winter King Hawthorn

Red Jewel White Flowering Crabapple

Royal Raindrops® Crabapple

Redpointe® Red Maple

Red Sunset® Red Maple

Sun Valley Red Maple

Pacific Sunset® Maple

Celebration® Maple

Autumn Blaze Maple

River Birch

Heritage River® Birch

Whitespire Birch

Order now from the comfort of your own home and we'll take care of the rest. This is a great option when we are practicing social distancing. You can make a difference for your home and your neighborhood without having to worry.

We will deliver and plant your tree stress-free!

“...Trees reduce sound, separating our neighborhoods from busy commercial areas. They produce oxygen, store carbon and fight climate change, and clean the air which not only is good for the planet but also can be seen right at home with better health and happiness for everyone. Trees reduce harsh winds and cool the entire community, cutting down on all kinds of dangerous pollution. On average, a neighborhood full of trees tends to correspond with a higher average income for the entire community.”

Read more about the benefits of trees here: https://itrees.com/tree-benefits

Planting Peace & Growing Hope

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 04:23:00 -0500

Marlee Harford of iTrees.com and Becky Thomas of Spring Grove Nursery knew that the community was feeling the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and that they needed to do something to give back.

Planting a tree in our community in honor of our everyday heroes who are out there on the frontline of this pandemic is truly a sign of hope and looking to a healthy future, and it’s a really beautiful way to say for us to say “Thank you, you’re appreciated.”

Do you know a healthcare professional who would benefit from the serenity trees provide?

For the month of April, iTrees.com is partnering with Spring Grove Nursery to plant trees in the yards of our much deserving health care professionals throughout our community. Our local healthcare professionals are on the frontlines of stressful uncertain situations daily, and they are working extra hard to keep us all safe and healthy during these extraordinary times. How about we all share the love in our own community by bringing a bit of beauty & calmness to their home sanctuary? Trees bring us the peace, beauty, stress relief, and health we are all seeking right now. Do you know a healthcare professional who would benefit from the serenity trees provide? Please send in an emailed nomination letter with a paragraph of a healthcare professional who would benefit from this much-deserved tribute and why you nominate them. Send your entries to info@itrees.com by April 17th. All nominees must live in Grundy County. Recipients will be announced on Arbor Day, April 24!

Planting a tree is a sign of looking to the future. Trees benefit our community in ways that often go unnoticed and are generally under-appreciated. Their roots run deep in our neighborhoods, just like the hearts of our healthcare professionals in our community. Let's join together to show our appreciation, provide a bit of joy to come home to, peace throughout the journey, and spark hope for a new season ahead.

We can't wait to read through your entries and award our deserving healthcare professionals to share, love and hope this spring!

Email your nominations to info@itrees.com

Blooming Brief Week of April 6th: Magnolia Trees & Dogwood Trees

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 02:56:00 -0500

We're beginning to see some trees in bloom and it's truly a sign of hope and good things to come. We are about 2 weeks+ ahead of last year's Blooming Brief for these trees. We saw Magnolia first in bloom last year around April 24th, 2019 and Dogwoods weren't spotted in bloom until Memorial Day weekend last year but a couple of years prior we saw them blooming in early April as we're seeing this year. Bloom times vary year-to-year depending on the weather, tree location and other site conditions.

First up, Magnolia Trees! These beauties are a bright and refreshing sight!

Magnolia Trees are in bloom this week! Have you spotted any in your neighborhood? These blooms are such a special and beautiful early spring treat. They hold their buds tightly until they suddenly burst open on a warm sunny spring day. Magnolia flowers have a sweet fragrant scent, the trees come in single trunk form or clump form and come in all different colors, pink, white, yellow and more!

Some people attribute Magnolia Trees to have special meaning and they do make a beautiful tree to plant for special occasions such as the birth of a baby, moving into a new home, or birthdays and anniversaries. These trees make wonderful gifts for loved ones and friends or can be planted simply for yourself to enjoy!

Available for order this spring →

Dr. Merrill Magnolia

Jane Magnolia

Butterflies Cucumbertree Magnolia

Next up, Dogwood Trees!

Pictured below is Golden Glory Cornelian Cherry Dogwood. Our nursery is projecting that this will become available Fall of 2020.

Available now for order is Pagoda Dogwood - an equally as beautiful dogwood option.

Golden Glory Cornelian Cherry Dogwood can be used anywhere in the landscape to add some color and native flair. Dogwoods are an excellent specimen to plant near a patio, at corners of the house, or in groupings anywhere in the yard. Dogwoods are commonly used for privacy screening, foundation plantings, or anywhere where a small clump form tree is ideal.

What Fun & Relaxing Things Can I Do With Trees in My Yard?

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 11:58:00 -0500

Getting outside in our yards and enjoying the fresh air is a nice break from electronic devices, work, and the daily stresses of life.

There are many different uses for trees in our yards beyond the obvious: shade, privacy, and beauty. Trees are also here for our own enjoyment and relaxation.

Did you know that trees play a significant role in contributing to our overall well-being and ability to relax?

Trees not only provide a peaceful canopy of shade, but they also help calm us down. Surround yourself with greenery, and you will be instantly transported away from the daily hustle and bustle of life.

Most people are aware that trees play an important role in maintaining clean air. Breathing clean air is good for our health and will help improve our moods, too! Talk about a win-win!

Close your eyes and hear the calming, tranquil sounds of nature. The leaves rustling, the birds chirping. These natural sounds drown out noise pollution from nearby traffic or loud neighbors, and instantly relax your entire body.

Get Physical! Taking hikes, walking, or simply enjoying a park stroll among the trees will help boost those endorphin levels. All while improving our mental health and our sense of relaxation.

Finally, there is the psychological aspect of being around trees. Did you know trees have a positive effect on our mood? This, our dear readers, is a fact! The very sight of trees can help reduce anxiety and depression.

Picture it— the sun comes out, the birds are chirping, a butterfly flutters past your window, almost like it is trying to tell you something, and your lush shade tree is casting the perfect shadow over your hammock. So you play along, grab a book and a lightweight blanket, and head outside to your very own backyard oasis.

We’ve listed a handful of options for you to try with your newly planted tree or your existing trees. If we’ve left anything out, be sure to comment below with what fun or relaxing uses you’ve found your trees are good for!

Check out this creative list of ideas to get you started relaxing and enjoying your backyard oasis today →

01 Hang a swing

Unwind from a hectic day with a tree swing! This is one form of good old-fashioned fun & relaxation that has stood the test of time. Whether it is a rope swing, a tire swing, a wooden board, or a love seat for two, tree swings will be sure to help you beat the doldrums! The rhythmic motion of swinging is calming. Add the view of nature surrounding you, and you are on your way to relaxation and fun in no time.

Tree swings offer a variety of benefits, making them a fantastic addition to any backyard or play area.

Doesn't this make you want to hop right on one right now?

02 Tie up a hammock and enjoy a nap or two

Hammocks tied to a tree, or maybe you have the kind that stands alone, either way, under the shade of a tree is hands-down the perfect napping spot.

Lean back and relax with a good book, and close your eyes. Let the light flicker through the canopy above and drift away into a napping wonderland. Listen to the peaceful soundscapes of birds chirping and leaves fluttering all around you. Be careful, you may never want to leave this spot.

Is there really any reason not to have a hammock?

03 Build a treehouse

Building a treehouse is gonna take time and planning. The results are well worth it. With careful construction, you now have a secret retreat into the wilderness, with a birds-eye view. Bring a book and a pillow for a nap, or some binos for bird watching. Disconnect from devices and play in your new fort! We assure you, you will come away de-stressed and full of fun memories.

04 Hang birdhouses & feeders- these make for fun bird watching

Birdhouses and feeders are a simple and enjoyable way to add a touch of whimsy to your yard. Hang them from a branch, fill them with some bird food, and let the fun begin! You can get creative here if you want to make or decorate your birdhouse or bird feeder.

Not only will you attract wildlife to your yard, but you will also find something to take your eyes away from the phone and out into the natural world around you.

Bird watching is a relaxing and fun activity for all ages.

05 Tree fairy garden

Have you ever spotted a fairy garden on a walk? Fairy Gardens are lawn ornaments, but on a miniature scale. Homeowners who have a sense of wonder still left in them may use fairy gardens to add whimsy to their yard. Fairy gardens are sometimes set up near the trunk of a tree. Creating a fairy garden is a fun hobby to get you out into nature and use your imagination. If you have little ones, they will take joy in imaginary play with a fairy garden nestled under the shade of a tree.

Fairy gardens enhance both playtime and creativity for children and even adults. Making life all the more fun and relaxing.

Other fun and relaxing things you can try →

• Bark & leaf rubbing: Grab a paper, a crayon, head to a nearby tree, and get to it!

• Tree litter art: On your next stroll through the park, look down. This is important; you don't want to pull from the tree itself. Look on the ground around the tree where you'll find the treasure for your next masterpiece. Collect fallen branches, bark, acorns, and leaves, and see what kind of tree you can make.

• Tree scavenger hunts: Make a list of different kinds of trees to find and check them off as you go along. This is a fun & relaxing way to learn more about trees on a walk through your very own neighborhood. Another way to do this is to make a list of things that come from a tree to find on your walk, for example, an apple, an oak leaf, or a stick.

• Tree climbing: Find the biggest tree with the lowest hanging branches, with bark that isn't too rough, and you've found a very special thing— a climbing tree! Good old-fashioned fun! Supervised, of course, with the kiddos.

• Tree tour: Some villages and park districts do tours of their historic trees. If not, with a little bit of research, you may be able to do one on your own.

• Big tree hunt: Head outside and find the biggest trees you can in your community. Bring a tape measure and your camera to document your findings. What a fun way to learn about the trees where you live!

• Tree ID: Some local arboretums and park districts offer these courses. They are often available as in-person events or online.

• Forest Bathing: Immerse yourself in nature. Surround yourself with the solitude of trees. Doing so is said to help calm your body and mind and slow your heart rate. Making you healthier, happier, and more relaxed. Learn more about Forest Bathing here.

Discover other tree-related events & learning opportunities right here.

Trees can help to relax us when we need it the most. They listen without judgment, they give without asking, and they offer fun and enchantment to people of all ages.

So go on, get outside and connect with nature. Relax with trees and find joy in the outdoors! Fun and relaxation are just a tree away!

Share how you use your trees for fun, and be sure to tag us on social media! @itreeschicago & #jointheTREEvolution!

Arbor Day 2020: Flashback to Past Arbor Day Plantings

Brittany Johnson — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 01:34:00 -0500

Arbor Day is and will always be our favorite day of celebration at iTrees.com!

Head to our Join the TREEvoltion: Giving Back page to view more pictures that show why giving back is so important to us.

As we reflect on our past Arbor Day projects we feel not only the same sense of hope that comes when planting a tree but we know that Arbor Day has never been more important to us.

iTrees.com and Spring Grove Nursery are committed to giving back to our local community. One of the most important things we can do for each other is help when it's needed. In the last decade, Coal City & Diamond, Illinois were destroyed by tornadoes. The tornadoes swept away over 50,000 trees. We are proud to give back to these communities when we can through our CommuniTrees Partner Program & our annual Arbor Day events.

In the past, we've worked with several different communities and organizations, and its something that we certainly intend to keep on doing in whatever way possible. This year, we've encountered a few roadblocks but iTrees.com & Spring Grove Nursery is not letting that halt any Arbor Day celebrations.

It may look a little different without a large crowd present, but we still plan to make this Arbor Day special. Together, iTrees.com & Spring Grove Nursery is honoring a local healthcare professional by planting a tree at their home.

We will announce the Planting Peace & Growing Hope recipient on Arbor Day this year!

Read more about our Planting Peace & Growing Hope initiative here.

Here's a flashback to a few of our favorite video compilations of Arbor Day's Past →

Check out some of our past Arbor Day Celebrations in local news media outlets →

Parkview Christian Students Plant a Tree for Arbor Day - Kendall County Now 2019

Arbor Day Activities to Bring a Bit of Color to Coal City - Coal City Courant 2018

Making Coal City Green Again - Coal City Courant 2018

ComEd finding ways to help replace Coal City’s tree canopy - Coal City Courant 2018

What are the best uses for Birch Trees?

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 10:31:00 -0500

Beautiful birch trees are versatile in where they can be planted and are very adaptable to a variety of site conditions. Check out what birch trees we have available and their different uses →

If you're reading this post you're likely considering a birch tree for your yard but you're not quite sure which one is the right option for you. They are the preferable choice for adding ornamental interest and shade to your landscape.

Before selecting your tree, we recommend that you ask yourself, "What do I need to achieve in this space?" This is an ideal place to start. From there, decide on what features stand out to you, be sure to consider the tree's mature size and shape. For example, Whitespire Birch will be much smaller at maturity than a Heritage® River Birch.

There will be no shortage of the beauty and wonder that these trees will supply!

Birch trees double as privacy screens even in winter months, acting as a visual block
Consider them for their ornamental characteristics— their beautiful native look, striking golden fall color and unique bark, whether it be chalky white, or their rugged exfoliating bark
Place them around property lines
Useful as a privacy screen in backyard landscapes
Consider using them for adding dimension and color in your berm, as an accent or anchor in landscape beds
Place them in locations that tend to hold more water than others, especially after heavy rains

If you need a fast-growing ornamental shade tree, this is it! Heritage® River Birch shows off in the spring and summer with large, glossy light green leaves that will turn a golden-yellow in the fall. Our favorite part of this tree is hands-down its interesting peeling bark. As it's bark peels away it exposes patches of cream, orange and pinkish-tan colors that become more mottled and interesting with age. This Midwest native is sturdy and fast-growing. Heritage® River Birch takes on a pyramidal form at maturity, reaching about 40 Ft Tall and 30 Ft Wide.

Homeowners love planting this tree around their house— in berms, landscape beds, and as an accent or anchor near a driveway, deck or patio. Whitespire Birch is a medium-sized tree, maturing to about 30 Ft Tall and 25 Ft Wide with an upright oval to a pyramidal shape. This tree is resistant to the Birch Borer and Japanese Beetle and is very adaptable. Whitespire Birch's leaves will rustle in the wind, turning a bright yellow in the fall. This tree is extremely low maintenance once established. We've even delivered these trees to a Chicago rooftop and planted them in containers! Check out the picture here.

River Birch is the king of ornamental shade trees! It's commonly used for screening and shade and has proven over and over why it's a customer favorite. It will grow to be a large shade tree reaching approximately 40 Ft Tall and 35 Ft Wide, maturing with arching to upright spreading shape. This tree is an excellent addition to any home. This versatile, fast-growing tree is valued not only for its stunning black, brown, and tan peeling bark but also for its outstanding gold fall color.

Dakota Pinnacle Birch is the perfect selection if you're looking for an attractive, reasonably sized, narrow tree. This tree will have more of a columnar look compared to the other varieties we offer, maturing to only 15 Ft Wide and about 40 Ft Tall. Its slender form will allow for placement in tight spaces such as in berms, near property lines, or smaller landscapes in general. Dakota Pinnacle Birch leafs out early and has rich fall color. Very cold hardy making it a great option for Northern Illinois landscapes. Fairly resistant to the Japanese Beetle. Dakota Pinnacle Birch is very adaptable, tolerant of urban pollution and will thrive in inner-city environments.

Hurry up! Order now for spring delivery and planting. Placing your order now will assure your trees are held for you and the sooner you order, the sooner we can get your trees planted.

→ Shop Birch Trees Now— we have both single trunk form (tree form) and multi-stem clump form to choose from!

→ For more #treespiration be sure to head on over to our Project Gallery and Video Gallery!

→ Want more Expert Advice? Be sure to take a look at our Design Center!

For any questions please call us at 815-448-2138 or send us an email at info@itrees.com.

Blooming Brief Week of April 27th: Ornamental Pear, Serviceberry & Redbud

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 02:35:00 -0500

This week we're seeing an explosion of Ornamental Pear, Serviceberry & Redbud Trees!

Ornamental Pear is a popular choice for our customers, they adore the spring blooms and look forward to bright fall colors. These trees are commonly placed in open areas of the landscape or along the parkway.

Serviceberry trees are similar to Ornamental Pear in that they're very popular with our customers and put on a rockin' spring flower display and they show off in autumn with bright fall colors. Serviceberry is a great 3 season accent tree and can even act as a privacy screen when placed properly around your home.

This tree is an absolute knockout in the spring and is a definite focal point for any landscape. Eastern Redbud is a spectacular spring bloomer, with very showy pink to purple flowers held tightly on bare branches in early spring.

Hurry up! Order now for spring delivery and planting. Placing your order now will assure your trees are held for you and the sooner you order, the sooner we can get your trees planted.

→ For more #treespiration be sure to head on over to our Project Gallery and Video Gallery & follow us on social media!

→ Want more Expert Advice? Be sure to take a look at our Design Center!

Privacy Tree Spotlight: Arborvitae Trees

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 04 May 2020 10:43:00 -0500

Do you have an area in your yard where space is limited but you need year-round screening? Find out how to use Arborvitae Trees in your landscape for privacy, screening & more!

Be sure to check out the *BONUS TREE PLANTING VIDEO* at the end of this post!

Reasons to Choose Arborvitae for Privacy Screening →

Block an unsightly view
Neighbors have too much of a view into your yard
Need to add beauty by bringing in a soft texture
Protect guests during gatherings from wind gusts
Nearby busy street
Noisy street or loud neighbor– did you know that plants absorb sound?
Redirect snow drifts

Consider Mature Height & Width
With all tree plantings, mature height and width need to be taken into consideration when selecting your tree placement. You don't want to end up with a tree that appears to be overgrown for the space that it's in. It will save you a lot of headaches down the road to figure that out first.

If you need to plant a tree near your property line or easement, please be considerate of your neighbors.

01 Nigra Thuja occidentalis 'Nigra'

Nigra Arborvitae is great for creating a living fence. This tree will create solid, year-round screening. Nigra Arborvitae is more narrow at maturity than its popular counterpart, Techny Arborvitae. This tree should not be planted in areas where it may be exposed to harsh winds.

Mature Height-	20 Ft Tall
Mature Spread-	7 Ft Wide

02 Techny Thuja occidentalis 'Techny'

Techny Arborvitae is tall, narrow, and holds its deep green color all year long. This tree is very hardy, wind-resistant, and adaptable. It can tolerate wetter locations, and should not be planted in extremely dry locations without frequent watering.

Mature Height-	15 Ft Tall
Mature Spread-	8 Ft Wide

03 Emerald Green Arborvitae Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd'

Emerald Green Arborvitae is one of the most popular arborvitae varieties and is known for its extremely narrow habit of growth. This narrow arborvitae has a bright green foliage color that holds well all winter. Be sure to read through to the end of this post, where you can check out the *BONUS TREE PLANTING VIDEO* of our crew installing these beauts!

Mature Height-	15 Ft Tall
Mature Spread-	4 Ft Wide

04 Green Giant Thuja standishii x plicata 'Green Giant'

Green Giant Arborvitae is a great tree to use as a screen, hedge, windbreak, or as a single specimen. This arborvitae is large, vigorous, and fast-growing. It has a pyramidal form and a medium to dark green color which is very resistant to winter frost burn. Green Giant has proven itself as a performer and can be used anywhere in the landscape. Under good growing conditions, this tree can grow up to 3 Ft per year!

Mature Height-	50-60 Ft Tall
Mature Spread-	12-20 Ft Wide

Design Spacing & Layout

— Layout —

Arborvitae is typically planted close together in rows to achieve a screening effect. For a more formal look, plant in a straight row. Going for a more natural feel? Stagger your rows in odd numbers 3, 5, 7, 9, etc…

— Spacing —

Our general rule of thumb is to take the mature width (canopy spread) of the tree and divide it by two. This means you're spacing your tree from the center of the tree's trunk. If you're going to stagger your trees, you would measure this on a diagonal. However, if you're looking for a more dense privacy screen you can plant your trees closer together so that as they mature they will grow together.

Nigra Spacing— Typical spacing for Nigra Arborvitae is approximately 5 Ft apart for single rows and 5 Ft apart for double rows that are spaced 10 Ft from each other.

Techny Spacing— Spacing for Techny Arborvitae is approximately 9 Ft apart for single rows and 10 Ft apart for double rows that are spaced 12 Ft from each other.

Emerald Green Spacing— We recommend spacing them 2 or 3 Ft from the center of the trunk for a quick screen.

Green Giant Spacing— Be aware that unlike many Arborvitae used for landscape situations the Green Giant gets massive and will reach a height of 50-60 Ft Tall by 12-20 Ft Wide. For a quick screen, plant them 5-6 Ft apart but 10-15 Ft apart is ideal for regular situations.

BONUS TREE PLANTING VIDEO

We had the pleasure of planting 12 trees for this wonderful customer. She was looking for ornamental interest & privacy. 1- Eastern Redbud, 1- Vernal Witchhazel, and 10- Emerald Green Arborvitae beautifully completed this home's landscaping.

Let us know what you think! If you enjoyed this post & bonus video please like, comment, and share!

REFERENCES

Expert Advice: Plan Your Tree Layout

American Conifer Society

The Arbor Day Foundation

Blooming Brief Week of May 4th: Crabapple, Cherry & Chokecherry Trees

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 07 May 2020 02:16:00 -0500

When Crabapples, Cherry & Chokecherry trees are in bloom it means... spring is full-on! Which bloom color is your favorite?

Canada Red Chokecherry is amazingly fragrant as are Crabapple & Cherry trees. When the breeze rustles their leaves the fragrance will fill your yard with the tree's floral aroma. These trees are special spring treat.

Crabapple Trees hold their buds tightly until the perfect conditions arise when suddenly the perfect warm sunny day arrives and they EXPLODE with blooms!

Check out these customer submissions of their Little Twist® Cherry Tree in bloom this spring. Now, this is some serious #treespiration !!!

Canada Red Chokecherry Tree— These trees have the most fragrant flowers!

Order your flowering trees now for no contact spring delivery and planting in 2-4 weeks!

How Do I Select Trees for My Berm?

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 12 May 2020 01:53:00 -0500

For the best tree suggestions be sure to check out the

>>> BONUS TREE TOUR VIDEO <<<

at the end of this post!

Berms are useful for building up an otherwise flat and uninteresting landscape. We recommend diversifying your plantings whenever possible, especially when planting in a berm. Adding in a berm is not only appealing to the eye it's also functional as a sound barrier in busy residential areas, as a visual block or privacy screen between two spaces, or as a windbreak.

— Check out our Design Center for more tips and tricks on getting started —

Choose multi-stem clump form trees and plant them in groups or clusters
Consider Evergreen Trees for texture, winter interest, privacy, and wind protection
Invigorate your senses by planting a fragrant Flowering Tree
Think about fall color— Shade trees have the stature and incredible fall color that everybody wants
Add a densely branched tree into the mix— these trees add contrast in stark winter months
"Branch out" and choose a tree with interesting bark such as River Birch
Integrate different heights for a unique native look
Decide on tree placement— if you want a more uniform look plant your trees in a straight row, or go native by staggering your trees

Now, let's get to it!

Grab a piece of paper and a pen or pencil and get ready to jot a few things down. First, you should consider your personal needs. Ask yourself, "What am I trying to achieve in this space?"

Are you wanting to add aesthetic interest to your landscape, or are you in need of privacy or maybe it's a bit of both? Really think about this and write down a few ideas and if you're feeling creative go ahead and make a drawing of what you'd like to see in your landscape. Start with simple design concepts— consider texture, color, and shape.

Check out our top 5 types of berms to use in your landscape →

01 The Front Yard Privacy Berm

Do you live on a corner lot with an open front yard? This could be a great option for you! This front yard needed privacy and we came in and filled it in with Black Hills Spruce trees. These beauts add a touch of dimension, color, texture, and that much-needed privacy.

02 The Shade Tree Berm

In the berm on the front, left-hand side we planted a new tree, an Autumn Blaze Maple! This fast-growing, large shade tree brings in shade and color. Autumn Blaze Maple will show-off in the fall with its bright red-orange fall color— a true treat for the homeowners! The berm to the right has an existing mature Colorado Blue Spruce, accented by other plant life at varying heights. This texture brings in character to an otherwise ordinary space.

03 The Raised Berm

This existing raised berm separates a residential area from a commercial area. By mixing Spruce Trees and Serviceberry Trees, this berm will have beauty and texture throughout the year as well as privacy.

04 The Privacy Screen Berm

Seen in the image above is a row of Techny Arborvitae used for privacy & screening. As these trees mature, they will grow closer together forming a living wall.

05 The Diverse Backyard Berm

» » » Skip to 6 mins 50 secs in where Chris discusses the home's back berm. « « «

Order now for — NO CONTACT — Delivery & Planting in 2-4 weeks!

References:

Gardening Know How - What Are Berms For? Tips for Using Berms in the Landscape

Gardening Know How - Tips on How & When to Build a Tree Berm

Midwest Gardening - Creating a Berm

Is My Tree Dying?

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 21 May 2020 10:01:00 -0500

We understand this can be a scary thought, but we're here to reassure you that it's probably not dying but is instead suffering from what is commonly called transplant shock or transplant stress. iTrees.com takes careful precautions to minimize stress on trees during the delivery and installation process. It's important to understand though, that some stress due to transplanting is normal and to be expected.

What does transplant stress looks like?

Yellowing and browning of leaves after being planted is common and it will happen after a tree is planted. It's a telltale sign of stress from being transplanted. There is a lot of stress that's involved with removing a tree from the ground where it's currently growing and then planting it into the ground again. The tree will need to re-establish its root system and in the meantime, you will sometimes see the stress on the outside of the tree, since the tree is conserving its energy.

"Research has shown that a tree can lose 80 to 95% of its root system as a result of transplanting. This causes a great deal of stress. After transplanting, the tree may form fewer and smaller leaves and grow very little. How long the stress period lasts depends on the size of the tree, its site, and the care it is given. A small tree (2-3 inch diameter), planted on a good site and given adequate water, should return to vigorous growth in 2-3 years. A poor site or inadequate care will lengthen this period. Large trees take longer to recover from transplanting than small trees; approximately 1 year of recovery is needed for each inch of diameter. As long as branches are not dying and growth improves each year, the tree is doing well." - The Morton Arboretum

According to Wayne Clatterbuck, the Associate Professor of Forestry, Wildlife & Fisheries at the University of Tennessee, homeowners should be patient with their transplanted tree or shrub. Often, you will not see vigorous growth within the first 12 months after transplanting. Usually, it takes a few years for trees to become established in your landscape.

Are There Maple Trees Without Seeds?

Brittany Johnson — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 10:02:00 -0500

You may be browsing trees for your front or back landscape, and have decided on selecting a Maple Tree.

After all, it ticks all of the boxes →

✅ Shade

✅ Remarkable Fall Color

✅ Tough & Adaptable

✅ Low-Maintenance

A tree is a tree, after all, so there will always be some debris and fall cleanup here and there. While maple trees, will have some spring & fall cleanup, they are in general, one of the least messy trees. This is because they don't have large fruit, pine cones, pine needles, or tree nuts that fall.

Having said that, we've all seen them and probably joyfully played with them as a kid— helicopter seeds. They whirl and twirl as they fall to the ground and while children may find wonderment in them, for us adults they can be a bit pesky,

...and now you're sitting there wondering, "Are there maple trees that don't produce helicopter seeds?" Fortunately for all of us, yes, there are maple trees that don't produce them.

Seedless maple trees are ideal for the parkway and for shading your driveway and walkways.

Here's our list of the best seedless maple trees →

01 Celebration® Maple →

This tree is a true knockout in the fall. It will "light up" your yard in more ways than one! Beloved for its unique yellow to orange deeply cut leaves in the fall and its strong wood branches that resist snow and ice damage. Make this maple the centerpiece of your yard!

02 Sun Valley Red Maple →

Sun Valley Red Maple is a U.S. National Arboretum introduction. Choose this tree for its autumn foliage that glows in the fall with reliable bright red color. This tree is a hybrid between Red Sunset Maple and Autumn Flame Maple. It features a very uniform, dense oval head. Bonus! This beautiful tree is completely seedless!

03 Autumn Blaze Maple →

This tree needs no introduction, it's hands-down our customer's favorite tree! Autumn Blaze is a hybrid that mixes the rapid growth rate of Silver Maple with the toughness, dependability, and red fall color of Red Maple. Nearly seedless, with attractive medium green leaves in spring and summer that transition to bright red in fall. This tree has a beautiful upright oval shape at maturity.

04 Autumn Fantasy® Maple →

Autumn Fantasy® is a Hybrid of Silver Maple and Red Maple. Homeowners love this tree for its dependability and fast-growth rate. You will be the envy of your block every fall when the beautiful leaves turn bright red! This tree has a broad oval shape, making a picture-perfect backdrop. Because of the large, sturdy branches, this tree is ideal for shade on a hot summer day or blocking the big breeze in the windy city.

Notable mentions in the "less mess" tree category →

Be sure to check out these notable mentions! Whether you're looking for shade, something ornamental or a tree that will fit tight space, we've got some excellent alternatives right here:

Musashino Japanese Zelkova— the narrow tree's small leaf size greatly reduces the need for raking
Espresso™ Kentucky Coffee Tree— this is a seedless selection
Skyline® Honeylocust— fewer seed pods & completely thornless
Spring Snow Crabapple— completely fruitless crabapple variety

Shop Trees — Order Now

Delivery & planting in 2-4 weeks!

Please call us at 815-448-2138 or email us at info@itrees.com for questions.

What are the best pool trees for the Chicagoland area?

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 03:22:00 -0500

What to consider before planting →

Placement

Consider planting trees around your pool for optimum screening and privacy.

Tree Type

Consider your needs, plant a tree that ticks one or more of the tree types listed below.

✅ Privacy

✅ Ornamental & Flowering

✅ Shade

Consider these trees →

Privacy Trees →

Homeowners love evergreens for privacy! It should be noted though that they are not the only option. Our customers turn to evergreens for their year-round foliage. Arborvitae and Juniper are great options to think about for your backyard pool oasis; these trees will add not only privacy and screening but also the beauty of soft foliage, color, and texture.

Pictured above is Emerald Green Arborvitae. This particular variety of arborvitae will only get about 3-4 Ft Wide and 12-14 Ft Tall at maturity.

Ornamental & Flowering Trees →

If you want to go with a flowering tree consider planting a tree that will bloom earlier in the springtime, such as Redbud, Magnolia, or Serviceberry this will help you to avoid the worry of bees near the pool during the summertime. The trees listed below are also commonly used for screening, to create a visual block.

If you look closely at the picture below, you'll notice that one of these trees is doing its job! It's offering screening and privacy for the pool behind it. These shrub-like trees were planted on the outside of the fence. Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry is a beautiful 3-season accent tree and should be highly considered when selecting trees for your pool.

Shade Trees →

If you have adequate space in your landscape near your pool, consider a shade tree! These trees are selected for their unique ornamental features but also their tolerance to frequently saturated areas. We would recommend planting at least 10-15 Ft away from your pool to allow room for your trees to grow & mature and for some tree debris to fall.

Shop our current availability now →

Best Trees for Your Country Home

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 02:17:00 -0500

You have a lot of options here, from shade to privacy & windbreak trees and even something ornamental. It's good to first assess what your needs are and once that's been determined you can start planning. Be sure to stop by our Design Center to help you get started.

Any of our shade tree options will work for you in open areas of your property or anywhere shade is needed. Some options may do better near water or in areas that are prone to occasional flooding, for example, Niobe Golden Weeping Willow Trees, Dawn Redwood Trees, Bald Cypress Trees, and River Birch Trees are great options. Other large shade tree options extend to tough trees like Kentucky Coffee Trees, Hackberry Trees, Maple Trees, and Oak Trees.

A lot of these trees will double as windbreak trees but you have other options here, not just evergreen trees. Consider multi-stem clump form trees or trees with dense branching structures that will offer a visual block as well as diversity in your landscape. A few popular suggestions are Spruce Trees, Pine Trees, River Birch Trees, Hawthorn Trees, Columnar Oaks, and Arborvitae.

*Check out our 5 Best Trees for Creating a Windbreak for more inspiration on adding a windbreak to your property.*

These trees have a dual purpose, which is where form meets function. By that, I mean that not only will they add beauty to your landscape but also some of them will offer a bit of shade, a visual block, and in some cases, fragrance and even edible fruit! Here are my top picks: Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry, June Snow Dogwood, Whitespire Birch, Crabapple Trees, and Japanese Lilac Trees.

Planting Peace & Growing Hope Day

Marlee Harford — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 03:00:00 -0500

During the month of April, we asked members of our community to send in nominations for our community healthcare professionals. Our healthcare professionals have been on the frontlines of stressful uncertain situations daily, and have been working extra hard to keep us all safe and healthy. To show our appreciation we wanted to provide a little bit of beauty and calmness to our healthcare professionals home sanctuary by planting a tree in their yard for them to enjoy for many years to come. Trees bring us peace, beauty, stress relief, and the health we are seeking during these uncertain times. During the course of the month, we received a total of 8 nominations and had decided to award all of our nominees with a large Autumn Blaze Maple to be planted where they choose. On Wednesday, July 15th iTrees.com and Spring Grove Nursery had a wonderful day planting these trees in each of our recipient’s yards. We are so thankful for all our healthcare professionals and we understand the important role they play in our community. We’d like to take some time to thank you all for everything you do on a daily basis.

We are all fortunate to live in a community that has so many wonderful healthcare professionals taking care of us during this pandemic, and we are honored to recognize their efforts.

Our recipients for iTrees.com and Spring Grove Nursery’s Planting Peace – Growing Hope 2020 were Shannon Borgstrom, Stephanie Hauch, Tina Horkey, Michelle Pruim, Jen Poyner, Matt Niewinski, and Andrienne Citta.

Here's what our nominators had to say about our recipients →

Shannon Borgstrom
Her friend writes, “Shannon is a nurse at Morris Hospital and her ward was turned into a COVID ward. She leaves 4 little boys at home, the youngest is 2, while she works 12+ hour shifts. Then she comes home exhausted and tries to stay away from her children. She’s been under tremendous stress yet through it all, she keeps an amazing attitude and always has time for a wave or chat with neighbors.”

Stephanie Hauch
About Stephanie, it says, “First she loves to work in her yard planting trees, bushes, and flowers! Second, she is a nurse and during these times could use a special gift that would bring joy! Third, she is a wonderful wife and mother to five children.”

Tina Horkey
Tina’s friend writes, “She is great at her job, but obviously is also putting her life in danger during the COVID crisis when she does her job. She would make a great recipient of a tree because like a tree she is strong on the inside and out and is an important part of our community ecosystem health.”

Michelle Pruim
Michelle is the Grundy County Health Department Administrator and her colleague writes, “She stays strong in her beliefs… She reports to work every day with a positive attitude and never lets the staff see her frustration, anxiety, or fear – even when numbers keep rising in the county. She works endlessly with all county entities to make sure there is one concise message being relayed to the people of Grundy County. As concerned citizens called her for reassurance, she spoke to each one individually with compassion and understanding reassuring them all possible measures were being
taken…I have always had respect for her way of leading a team with no drama, very diplomatic in decision making, and trustworthy. I now have so much more respect for this lady who took her role as our Public Health Administrator so seriously and with much dedication all while continuing to be a wife and mom of two at home. I ask you to seriously consider Michelle Pruim for the tree in appreciation of her staff, county residents, and clients we serve. So many had to take the position of front liners during this COVID-19 response and many times Public Health is not recognized for the important role they play.”

Jen Poyner
About Jen, it says, “Jen is an ICU Nurse at Silver cross doing direct care on COVID patients. She works hard and picks upshifts. As a mother of 3 herself, she also is taking care of everyone else’s family.”

Adrienne Citta
Her neighbor writes, “We live next door to a nurse who is kicking butt working during this pandemic. She is working her regular shift and even signed up to be the registration nurse on midnights in the ER in Ottawa.”

Matt Niewinski
Matt is a fireman/paramedic for Palatine Fire Dept, and his nomination says this about him, “When Matt is not on the job, he’s always doing something for all of us. He’s fully aware he signed up for this line of work and does not want recognition for doing what he loves, but he certainly deserves a beautiful tree for always doing for others and expecting nothing in return. Matt has weathered both 9/11 and now Co-Vid 19, and I sure hope you find that he is a deserving recipient of a new tree that I know will be well taken care of. I also hope this tree reminds Matt of what a selfless person he is, and to know that he is appreciated by his family.”

Elizabeth Cacello
About Elizabeth, “Elizabeth is a Nurse Practitioner at the Morris Hospital – Coal City/Diamond campus. Elizabeth has been working hard to take care of those who are ill during this difficult time. She is kind, caring, and makes sure that every patient she sees feels they are her only patient of the day. Elizabeth has also had to juggle her workload with being a wife and mother to her family at home. She comes home from work and assists her kids with their schoolwork and takes care of the household… I believe a tree would be the perfect way for their family to remember this most
difficult and memorable time and to serve as a sign that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.”

View more Photos of iTrees.com Giving Back here.

How to Choose a Shade Tree for a Tight Spot

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 12:01:00 -0500

The conundrum of a small yard- you want to make it usable and beautiful but you're not quite sure what you have room for. Adding in a small to medium-sized shade tree may be just the answer you're looking for.

Shade trees will help reduce your energy bills by keeping your home cool in the summer by blocking out the sunlight and warm in the winter by blocking the wind. They add the beauty of color, texture, and dimension you're wanting all while offering a nice shady spot to relax under. Plant them around your patio, in the open spaces of your yard, narrow side yard, or wherever shade is needed.

Things to look for when selecting your tree →

— Consider the tree's mature height & spread- You likely won't want a tree that will grow to be larger than 40 Ft Tall or larger than 35 Ft Wide.

— Think about the ideal shape for a tree in your small landscape- narrow, columnar, pyramidal, round, upright/vase-shaped?

01 Heritage® River Birch

Heritage® River Birch will grow to have an upright/pyramidal form adding a beautiful native look to your small landscape.

02 Amur Flame Maple

Amur Flame Maple is somewhat of a hidden gem but has been gaining popularity in recent years. This tree is a slow grower that will be easily manageable even where less space is available.

03 Princeton Sentry® Ginkgo

Ginkgo is sure to be a great conversation starter for your next backyard barbeque. Plant them in any area of the yard or parkway. They are great for smaller, tight places because of their narrow form.

04 Whitespire Birch

Whitespire Birch has a nice narrow, pyramidal size and a chalky white bark that looks great all season long. The bright green leaves rustle in the wind and turn the brightest yellow in the fall.

05 Hot Wings® Maple

Though more horizontally spreading, Hot Wings is considered a small shade tree and is a perfect accent for your small landscape. This tree will shine in your yard with its shiny red samaras for which it's named.

06 Pink Flair® Cherry

This tree's upright, narrow, and symmetrical form is appealing in the landscape. Its compact size, beautiful spring flowers, and bright fall color tick all of the boxes. This tree is an absolutely perfect adornment to any small landscape.

07 Golden Raindrops® Crabapple

As seen in the picture below, this tree works wonderfully in the landscape bed near this home's beautiful wrap-around porch and porch swing. This tree will add beauty and a bit of shade to this tight spot.

08 Pacific Sunset® Maple

If you have a bit more space consider this outstanding maple. This is an exciting new hybrid that will outshine any shade tree in the fall with its array of yellow, orange, and red leaves. It will grow to be only about 25 ft wide at maturity which makes it the perfect, medium-sized shade tree for your tight spot.

09 Canada Red Chokecherry

Canada Red Chokecherry is a medium-sized ornamental tree. That is commonly used in the front or back landscape to provide accent or anchoring, or around a deck or patio.

10 Ivory Pillar™ Japanese Tree Lilac

Ivory Pillar™ Japanese Tree Lilac is an ideal selection for small landscapes, especially to accent the front or back yard of your home. Purposeful as a shade and/or privacy tree. This tree is capable of thriving in polluted environments and is suitable for urban areas.

11 American Hophornbeam

American Hophornbeam is also known as Ironwood or Musclewood, is a handsome, medium-sized tree that will offer substantial shade and subtle yellow fall color.

12 Kindred Spirit® Oak

This tightly columnar tree is suitable for shade, privacy, or as an accent anywhere in the landscape. This tree is a unique oak variety due to its very narrow mature width of only 6 ft wide!

13 Armstrong Gold® Red Maple

This beautiful tree has a remarkable columnar growth habit. It's upward sweeping branches are tightly covered with medium-deep green summer leaves that transition to a warm golden-orange in autumn. This tree's tight columnar form makes it extremely versatile in the landscape, especially in challenging spaces.

14 Redmond American Linden

This prized tree is suitable almost anywhere in the landscape. Because of its symmetrical form, Redmond Linden can be used almost anywhere in the landscape. This tree should be planted at least 15ft from buildings and makes an excellent lawn or street specimen, great by a pool or deck.

15 Cleveland Ornamental Pear

This rapidly growing tree can be planted in small landscapes due to its mature width, which is about 20 ft wide. From the center of your tree's trunk, you'll need about 10 ft on either side of the tree before it will begin to touch anything nearby. Compared to Aristocrat Pear, the Cleveland Select Pear has a much more narrow, pyramidal form which has a much more formal look. This tree is identical to the Chanticleer Pear, and a better alternative to Bradford Pear.

Tree Planting After Removal: What to Consider

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 11:31:00 -0500

So you've recently removed a dead/dying tree or shrub, and you're missing that beauty, that shade, and the privacy. We get it.

The number one thing you can do is plant a new tree.

Don't wait for time to pass. You want to start reaping those benefits again as soon as possible.

This homeowner had a tree removed, and we replaced it with a healthy new Autumn Blaze Maple.

Existing Trees & Stumps

We recommend planting at least 5-10 ft away from the old stump if possible. Of course, this depends on the size of the old stump. Trust us; it is much better for your new tree. We understand that most homeowners won't have this kind of wiggle room. So long as you are not planting directly on top of the old stump, we should be able to install your new tree. Our crew will work with you to plant your new tree as close as possible to where you want it to go.

Stump grinding helps things along, but not enough to plant directly on top of where an old tree was. Most tree removal companies only grind down a stump 6-12 inches at best, and we will need to dig a hole about 3 feet deep to fit the rootball of the new tree. Every location is different, and if we run into roots that we can't remove with our small equipment, we may not be able to plant where you are hoping. Please remember that most trees will grow so large that moving your new tree a few feet one way or the other won't make a difference in the long run. So long as you're flexible, our crew can sometimes plant about 1-3 ft from the old stump.

If you need to plant a tree where there is a stump, the stump will need to be completely dug out and removed. The site must be excavated by 3ft deep X 4ft X 4ft. After excavation, the site must be filled back in with soil at grade level before we arrive. If this is the case, some homeowners ask about soil amendments. Soil amendments are not always necessary, but you're welcome to purchase the soil amendments before delivery and installation, and our crew can mix it in upon planting. It is a lot easier to pick another spot 5-10 feet away.

Small Tree Removal

If you have a small tree located where you would like to plant your new tree, we may be able to remove it for you for a small fee. We can remove trees that are 3 inches in trunk diameter or smaller. For this service, please email or call us.

Planting Locations

If the spot you chose for your tree does not appear viable and healthy, our crew will recommend an alternative location. To ensure full warranty coverage your new tree needs to get planted in a spot deemed suitable by our crew.

Utility Locating Before We Plant

We will submit a J.U.L.I.E./DIGGER dig ticket before planting. Utility locators will mark the underground utilities on your property. Please pre-mark where you'd like your tree to go. That way, your property will be fully marked out by the utility company locators. Please note that we can't plant within 4ft of underground utilities. If you have utilities on private property, J.U.L.I.E./DIGGER will not locate these, and iTrees.com will not be responsible for damages. You are responsible for marking private utilities before we arrive to plant.

Read more about the importance of calling 811 before digging, here.

Trees & Health: An In Depth Look into the Work Being Done That Could Save Lives

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 01:09:00 -0500

Did you know that Louisville, KY is facing tree canopy decimation?

They are currently losing trees at an exponential rate of 54,000 trees PER YEAR!

Image courtesy of Unsplash.com

Who's involved in the effort to make it better?

Trees Louisville

A non-profit organization that raises community awareness about the cities’ tree canopy deficit and benefits its community by replanting trees in areas of the greatest need.

Green Heart

The backbone for the first study of its kind to scientifically & clinically research the impact of trees and our health in urban areas.

Why is Louisville, KY losing so many trees?

Trees are being lost due to a few threats— Emerald Ash Bored (EAB), Disease, Storms, Commercial Development, and Ozone Smog Pollution.

Louisville, KY is ranked as the 26th most polluted city in the nation for ozone smog pollution. To add perspective to this, Chicago-Naperville is currently ranked 16th in the nation according to the American Lung Association.

Take note, this is not an issue specific to Louisville. They are, however, setting the bar for how this issue should be handled moving forward.

Did you know?

Heart disease, strokes, asthma and other medical conditions caused by pollution are currently found to be at very high levels in Louisville
Trees catch particulate matter in their leaves, which reduces air pollution by 1/3 and if planted near highways, they can act as a buffer, reducing pollution by up to 60 percent
The Nature Conservancy shows that life expectancy in “leafy suburbs” of Louisville is 13 years longer than in South and West Louisville areas who have less access to nature

What Trees Louisville is doing about it →

They are focusing on replanting in "areas of greatest need" as defined by the 2015 Urban Tree Canopy Assessment and by the 2015 Urban Heat Management Study. Their targeted area: West & South Louisville. Trees Louisville seeks to identify planting opportunities and develop partnerships with large landholders within the county and landowners who may not typically be involved in tree planting efforts.

See the map of where they've planted so far here.
See the list of their past projects here.

What Green Heart Louisville is doing about it →

The Green Heart clinical study Health, Environment, and Action in Louisville appropriately dubbed, “The HEAL Study” will provide us with never before seen information on the links between trees and health in urban areas.

Launched in October of 2017, the project started collecting data on the urban temperatures, particulate matter levels, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air. These variables are being monitored by a system of air monitors along with monitors that have been mounted on towers and even on top of an electric car!

In addition, The University of Louisville is studying individuals ages 25 to 70 in the "HEAL" study which will explore how trees can positively impact the health of a neighborhood and the people who live there. This is a 5 yr study where researches will monitor participant health before tree planting and then again after over the next 5 years.

Physiological data will be collected showing the participants’ reactions to air pollutants. The reasoning for this is because components can show up in the body appear within hours of exposure while others may take months or even years to have an effect.

This poses some real challenges, however, “A neighborhood is not a laboratory, where variables are easily controlled. And this project would be far beyond the scale of prior research that identified connections between neighborhood greenness and health. There has never been a rigorous scientific study that quantified the health effects of urban greening. This will be the first attempt to understand, is nature a viable, replicable therapy?” Dr. Aruni Bhatnagar

What's next?

If current trends hold and factoring in the loss of ash trees from EAB, Louisville canopy is projected to decrease to 31-35% in the next ten years, dropping to as low as 21% over the next forty years. “What we learn in Louisville is going to affect people all over the world.” Dr. Bhatnagar

RESOURCES & REFERENCES
Green Heart Louisville
Trees Louisville
LouisvilleKY.gov— Louisville's Urban Tree Canopy AssessmentKentucky Forward
The Nature Conservancy— The Journey to the Coronary Valley
The Dirt-— Green Heart: First Major Clinical Study to Examine the Health Impact of Trees
The Dirt— The Reason to Expand Urban Forests: Our Health

Fall 2020 — Our Fall Trees Hotlist

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 10:56:00 -0500

The trees on this list will be dug fresh from our nursery's field this fall! Depending on the weather, they will be ready for delivery & planting around the first or second week of October.

The trees in this lineup have made our hotlist because they sell out FAST!

Get these beauts planted while they're hot!

2020 Fall Color Report

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 11:23:00 -0500

Especially those glowing golden yellows, deep reds, fiery oranges, and wine reds on the leaves of all of our favorite trees.

2020 Year in Review

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 01:33:00 -0600

This year's spring planting began on May 1st, though, it looked a little bit different than in past years due to the pandemic. For this reason, we wanted to do something positive and uplifting for our local healthcare workers. Together, iTrees.com and Spring Grove Nursery rallied together to accept nominations for our Planting Peace - Growing Hope project. This was a way for us to give back to our local community and our healthcare heroes. The recipients each had a tree planted in their honor.

The iTrees.com's crew remained hard at work tree planting all spring, summer, and fall long despite the uncertainty that presented itself at the beginning of 2020. We wrapped up 2020's tree planting during the second week of December and we'd like to think that the final stretch of this year's tree planting was most definitely a winner!

It seems that there is a silver lining to this year's unpredictability— homeowners spent more time at home, wanting to beautify their landscapes and we were there to answer their call. It's truly been an outstanding year for tree planting and we've been fortunate to do what we love to do every single day.

We plant trees near where others were removed pretty often. At this particular home, we came in, in early spring and replaced a few trees on the parkway and in the landscape bed.

Around the end of May, near Memorial Day we planted a Rivers Purple Beech tree— a beautiful, and unique tree selection for a memorial tree. This tree was planted in downtown Morris, IL in remembrance of John Enger.

Arborvitae is an ideal option for this home's backyard pool oasis. These trees not only add much-needed privacy & screening, but they also bring in the beauty of soft evergreen foliage, color, and texture. This home's end of spring tree planting rolled them right into a rocking summer!

This year's spring wouldn't be complete without tree planting in this lush Chicago backyard oasis. It filled in wonderfully with the shade, texture, and color of our beautiful trees.

...and that's a wrap!

Check out our 2020 highlight reel →

What are the Benefits of Columnar Oaks in Winter?

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 11:59:00 -0600

Usually, it's evergreen trees that come to mind when thinking about privacy, screening, color, and texture for enjoyment in the landscape during the winter months. While evergreens are a perfectly acceptable option for achieving this feel in your yard, columnar oak trees are a seriously underrated option.

Columnar oak trees have a moderate to fast growth rate with an upright, slender profile. Glossy, green leaves appear to shine in the spring and summer before turning a mellow yellow or rusty red in the fall. These cold-tolerant trees are often mildew and drought resistant. Noteworthy for their proven performance in landscapes and along parkways.

Benefits of Columnar Oaks in winter →

· Marcescence

Some species of trees will hold tightly to their leaves throughout much of winter. This characteristic, called marcescence, is especially true for columnar oak trees of the English oak variety. These trees keep their crisp fawn-brown leaves long after many other trees have since dropped theirs. We could leave this post at that. This one characteristic is a HUGE benefit— their winter leaves add interest and an extra layer of privacy & screening.

· Beauty

Columnar oak trees stand stoically in the landscape when planted individually and may take on a more refined look. Their statuesque form makes a statement in the landscape. A sturdy and upright branching structure is capable of withstanding heavy snow and strong winds. Their leaves add a surprising pop of color against the stark Illinois winter landscape.

· Size & Shape

It's all in the name. Columnar oak trees are column-like and have a narrow mature form, especially compared to other oak tree varieties. This feature is unique for large shade trees. Plant them in tight locations wherever a specimen tree is needed or for added privacy. These trees are the perfect vertical design element.

· Privacy & Screening

These trees are useful for creating a living wall for added privacy & screening. Even after dropping their leaves in late winter before budding out in the spring, their tight branching will be dense enough to offer a visual block. For recommended placement, plant them in rows for screening, wind-breaking, or to provide a formal look. Tight branching and dense leaves block unsightly views and muffle traffic sounds.

Recommended Marscescent Columnar Oaks →

Crimson Spire™ Oak

— outstanding slender form— 15' wide & 45' tall

— moderate to a fast growth rate

— very adaptable

— fresh green leaves turn a rusty red in autumn

Regal Prince® Oak

— mature form— 25' wide & 50' tall

— moderate growth rate

— very tolerant

— mildew resistant leaves

— glossy, two-toned green leaves transition to yellow in the fall

Kindred Spirit® Oak

— the tightest branching of the columnar oaks— 6' wide & 30' tall

— moderate growth rate

— mildew and drought resistant

— satin green leaves turn a fawn-brown in autumn

See also, Scarlet Letter™ Oak, newly added to our availability!

Spotted: iTrees.com Swag

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 08:41:00 -0600

Have you spotted our swag in the Chicagoland area? If so, it's thanks to Sticker Mule! Our go-to source for our quality fridge magnets and stickers.

It feels like yesterday when we received our first batch of Sticker Mule goodies. I remember the excitement of our 2018 Arbor Day Event in Coal City, IL, as I handed these babies out! Nearly every tree planting volunteer received one and replied with an "Oh, these are nice ones!" The stickers don't feel papery like the kind that easily tears. Both the stickers and magnets have a texture and quality that makes them STICK and look good too!

Check out some of the places we've spotted our gear →

We have the Sticker Mule holographic stickers, the custom logo stickers, and the fridge magnets. Let me tell ya, our customers LOVE these as a surprise in their thank you cards and they're fun to hand out at our local tree events too!

How do I Select Trees for Year-round Interest?

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 03:09:00 -0600

You're from the Chicagoland area, and you've been spending more time in your yard than ever before. Taking note of the beauty that you want to create at that place you call home. You sit back, wondering, "How do I make it beautiful all of the time?"

These tips are sure to transform your house into a home, and if you're looking to sell down the road, it will for sure up your property value game. From fragrant flowering trees, beautifully branched privacy & screening options to outstanding fall color and evergreen trees— we've got what you'll need to achieve year-round interest in your landscape.

how to get started

Make a note of your wants & needs → think about color, texture, shape, and how you'd like the trees to function in your yard. Do you need to add trees for privacy, shade, or help with reducing energy costs?
Walk around your yard, take a look from the inside out → look out your windows to your yard. What would you like to see? Take a walk outside, just down the street from your home, and observe your landscape. The goal is that from every angle, you, your neighbors, and any passerby will have a welcoming view. If it's only privacy that you're after, there'll be no view at all for those pesky neighbors or people passing by your home.

how to decide on placement

Trees offer structure, form, and organization to the landscape. Instead of randomly selecting and placing trees throughout your landscape, reference the points below:

Frame out your landscape → this may seem repetitive, and we can't emphasize this tip enough. Framing your landscape means you select trees to go all-around your home so that wherever you'll be spending time outside or viewing the outside from the inside, you'll find beauty, privacy, and shade.
Anchor your landscape beds → plant a small ornamental tree in the outside corners of landscape beds to accentuate the front and back entrances and landscape beds near garages.
Layer your plantings → this design element will help create a native feel.
Group plantings in odd numbers → see the picture above? The spruce was thoughtfully planted in a group of three in a berm for seasonal interest and privacy.
Show off with a specimen tree → plant a standout tree in your front yard, near a patio or deck for a conversation piece. Be sure to add a spotlight to this feature in your yard to set it over the top.

consider each season

spring

Take advantage of the fragrant flowers and bright colors ushered in by springtime.

Plant a three-season accent tree → spring blossoms soften branches, unique unfurling leaves emerge in spring, and come fall, homeowners can expect a bright fall color display. Popular choices are serviceberry trees, crabapple trees, dogwood trees, or hawthorn trees.

summer

Summertime is when we spend the most time in our yard. Relaxing, doing yard work, gardening, playing with the kids, grandkids, and our pets. It becomes an outdoor oasis. Hot summer days have us longing for large shade trees, beauty, and privacy wherever it's lacking.

Go all-in with "multi-tasking" trees → plant a tree that will give you more bang for your buck. Think about birch trees, serviceberry, or redbud trees for shade, privacy, and interest.
Plant a shade tree → plant large shade trees such as maple, oak, or an elm wherever there is an unfilled opening in your yard, near patios, and anywhere immediate shade is needed.
Choose a tree with unique leaves or bark → after flowers have faded and long before fall colors are on display, your yard can draw attention through features such as uniquely shaped leaves or peeling bark.

autumn

Choose from a full palette of colors!

Plant a shade tree → repetitive, I know. However, this is why we emphasize choosing trees that do double-duty. The same tree you planted for summer shade will also double as a standout feature in your yard come fall. Many shade trees show off with a fall color display. Choose from golden hues as seen in ancient Ginkgo trees, fiery oranges, wine reds, and of course, a customer favorite, brilliant bright reds seen in Autumn Blaze Maple and Autumn Fantasy® Maple.
Plant an unlikely tree → ornamental trees that will complement shade and evergreen trees may also put on a fall show. Great options for this are American Hornbeam, Golden Raindrops® Crabapple, and Royal Raindrops® Crabapple, to name a few.

winter

While our trees and plants are resting, they are still working to protect our homes against strong winter winds, and they provide privacy and beauty in the landscape.

Plant an evergreen tree → evergreens are known for protecting homes from harsh winter winds. They lower energy costs and add interest through their fragrant evergreen needles.
Consider a columnar oak tree → some varieties of columnar oak trees hold their leaves throughout much of winter and are an excellent option for year-round privacy and screening.
Add a splash of color with winterberries → some ornamental trees have persistent bright red berries that last throughout winter.

Unsure where to begin? iTrees.com will assist you with selecting the perfect trees, determining placement, and designing tree layouts. Whatever your needs might be, feel free to send us an email or give us a call. We will personally work with you to help make these important decisions.

815-448-2138 | info@itrees.com

Check out our Design Center for more great tips on getting started.

Chicago Region Trees Initiative: A Tree for Every Community in 2021

Brittany Johnson — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 08:21:00 -0500

Together with Chicago Region Trees Initiative, we are committed to helping plant a tree for every Chicagoland community in 2021! The good news is this is something you can help out with too! Let's learn more!

What is the Plant Trees for Communities Initiative?

CRTI (Chicago Region Trees Initiative) aims to plant one tree in every community within their seven-county target zone in the Chicagoland area. This area includes Lake County, McHenry County, Kane County, Kendall County, Cook County, DuPage County, and Will County.

See the map below →

Why is planting trees important?

"... [trees] face threats such as invasive plants, including buckthorn and honeysuckle; the death of ash trees due to emerald ash borer; and a lack of funding for proper tree care. These issues are having significant impacts on the health and survival of our regional forest."

Planting trees helps improve the air quality, benefits local ecology, adds shade & beauty, reduces energy costs, helps manage stormwater runoff, improves the health & wellbeing of the people living in those communities, and will strengthen the communities where trees are planted.

Simply put, trees rock and improve our quality of life!

How can you help?

Plant a tree in your yard, in a local park, or anywhere in your community. Planting trees is something you will feel good about. Trees are beneficial for you, your town, and the planet!

"The Chicago Region Trees Initiative recognizes the current challenges that we all face and wants to help communities look to a brighter future with the planting of a tree — a tangible symbol of hope."

Not sure where to begin?

Please give us a call or send us an email and we can help you get started, (815) 448-2138 or info@itrees.com. Also, be sure to check out the resources we have listed below:

Resources:

Shop Trees- https://itrees.com/shop-trees.html
Tree Benefits- https://itrees.com/tree-benefits
About CRTI- https://itrees.com/kb/chicago-region-trees-initiative.html/

Source: Chicago Region Trees Initiative. Retrieved from http://chicagorti.org/TreesforCommunities

One for One with One Tree Planted

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 03:05:00 -0500

One for One. We care deeply about the planet and creating a business that gives back to nature. That’s why we’re thrilled to share that we’ve partnered with One Tree Planted!

For every tree that iTrees.com has planted since 2017, One Tree Planted will plant a tree wherever it's needed most— locally, nationally, or globally. We’re honored to have reforestation through One Tree Planted as an integral part of our business model.

How Many Trees has iTrees.com Planted since 2017?

WHY ONE TREE PLANTED?

They plant TREES! Also, they're a non-profit organization that focuses on global reforestation. They keep it simple and impactful.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

For every tree that you purchase through iTrees.com, we will donate 1 tree to be planted by One Tree Planted, wherever it's needed most. It's as simple as that. One for one.

Why trees rock →

Trees clean our air & water, they create habitats for biodiversity, contribute to our health & well-being, and create jobs for social impact.

Trees help to clean the air
Trees reduce stormwater runoff and their roots act like filters, removing harmful pollutants from the soil
They host an abundance of wildlife
They have a positive social impact on communities
They improve our health and well-being
They help to cool the planet and reduce harmful greenhouse gases

WHEN YOU SHOP WITH US YOU'RE PLANTING FORESTS →

What are the Most Unique Shade Trees for the Chicagoland Area?

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 11:00:00 -0500

Are you looking for something unique to help set your home apart from all the rest? We've got the top 10 Most Unique Shade Trees for the Chicagoland area right here.

Choosing a tree with unique features will help to set your home apart from the rest. Planting something different from your neighbor is a great way to help out with local ecology, and it will add unique beauty to your home. To be more specific, diversification is a great way to prevent the complete wipeout of trees in a neighborhood, i.e., the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and Ash Trees.

Be sure to think about placement and any existing structures before selecting your tree. Is your tree going on the parkway, or do you need shade for your deck? Is this going to be a conversation piece to boot? Is this something you want to add a spotlight to in your front yard? Ask yourself some questions about what you want and need out of your tree. What ornamental features might be of value to you, and so on.

Our Top 10 List of Unique Shade Trees for the Chicagoland Area →

01 Purple Catalpa →

Purple Catalpa leafs out in the spring with beautiful deep purple, heart-shaped leaves. These unique leaves provide welcome shade in open areas of your yard or along the parkway. Large panicles of yellow and purple-spotted white flowers crown the canopy in late spring as the foliage begins its transition to bronze-green summer color. It's a beautiful sight to see!

02 Purple Robe Black Locust →

Choose this tree if you want to make a statement. This tree is truly a unique specimen shade tree. Purple Robe Black Locust's bluish-green foliage emerges burgundy in spring, and the oval leaves turn yellow in the fall. It has chains of fragrant rose pea-like flowers with yellow eyes hanging below the branches in late spring.

03 Shawnee Brave Bald Cypress →

Shawnee's adaptability to unpredictable urban conditions makes this a top contender. This unique narrow shade tree grows in a variety of soil conditions and is tolerant of wet locations.

04 Armstrong Gold® Red Maple →

A new favorite selection at iTrees.com— Armstrong Gold® Red Maple ticks all of the boxes. This columnar shade tree is a statement maker. Bright fall colors of orange and golden hues shine in the landscape come fall.

05 Emerald City® Tulip Tree →

This large shade tree shines in summer with glossy, green leaves. Its narrow form at only 25 ft wide at full maturity allows it the versatility to be planted along the parkway and in smaller landscapes. Bonus! In late spring, unique tulip-like flowers top the leaves.

06 Crimson Sunset® Maple →

We can't say enough about this standout maple variety. Not only does it thrive in hot and humid weather conditions, but it will hold its rich glossy deep purple color throughout the summer. Also worth mentioning is its mature size, reaching about 35 ft tall and 25 ft wide. This tree's an ideal candidate for narrow locations, parkways, and any open area of the landscape.

07 Princeton Sentry® Ginkgo →

Princeton Sentry only grows to have a mature spread of about 15 ft wide. This shade tree selection is a top pick for narrow parkways. It's unique fanlike leaves turn a stunning gold in the fall.

08 Celebration® Maple →

This hot pick will brighten your yard come fall with its magnificent yellow to orange fiery fall color. Celebration maple grows to have a broadly oval mature form that offers sufficient shade in the summer months. Bonus! This maple is seedless!

09 Streetspire® Oak →

This shade tree is tough stuff! Built by its tight, stiffly upright branching, it boasts a storm-resistant structure. Plant this oak in narrow parkways, near walkways, or anywhere in your landscape that needs a unique statement.

10 Musashino Japanese Zelkova →

This tree's unique upright branching offers much-needed shade to any passersby, and its branches won't intrude on nearby automobiles. Medium green, serrated leaves transition in the fall to an array of tones from yellow to rusty-red.

Browse our selection of available trees today!

Are There Any Low-maintenance Tree Options?

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Are you struggling to find that perfect, low-maintenance tree? While all trees have some natural litter, these trees are notable for their "less mess" qualities. A cleaner tree means more time for you to enjoy the tree in your yard rather than cleaning up after it.

01 Seedless Maples →

Maples are a customer favorite, and seedless maple trees like the Sun Valley® Red Maple is a top pick. Sun Valley is completely seedless- this means you won't see those "helicopters" all over your lawn! Other excellent options in this category are Autumn Fantasy® Maple, Autumn Blaze Maple, and Celebration® Maple.

02 Spruce Trees →

Spruce trees are an evergreen tree that keeps its beautiful green color throughout each season. Seasonal shedding of needles is not noticeable and is unproblematic.

03 Dogwood Trees →

Dogwoods offer a native feel to the landscape. These trees will provide ornamental beauty through their flowers, architectural branching, and the overall beauty they bring to the landscape. Dogwood tree leaves do drop in the fall and may require some cleanup. However, for a fruiting tree, dogwood fruit is in the "less mess" category. Birds will devour the fruit before you even have to worry about it.

04 Espresso™ Kentucky Coffee Tree →

This tree is a new take on your classic tough shade tree. Its beautiful oval to vase shape mature form offers a gentle filtered shade below. Bluish-green leaves turn yellow in the fall. Less mess with this best pick— it's a seedless selection!

05 Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry →

This tree is as versatile as they come, grown in both the multi-stem clump form and single trunk form. It's a shade tree, a privacy tree, a parkway tree, a #utilitree, and an ornamental & flowering tree. Dainty spring blooms offer a subtle floral aroma. In the summer, the tree grows a sweet summer treat- edible blue berries! Its fruit is edible and is consumed first by birds before we have a chance to taste them, placing this tree in the low-maintenance lineup. In the fall, the small leaves turn a bright red.

06 Skyline® Honeylocust →

Skyline Honeylocust may be the perfect Chicagoland tree pick. Its small, fern-like foliage is unproblematic in the fall, and this honeylocust variety is thornless with fewer seed pods!

07 Spring Snow Crabapple →

Spring Snow Crabapple is a fruitless crabapple! It may just be the perfect flowering tree. Spring Snow is fast-growing, and fragrant show-stopping blooms burst open in the spring. This crabapple will not grow to be too large. Yet Spring Snow is stout enough to plant in smaller landscapes.

08 Musashino Japanese Zelkova →

Proven time and time again to do exceptionally well in urban conditions, Musashino Japanese Zelkova is well-suited for the parkway. This upright branched tree's small leaf size reduces the need for cleanup.

09 Arborvitae Trees →

Arborvitae is an evergreen tree that sheds its branchlets seasonally. However, the shedding branchlets turn brown and are held by the tree for a bit before dropping them.

10 Princeton Sentry® Ginkgo →

Princeton Sentry is an upright top-performing shade tree. It's unlike other ginkgos in that this male selection is fruitless/seedless! Enjoy the beauty of an ancient ginkgo tree without the mess!

Start planting online today!

Browse from our high-quality selection of large, locally-grown trees.

815-448-2138 | info@itrees.com

How to Prepare My Tree for Winter

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 11:59:00 -0600

Wintertime for trees means rest. Which, let's all just admit it, it's a cue for us too. Trees will soon take a long winter's nap and snow will blanket the Chicagoland landscape. This is a time for us to sit back and enjoy the beauty of the season.

During this time, trees will have stopped producing chlorophyll (the stuff that makes leaves green). Trees' roots store nutrients and energy as they slowly prepare for spring.

You may be wondering, though, "Is there anything I should do to prepare my tree for winter?" The answer is, "Yes!" There are a few items that you should be sure to check off of your list before the ground begins to freeze.

1. Wrap the trunk of your tree with DeWitt Tree Wrap

Just do it. Wrap the trunk of your tree to help prevent frost crack and sunscald. This is common among maple, linden, and crabapple trees... and other trees that love to drink up water the second the snow melts. Frost crack and sunscald can occur during the freeze/thaw cycle and wrapping your tree's trunk will help prevent your tree's trunk from cracking.

2. Water your tree before winter 💦

Give your tree a good drink of water before the ground begins to freeze. In Chicagoland, this is around the end of November/beginning of December. Simply place your hose at the base of your tree's trunk and put it on a very slow trickle for about 1 hour (the same watering routine you've been using all spring and summer long). Then, you can let up for the rest of the winter and hold off until spring.

3. Replenish your mulch

Mulching is best done in the springtime, however, it's a great idea to check your tree at the end of fall to see if it needs replenishing. The freeze and thaw cycle that happens during our cold Illinois winters can cause not only cracking to your tree's trunks but to the soil which can dry your tree's roots out. Mulch is like a warm snuggly blanket that protects the tree and its roots during its long winter's nap.

PRINT CHECKLIST

💡 Pro Tip →

• Evergreen trees 🌲 (the ones with the green needles) need a good watering before winter and a healthy replenishing of mulch too.

• You can skip the tree wrap on evergreens & multi-stem clump form trees.

Arbor Day Foundation: Winter Tree Care Tips

Tree Care Instructions

Looking Back at 2021

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 01:54:00 -0600

Did you know that for every tree iTrees.com plants for you, One Tree Planted will plant a tree wherever it's needed most? This means that this year alone you helped us to plant 1,270 trees in our global, national & local forests! Also, as a partner of CRTI (Chicago Region Trees Initiative), you helped us to plant 1 tree in every Chicagoland community in CRTI's target zone. This area includes Lake County, McHenry County, Kane County, Kendall County, Cook County, DuPage County, and Will County. Now, this is something we can all end the year feeling good about!

Looking back at 2021, we find ourselves more thankful than ever for our customers, having the opportunity to continue planting trees for you during these unpredictable times, and the continued growth of our business. Planting trees for you is what we love to do! After all, trees are good for the planet, good for our towns, and good for us!

Look back at some of the trees we've planted for you this year →

Our Top 20 Favorite Tree Quotes

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 11:00:00 -0600

Do you ever find yourself searching Instagram or Pinterest for that perfect inspirational quote? An article titled, 'The Science Behind Why Inspirational Quotes Motivate Us' by Gwen Morgan, goes out on a limb to prove that inspirational quotes do indeed motivate us. How neat is that!? Our list of tree-inspired quotes is sure to get you thinking those happy thoughts, feeling motivated and encouraged!

In no particular order, here are our top 20 favorite tree quotes →

"The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn."

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

"A tree is beautiful, but what's more, it has a right to life; like water, the sun, and the stars, it is essential. Life on earth is inconceivable without trees."

— Anton Chekhov

"Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago."

— Warren Buffett

"When you plant a tree you plant a legacy."

— Pepper Provenzano

"The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now."

— Anonymous

"Landscapes of great wonder and beauty lie under our feet and all around us. They are discovered in the tunnels in the ground, the heart of flowers, the hollows of trees, fresh-water ponds, seaweed jungles between tides, and even drops of water."

— Walt Disney

"The Lorax: Which way does a tree fall?

The Once-ler: Uh, down?

The Lorax: A tree falls the way it leans. Be careful which way you lean."

— Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

"He who plants a tree plants a hope."

— Lucy Larcom

"I think of trees and how simply they let go."

— May Sarton

"Perhaps a man's character is like a tree, and his reputation like a shadow; the shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."

— President Abraham Lincoln

"I belong on this earth in the way that an oak tree does."

— Roger Housden

"Love trees until their leaves fall off, then encourage them to try again next year."

— Chad Sugg

"Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky."

— Kahlil Gibran

"I'm planting a tree to remind me to be open and kind-hearted."

— Andrea Koehle Jones

"Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come."

— Chinese Proverb

"The cultivation of flowers and trees is the cultivation of the good, the beautiful, and the ennobling in man, and for one, I wish to see this culture become universal."

— J. Sterling Morton

"Learn character from trees, values from roots, and change from leaves."

— Tasneem Hameed

"I've never before knew the full value of trees. My house is entirely embosomed in high plane-trees, with good grass below; and under them, I breakfast, dine, write, read, and receive my company."

— Thomas Jefferson

"There's nothing wrong with having a tree as a friend."

— Bob Ross

"He that plants trees loves others besides himself."

— Thomas Fuller

What are the MOST fragrant flowering trees for the Chicagoland area?

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 02:33:00 -0600

Flowering trees will add character and beauty to your home's landscape. You'll fall in love with their aromatic spring flowers! Some of these trees will keep interest well into fall and winter. These features will be something special that you can look forward to each season.

BONUS— Flowering trees are sure to up your home's property value!

Pro Tip → Be sure to plant the right tree in the right place. First, think about where you might want a flowering tree in your yard.

In the Chicagoland area, when spring arrives with fragrant flowers, it's as if the landscape is waking up! The second the snow melts and the sun warms things up, take a step outside, get some fresh air, open your windows, start planning your landscaping and gardening for the year.

We all know the saying, "Stop and smell the roses." Fragrant flowering trees can pause time. Have you ever been on a spring walk, and a splendid scent stopped you in your tracks? Maybe it was a bursting crabapple tree anchoring your neighbor's driveway or a serviceberry tree front and center in a yard a few houses down?

Think about that while you decide on the placement of your tree. Maybe this beauty will be the finishing touch to your front landscape? Will a fragrant flowering tree be an adornment to your front entrance, an accent in your landscape bed garden, or maybe the conversation piece near your back patio?

Butterflies Cucumbertree Magnolia

What is not to love about a bright yellow flower? Butterflies Magnolia has a clean and fresh scent. Some even attribute the flowers to having a lemony aroma!

Crabapple Trees

Crabapple trees take the stage in May. You won't be able to miss this dramatic flower show! Choose from a large selection of crabapple varieties. Please take into account their mature spread and height along with the placement.

Japanese Lilac Trees

If only this picture were scratch and sniff— these panicles of flowers will invigorate your senses like none other with their exotic beauty and scent!

Pagoda Dogwood

This attractive tree is the bee's knees. It's beautiful during each season, and with the arrival of springtime, sweet-smelling flowers cover its horizontally spreading canopy.

Linden Trees

According to SGN Trees, "American Linden (aka Basswood) flowers or honey from lindens are a natural remedy for colds, fever, high blood pressure, and anxiety..." They smell oh so incredibly sweet too!

Canada Red Chokecherry

This unique cold-hardy tree transforms in spring! Its floral aroma could be, no wait should be bottled! I would describe it as a soft "jasmine" scent. BONUS! Its leaves change from green in spring to a dark puce with the arrival of summer.

Pink Flair® Cherry

Pink Flair® Cherry is BIG on impact for a compact in-height tree. Springtime brings clusters of sweet sensational, single pink blossoms.

Perkins Pink Yellowwood

In late spring, magnificent large clusters of pastel pink flowers dangle from this tree's canopy. They're as eye-catching as they are fragrant! Its light floral scent might stop you in your tracks.

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry

It doesn't get more charming than a serviceberry tree! Spring brings a shower of dainty star-shaped white flowers. Their scent will fill the air with a subtle sweetness in early spring. This versatile tree works well as an anchor in landscape beds or for privacy & screening.

Gear up for spring, plant the perfect flowering tree, and invigorate your senses!

Head to our Expert Advice articles for more tips on tree placement, selecting the right tree, and more!

Best Tree Podcasts for the Nature Lover in Us All

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 08:05:00 -0600

Think spring with these tree-related podcasts!

Currently, tree podcasts exist in a significantly small niche. However, with over 1 billion podcasts (and growing), this could change— and for a good reason!

Think about it. The entire world is experiencing a HUGE shift toward green living. This shift means more green options in stores, online, and in our ears!

So, let's jump right in! Are you a green industry professional, a novice gardener, or just a person who likes trees?

Ologies with Alie Ward- Alie's quirky and 'smart cookie' personality shines through in this fun & educational podcast. Dendrology Part 1 and Part 2 are a great place to start. Hint they're about trees. Alie's guest on these episodes is arborist/dendrologist Casey Clapp. These episodes are such a fun listen and NOT boring at all. I promise.

Completely Arbortrary- This is a hip & fun listen! Coming to us from the PNW, Casey Clapp & Alex Crowson talk about all things trees. Their unique take is that they rate trees on a scale of 0-10 using a system they call the Golden Cones of Honor.

Trees are Key with Paul Johnson- This podcast features short episodes. Most seem to be under 15 mins and are easy to listen to! Paul is the Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator for Texas A&M Forest Service. His career background in radio, news, and horticulture shines through in his tree podcast.

Talking Trees- Host Doug Oster talks trees with professional arborists. Episodes are released every Thursday. They touch on seasonal tree care, answer frequently asked questions, and more. This podcast will help you stay on the pulse of things happening in the tree world.

In Defense of Plants- "From the smallest duckweed to the tallest redwood, the botanical world is full of wonder." This podcast unearths expected details of the botanical world. Do you know how to calculate the age of a tree? You think you do, but in the episode How Old Are the Oldest Trees; ep. 338, you'll be surprised to hear there's actually a lot more to it than just counting tree rings. Episode 338 is a good starting point, followed by Urban Lichens ep. 339.

The Plant a Trillion Trees Podcast- In episode 65, hosts Eva Monheim and Hal Rosner interview Chicago Region Trees Initiative's Melissa Custic. Melissa talks about what environmental justice means for the Chicago area and the importance of planting more trees. I'm just a bit excited to hear Chicago native Melissa Custic on this podcast! #TREEKOUT on this episode with me.

Trees a Crowd- We know you love trees but do you love British accents? David Oakes has the perfect podcasting voice for talking about trees and all things nature. In his last series, David digs into native trees of the British Isles, which is a nice escape from the humdrum of the same old thing.

Discovering Forestry- This podcast is for those who work in the green industry and among the trees. Hosts Joe and Korey have a fresh take on what's going on in the world of forestry and arboriculture. In the episode titled, Being Social, Joe, Korey, and their producer Cara discuss staying relevant, embracing social media, connecting, and the changes happening in the green industry. As Joe Aiken says, "If you're not growing, you're dying."

My Favorite Trees- Thomas Spadea drops his tree enthusiasm sharing knowledge about how trees have helped shape human culture, sharing tree stories, and just general info about trees he loves.

...and I think I'm obligated to say, listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Do you know of any worthy listens? Drop us a line in the comments and let us know!

How Much Does a Professional Tree Planting Cost?

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 02:44:00 -0600

Be sure to ask the right questions before making your purchase. After all, the tree you end up having planted is an investment, and your tree supplier should be willing to help answer your questions.

We've got you covered with our checklist of the most important questions you should be asking your tree supplier before making a purchase.

Find our FREE downloadable checklist at the bottom of this post!

Ask the Right Questions →

The first thing we recommend you do is to verify where your tree is coming from:

Are the trees locally grown? The answer you're looking for here is, "YES." You want locally-grown trees. Locally-grown trees will be well-acclimated to our climate, and they will do well in most Chicagoland site conditions. Whereas, trees grown in states outside of our area and brought into big box stores won't be well-acclimated. These trees may come with a cheap price tag, but they won't survive our summer droughts and harsh winters.
Are they ball & burlap, or are the trees in a container? Shoot for B&B trees. B&B trees are dug directly from the field where they've been growing without the restriction of a container. The nursery will wrap the rootball in a burlap bag and wire basket and place your tree on drip irrigation in a holding yard where it is maintained and cared for until being planted.

Find out if there are any hidden costs:

Is there a separate delivery fee? Most tree planting companies and nurseries will have a service area. If you're within their service area and having them plant your tree, they shouldn't be charging a separate delivery fee. If you're outside of their service area, but they choose to accommodate you, you should expect a delivery fee based on the cost of the tree and your location.
Is the planting cost included? The quote you get should be inclusive, meaning the pricing should include delivery, PLANTING, and a 1 Year Full Replacement Warranty.

Find out the timeline for your tree planting. What happens from the time you place your order to the time your tree gets planted:

When will my tree be planted? Your supplier should give a general time frame for planting, and your supplier should stay in communication with you as things progress. Everything is dependent on the weather. So, your tree planting timeframe might change. In the Chicagoland area, tree planting can happen anytime during spring, summer, and fall— up until the ground begins to freeze. It matters more so when the tree's dug from the nursery's field than when it gets planted.
Can I pick out my tree beforehand? Most nurseries will have a yard where you can come out and pick out your tree. Some nurseries will dig your tree fresh from the field to order, and either one of these options could be dependent on the weather. Having said this, most online tree farms probably don't have that option. iTrees.com is hip to what our customers need. While we are e-commerce, we are also the real deal, and you can come to our family partner nursery and tag your tree!

Make sure you understand how the actual delivery & planting will work:

What all does the delivery and planting include? The delivery of your tree should be a seamless process, and the tree planting crew should take proper precautions to protect your existing landscape. Our general rule of thumb is to leave a homeowner's yard the way it was. Only now it's better because now it has a tree in it! Planting should include digging the hole, planting the tree, mulching around the tree, and hauling away any leftover dirt or sod. There should be no mess left behind for you to clean up. Also- the person doing the digging should contact JULIE or Digger to ensure it's safe to dig the hole.
Will the crew use any equipment? The tree planting crew may use equipment, and it's important to know ahead of time what to expect. The iTrees.com crew uses a turf-safe piece of equipment called a Toro Dingo. The Toro is great because it's only 3 ft wide and can cruise right through most standard gate openings. Your tree planting crew may choose to use a ball cart to move the tree.

Identify any potential hiccups:

Can I plant near where an old tree was? The answer you're looking for here is, "We can get close but not right on top." It's not good for the health of your new tree to be planted right on top of an old stump. Also, it's not always possible logistically because, for B&B trees, we need to dig down about 3', and most stumps only get ground down about 12 -18" at best. So long as you're flexible on your tree planting day, your tree planting crew should be able to get your new tree as close as possible to where you want to plant it. Sometimes they can get as close as 1-2 ft out from the old spot.
What happens if you need to cancel your order? If you decide to cancel your order before your tree gets planted, let your supplier know, and they should work with you to cancel and refund your order. For orders with a large number of trees, you may have had to pay a deposit to hold the trees. If this is the case, you may not get your deposit back.
How will my replacement and warranty be handled? If your tree planting doesn't come with a full replacement warranty, your tree supplier likely won't replace your tree. Be sure that your tree has a guarantee of at least 1-year.

Now, let's get down to the nitty-gritty.

The BIG Question → How much does a professional tree planting cost?

Answer → You should expect tree planting pricing to begin at around $775 - $800.

So to recap, the price point is just a starting line. Pricing may change since pricing is dependent on the tree, tree size, where and how the tree was grown, and how the tree's maintained while growing in the field. Also, this pricing should be inclusive, including delivery in the designated service area, the cost of the individual tree, the cost of the labor (digging the hole, planting the tree, mulching around the tree, and hauling away any leftover dirt or sod), a 1 Year Full Replacement Warranty.

Final thoughts →

All too often, homeowners call around for tree pricing, and they only get a quote for the cost of the tree. Unfortunately, if they don't take time to double-check the full cost of tree planting, they'll be in for a big surprise when they see their bill— added labor, warranty, and delivery costs to boot!

For this reason, we make sure that what you see on our website is what you will get. There are NO hidden fees. We do offer additional warranties that you can purchase separately.

Sometimes, homeowners will try and save themselves the planting cost. In the long run, that may not be the best decision. The iTrees.com crew are experts on proper tree planting and take the appropriate precautions to ensure you have the BEST tree planting experience!

Keep in mind these points are just suggestions based on our professional experience and the state of the green industry right now.

To read more of our customer's frequently asked questions, head to our FAQ page or feel free to give us a call or send an email at (815) 448-2138 | info@itrees.com.

So, are you ready to join the #TREEVOLUTION & Start Planting Online?

Get your FREE downloadable checklist here: iTrees.com Tree Purchasing Checklist PDF

Resources: https://howmuch.net/costs/tree-install

Potted Trees VS. Ball & Burlap Trees— Pros & Cons

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 02:53:00 -0500

Are you on the fence about what kind of tree you should buy, potted or ball and burlap? Don't worry— we are here to help! We've already done the leg work for you and have your pros and cons list complete.

Pros: If there even are any?

Cheap
Easy to plant yourself

Cons: Where do we even begin?

They'll cost you in the long run- Container trees might save you a buck in the beginning, but they'll cost you big down the line. All too often, container trees, otherwise known as potted trees, are grown in a container until they get planted, and in turn, they're already root bound by the time they get to your yard, and it's one BAD habit the tree won't be able to break. Your tree will be suffering from the get-go.
Not locally-grown & not well-acclimated- Usually, container trees are grown out of state and brought in from southern states where it's warmer year-round. Potted trees tend to appear fine at first. Then, once in the ground, they don't make it and can't withstand our summer droughts and harsh Illinois winters.

Pros: Get ready for a never-ending list of good stuff.

B&B trees have it all!
Large trees
Locally grown- This means that your tree will be well-acclimated. Since your tree is grown locally, it can withstand the variety of conditions the Chicagoland area is prone to getting during winter, spring, summer, and fall.

They're able to breathe- B&B trees are dug directly from the field where they've been growing without the restriction of a container. On the other hand, potted trees grow in a container for so long that the root system will begin to spiral around. The spiraling can cause long-term health issues for the tree. Ball & burlap trees will not have this issue. The nursery will use a tree spade to dig up the tree and grab as many roots as possible before wrapping the rootball in a burlap bag and wire basket.

Carefully nurtured- B&B trees are tenderly pruned and managed by the nursery when growing in the field. Once dug, the trees move to the nursery's holding yard, where they get put on drip irrigation and cared for until selected for planting at one of our job sites.

Expertly planted- Since these trees are so large and heavy, an expert should plant the trees for you, using the right equipment for the job. You won't have to worry that the job is getting done right when you have the professionals at iTrees.com do it! BONUS! When you have the experts at iTrees.com plant your large, locally-grown trees, they'll come with our iTrees.com Assurance™ Full Replacement Warranty.

Cons: If there even are any?

Large and quite heavy- Most homeowners can't plant large trees themselves.

So there you have it! Now that you have your list of comparisons, it's safe to say you'll make the best decision of your life when you choose a large, locally-grown tree.

Still on the fence about what kind of tree you'd like to get? A tree is a lifelong investment, and we are here to help you. Feel free to call us at (815) 448-2138 or email us at info@itrees.com, and we can help answer any other questions you may have. You can even come to see our trees for yourself when you schedule a tree tagging appointment.

Double-duty Flowering Trees!

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 02:31:00 -0500

Are you looking for a flowering tree that does double-duty? Consider selecting one of the trees on this list to have planted in your yard!

Yes, their flowers are attractive and fragrant— a noteworthy feature, but these trees are more than just pretty spring flowers. They'll bring you a sense of tranquil relaxation, and some of the trees will provide substantial shade, others privacy, beauty, and most will offer all of it throughout all seasons.

Our list of the BEST flowering trees that give you more bang for your buck is right here! The good news is the #Chicagoland trees on this list are all locally grown by our family partner nursery and are on our website for you to check out. Just click the image for each tree, and you will find more tree specs.

The trees that give you more for your money are tough enough to withstand our cold Illinois winters and hot summer droughts, yet soft, welcoming, and add beauty, texture, and fragrance to your landscape.

Some of the trees on this list grow to be large shade trees, and others remain small to medium in size.

Be sure to consider tree placement and the mature size of the tree. You don't want to end up with a tree that soon overgrows the location it's been planted.

So take a look through our list of THE BEST flowering trees that give you more bang for your buck and see if one of them checks all of the boxes for you.

From the top →

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry

Serviceberry has it ALL! Beauties like these will put on quite the show in spring! You won't be able to miss the fragrant, white star-shaped flowers that appear in spring. Their tiny flowers give way to a summer fruit that is edible and enjoyed by wildlife and humans alike! Come fall, it will BURST with a bright red-orange color. Though, bare in the winter, the branching will act as a fantastic visual block. BONUS! Its branches are a welcome landing spot for birds. Serviceberry trees are grown in the single trunk and multi-stem clump form. If you're looking for screening & privacy, consider planting the multi-stem clump form.

Hawthorn Trees

Ornamental, shade, and privacy— all wrapped up in a perfect, pretty package! Hawthorn's dark to medium green, serrated leaves are contrasted by bright white flowers in the springtime. Because of their dense branching structure, they function as a screen for privacy. Hawthorn trees have a bright red fruit that will attract birds such as cardinals. The fruit holds tightly to branches throughout fall and winter. Birds will eat up the fruit before it becomes a mess. Plant these trees for their native feel, for their beauty, or for screening.

Catalpa Trees

Catalpa trees are double-duty trees! Catalpa trees are known for their heat and drought tolerance, yet they'll do well in wet areas. The thing that stands out the most about Catalpa trees is their HUGE heart-shaped leaves that offer incredibly dense shade. In late summer, fragrant, large panicles of white flowers dot the tree. This native tree is a sure bet for tricky locations where you need a touch of beauty.

Tulip Trees

Tulip trees offer a touch of whimsy to the landscape. This native tree stands tall, and like the Catalpa trees, its uniquely shaped leaves cast a dense shade below. In late spring, branches get painted with bright yellow and orange tulip-like flowers. Due to the mature height of this tree, you'll have to look up to see these delightful blooms, but it's worth it! Its medium green leaves will turn a stunning golden yellow in the fall.

Pagoda Dogwood Trees

One of our favorite things about Pagoda Dogwood is its horizontal branching. Not only does its wide-spreading branching structure give it a zen quality in the landscape, but it is the PERFECT non-evergreen privacy & screening tree. Pagoda Dogwood has small, creamy white clusters of fragrant flowers, followed by a red-blue/black fruit that birds and wildlife love to eat as a sweet treat! In fall, it will stand out with warm red-orange fall color.

Japanese Lilac Trees

Whoowheee Japanese Lilac tree is pretty and smells amazing too! This tree carries a sense of sophistication that you can't match. Beauty, fragrance, screening, shade— they offer it all! Come late spring, huge panicles of fluffy, creamy-white flowers accentuate the tree. The aromatic scent is incomparable! Homeowners love to plant this tree where they can see it from the inside and the outside. Its branching is tight enough to offer sufficient screening where you need privacy near a patio or deck. This tree is grown in both the multi-stem clump form and single trunk. For planting along parkways or in open areas of the yard, consider planting the single trunk form of this tree. It will be the specimen of your yard and neighborhood!

Canada Red Chokecherry

I don't know if we're allowed to have a favorite, BUT this one may just be it! Canada Red Chokecherry tree is as tough as nails withstanding our harsh IL winters. Watch this tree come to life in the spring! First, you'll see its medium green leaves gently unfurl. Then it will burst all over with small panicles of white flowers. The flower fragrance is similar to a sweet jasmine scent, and it's welcoming and subtle enough not to overwhelm the senses. Mid-summer, Canada Red Chokecherry will seem like it's playing a trick on your eyes. It's not! What you see is happening! Canada Red Chokecherry leaves don't just change in the fall but in the summer too! They'll transform from green to a dark purple, and in the autumn, its leaves show off once again when they turn a reddish-bronze.

The trees on this list will provide shade, privacy, and beauty through all seasons. They'll bring you that sense of enjoyment you've longed for and will fill in wonderfully over time, settling comfortably in their new home.

7 Unique Trees You Should Totally Consider Planting

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 11:20:00 -0500

Popular trees, like Autumn Blaze Maple for shade or Techny Arborvitae for privacy, are great options! Diversifying your tree plantings is even better. It's worth considering something different when and wherever you can. A unique tree will have something different than most other trees. It will have characteristics that you just can't find anywhere else.

This is a list of some seriously underrated, unique trees worthy of your landscape.

Let's see, what makes Hot Wings special, you ask? It's not just any ol' maple tree. This maple tree is quite showy and unique, from its small white clusters of spring flowers to its more narrow leaf shape and its bright yellow to red-orange fall color. The character and charisma of this tree do not stop there! Hot Wings are safe to plant underneath utility lines, making them as versatile as they come! Come summer, this HOT tree will provide COOL shade, and it produces an interesting red-winged seed that will light up your landscape.

We know, spruce, unique? Really?

Hear us out. This is a highly-underrated tree, and in our opinion, it has unique characteristics, which means it makes this list! Norway Spruce is a top-performing evergreen. We love that it's more of a moderate grower while other evergreens tend to be slow-growing. Also, this is our most disease-resistant spruce tree available. On top of all of that, it's simply a beautiful and unique tree! Its branches curve upward as the tree ages, and its needles become heavy. This gives the tree a drooping appearance. This feature, accented by its dark green evergreen needles, adds to its beauty and uniqueness. Consider Norway Spruce for privacy, screening, or as a specimen in your yard.

If you were to stumble upon this tree in the spring when it's in bloom or fall when it's on fire with brilliant red fall color, I think it's safe to say it'd be love at first sight. Early Glow is different than other Buckeyes. How is that, you ask? It has minimal fruit litter, which means it's more suitable for areas near driveways, sidewalks, and parkways.

Underrated. There. We said it. Purple Catalpa is one of the most underrated, unique shade trees available. This tree will thrive just about anywhere. When we think of leaves changing, it's always in the fall. Purple Catalpa has a surprise in store when it leafs out HUGE deep purple, heart-shaped leaves that change to a bronze-green in the summer and eventually to yellow in the fall. The end of spring ushers big panicles of white flowers with yellow and purple spots.

This tree screams TEXTURE! It's all about the soft feathery, needle-like leaves and their shaggy upright appearance. One of our favorite features of Dawn Redwood is its eye-catching peeling bark that reveals a reddish underlayer. Dawn Redwood is a deciduous conifer that takes on an evergreen appearance. Instead of staying green throughout fall and winter, its feathery needle-like leaves will turn a rusty red-orange in the fall and then drop, leaving its branches bare in winter. Once established, these trees are long-living and grow to be quite large. They need room to grow and enjoy open landscapes. These historic trees will add so much character to your home and tell a story for generations to come.

Unique doesn't cut it. Purple Fountain Beech is a living sculpture! Plant this work of art in your yard or garden for a drape of incomparable texture and color. This tree will be an interesting talking point with its tight weeping branching and dark purple leaf color. This fast-growing beech only grows to be about 12 ft wide at full maturity and will fit in those odd places that need a little bit of pizzaz.

Perkins Pink matures to have a rounded crown and will be about 30 ft tall with a canopy spread of about 30 ft wide. Perkins Pink Yellowwood blooms in spring and takes on a weeping wisteria appearance. Perkins Pink's softly scented light pink flowers are a delightful sight to behold! This tree's enchanting appeal is perfect for garden areas, near patios, or anywhere shade is needed.

We have a HUGE selection of locally-grown, large trees available on our website. Our availability changes often depending on what our family partner nursery can grow and dig. If you see a tree on this list that's out of stock and you've just got to have it be sure to get on our follow-up list! We'll let you know when it becomes available again. The list above is small given the number of trees we have for you to choose from to be planted. Take some time and browse our site to find the perfect tree for you and your landscape!

Still unsure? Be sure to give us a call or send an email, and we can help you find a tree to fit your specific needs.

Contact Us

Can I Plant a Tree Near My Patio or Deck?

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 09:28:00 -0500

Marlee, our owner, loves to work one-on-one with our customers. She helps them find the best trees and planting locations to meet their needs. I've teamed up with her to bring you this specially curated list of the PERFECT trees for your patio or deck. The trees on this list are commonly used around decks or patios to provide screening, shade, and the best part— beauty!

After all, one of our most commonly asked questions is: Can I plant a tree near my patio or deck? If so, what tree do you recommend?

The answer is YES! The main thing to consider is the mature height and spread of the tree. Select a tree from this list, and you'll be set up for success from day one.

Birch Trees

Birch trees bring the shade. Picture it— you're sitting on your patio or deck, it's summer, and you have your book and your ice tea or beverage of choice in hand. You kick back, and the hot summer sun decides to join you. Ahh... but you don't mind one bit! You have the shade and screening of a lush, breezy River Birch tree overhead! You have it made. Birch trees are a sure bet for shading a patio or deck, and their branching will offer substantial screening and privacy. These are an ideal choice for homeowners looking to beautify their homes.

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry

What makes serviceberry a top pick for planting near a patio or a deck? For starters, it's versatile and attractive. This tree's a great talking point near gathering spaces like patios and decks. Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry is what we consider a three-season accent tree. This is because it has a small white spring flower, summer fruit that is edible and tastes similar to a blueberry, and a bright fall color! Plant serviceberry around your patio or near your deck where you need a bit more extra privacy or simply for its beauty.

Pyramidal European Hornbeam

We can't say enough good things about this tree! Homeowners LOVE them for their formal upright appearance and versatility. This is just one reason we have a hard time keeping them in stock— they sell out fast! Pyramidal European Hornbeam is not messy at all, and it's tough and adaptable too! Known for its heat and drought tolerance, disease resistance, and tight branching structure— this tree is incredible! Plant them close together in a hedgerow for privacy. Or, plant them individually as an accent tree. Their narrow form will fit in those tight spaces but will be capable of offering a bit of shade.

Eastern Redbud

The Eastern Redbud tree has a zen quality, especially when in bloom. In spring, its bright pinkish-purple flowers delightfully cover its branches. After its bloom cycle ends, it will leaf out with medium green, heart-shaped leaves. Eastern Redbud is an ideal candidate for providing screening and shade near a patio or deck. Plant it in the single trunk form or the multi-stem clump form for more screening closer to the ground.

Skyline Honeylocust

Skyline Honeylocust has small, medium green leaves that offer a dappled shade. In autumn, this tree turns a bright yellow, and when its leaves drop, they will blow away and aren't messy. This tree will allow some sunlight to filter through, and it's an ideal option for your patio or deck, where you might not need full shade from a tree.

American Hornbeam

Are you looking for a shade tree, but you want something that doesn't grow too large and has that fall color we all know and love? American Hornbeam is your tree! It's not messy, and it provides decent shade for a small-sized tree. It reaches about 25 ft tall and about 20 ft wide. In autumn, its dark green leaves turn a striking yellow to red-orange fall color that will catch your eye. This tree's attractive oval shape is the perfect accent to any landscape. Its leaf texture, color, and smooth bark add an appealing backdrop to patios and decks.

Magnolia Trees

Magnolia trees offer the gamut of characteristics, from fragrance to beauty, screeing, and shade— magnolia has it all! Magnolia trees bloom in early spring! Their tight flower buds burst open with large, soft flowers. Magnolia range in height from small, and more tightly branched options like Jane Magnolia to medium-size round-shaped trees like Dr. Merrill Magnolia. Magnolia are beautiful accents in landscape beds, anchoring driveways, patios, and decks. These ornamental beauties are an attractive addition to any home.

Spring Snow Crabapple

Are you looking for something outstanding yet mess-free? Look no further- this tree is it! Spring Snow Crabapple is our only fruitless crabapple variety. Plant this stunning tree near your patio or deck without worrying about crabapple fruit dropping. This tree's fragrant white flowers cover the branches in spring, and its medium-green leaves will provide shade to your patio or deck. In autumn, Spring Snow Crabapple turns a bright yellow before losing its leaves.

Sargent Tina Crabapple

This unique crabapple is petite in size, reaching only 5 ft tall and about 6 ft wide. Its horizontally spreading branching and white spring flowers offer great ornamental interest. Sargent Tina Crabapple is a striking option for garden beds or landscape beds surrounding your patio or deck.

Little Twist® Cherry

If there ever was a cute tree, this is it! The adorable Little Twist® Cherry has a lollipop shape, reaching about 8 ft tall and a canopy spread of about 8 ft wide. In the springtime, Little Twist is covered with tiny pinkish-white flowers that give way to small, serrated green leaves. In the fall, its leaves turn a rich maroon color. Little Twist is something extra sweet to add to your patio or deck areas as an ornamental feature and conversation piece. This tree is a true delight!

Japanese Lilac Trees

Plant Japanese Lilac Trees for their wonderful fragrance! You'll enjoy their incredible scent near your patio or deck. Japanese Lilacs have huge, fluffy plumes of creamy white flowers that appear in late spring. Plant the multi-stem clump form for additional privacy and screening. This tree is safe to plant under utilities and does well in those tight spots.

Columnar Oak Trees

Columnar Oaks have a narrow and tight branching structure. They can be used as a stand-alone accent, and we can plant them closer together for more immediate screening. Their beautiful green leaves and column-like form will add a formal yet comforting quality to your yard. Consider trees such as the Kindred Spirit® Oak, Regal Prince® Oak, Crimson Spire™ Oak, or Streetspire® Oak to accent your patio or deck.

Shop our most current availability here.

5 Best Tree Types for Privacy & Screening

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 02:27:00 -0500

When you plant privacy trees what you're doing is planting an extension of your home, if you will. So, don't hesitate to sit down and take a few minutes to draw up a design, one that you know you will love and enjoy for many years to come.

When it comes to privacy & screening, there are a few options for layout and design. Be sure to head to our Design Center for helpful tips and ideas. Right off the bat, think about what your specific needs are and if you want year-round privacy, just a visual block, or maybe a little bit of both? Think about planting a variety of evergreen and deciduous trees. This is as opposed to just one kind of tree. There are so many options, and you really can get creative here! It does not have to be boring! Check out the Before & After Video to see what we mean!

Not sure where to begin when selecting trees?

We've got the perfect list of trees to choose from right here →

Birch Trees

In the multi-stem clump form (more than one trunk coming out of the ground), River Birch, Whitespire Birch & Heritage® River Birch are great options. Not only do birch add incredible texture and color, but these native-looking trees provide substantial shade and privacy. Choose from Whitespire's smooth, chalky white bark or, Heritage River® Birch & River Birch's shedding peeling bark. Homeowners find them useful to block unsightly views, and though they are bare in the winter, their branching will provide screening, creating a visual block. In autumn, birch trees become even more attractive when their leaves turn to a bright, golden yellow.

Flowering Trees

Consider planting a flowering tree if you need additional privacy. Flowering trees all on their own will provide screening but will look beautiful combined with other plantings such as evergreens and shade trees. Check out the video at the end of this post to see exactly what we are talking about. In that video, our crew plants a combination of privacy trees. The trees will function as screening in addition to the homeowner's fence blocking the view of a busy road. Flowering trees to consider planting for privacy: Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry, Eastern Redbud, Pagoda Dogwood, Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn, and Crabapples are excellent options for adding beauty and screening to your yard. Flowering trees will be the talking point of your backyard, front entrance, or anywhere you plant them! All while adding additional privacy to wherever you need it.

Columnar Trees

Columnar trees have a narrow, tight branching structure. This feature makes them a versatile tree! Columnar trees are useful as a stand-alone accent in the landscape and when the trees are planted closer together, they'll create screening for privacy. Their dense branching will create a visual block, and their unique appearance will add a formal yet comforting quality to your yard. Consider trees like Pyramidal European Hornbeam, Kindred Spirit® Oak, Regal Prince® Oak, Crimson Spire™ Oak, or Streetspire® Oak to create the hedge look. Musashino Japanese Zelkova, Swedish Columnar Aspen, Armstrong Gold® Red Maple, and Urban Pinnacle® Oak are great upright, narrow tree alternatives!

Arborvitae Trees

These are most homeowners' go-to choices for year-round screening because of their evergreen foliage. Arborvitae has a traditional quality. They can be planted quite close together. So, as they grow, they will grow together they form a hedge wall. Check out our Arborvitae options: Nigra Arborvitae, Techny Arborvitae, Emerald Green Arborvitae & Green Giant Arborvitae.

Spruce Trees

Spruce is another excellent option for privacy & screening because of its dense branching and evergreen needles. Not only do Spruce block views of neighbors and roadways, but they'll also help to muffle any nearby sounds that could be disturbing. These sturdy trees will also block strong winds all year round. Most Spruce grow to be large trees. So, be sure to select a place in your yard where they can grow comfortably. Consider Norway Spruce, or Black Hills Spruce for your home's landscape.

Before & After Video!!!

10 Flowering Trees to Plant in Fall

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 01:56:00 -0500

Fall and flowering trees are like peanut butter and jelly. They just go together. Plant a flowering tree in the fall and reap the benefits of their beautiful flowers in the spring!

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry

Starting us off is a customer favorite, Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry! Autumn Brilliance— it's all in the name! This tree's brilliant red-orange fall color is show-stopping! In spring, it shines with small, star-like white flowers. Summertime brings a delight of delicious fruit that has a taste similar to that of a blueberry. This tree is not messy, its fruit can be consumed by humans and if you don’t pick them to enjoy for yourself, birds will snack on them before the fruit has a chance to drop and make a mess.

Purple Catalpa

Purple Catalpa is one of the most interesting trees available. This tree's huge heart-shaped purple leaves cast dense shade. In the summer, its dark purple leaves change to bronze green. In late spring large panicles of beautiful flowers dot the tree. Come fall, its leaves change again to a yellow/gold color. This unique tree is very adaptable and is a moderate grower. It has a round canopy once fully mature that will offer substantial shade and beauty wherever it’s planted.

Pagoda Dogwood

Pagoda Dogwood is hands down one of the most underrated flowering trees. This tree's presence in your landscape will add a sense of peace and beauty throughout spring, summer, and fall. During the winter months, horizontally tiered branches create a visual block. Plant this flowering tree anywhere a tranquil touch is needed. Its spring flowers and bold red fall color will offer a resting place for your eyes.

Dr. Merrill Magnolia

Sweet, sweet magnolia is a true delight in early spring. As soon as things start to wake up in the spring, Dr. Merrill Magnolia will be one of the first flowering trees to show signs of life. Welcoming crisp white flowers add a traditional and classic vibe to landscapes. Their fragrant flowers add ornamental interest and their leaves, a touch of green to the landscape wherever a bit of shade and beauty is needed.

Royal Raindrops® Crabapple

Vibrant colors in spring and fall— quite possibly, this tree has it all! Was that a rhyme about a tree? Why yes it was! Royal Raindrops® Crabapple is worthy of the name. This tree is a top seller and homeowners appreciate the uniqueness of its deeply cut & colored leaves. Its crown is covered in dark purple leaves that turn a brilliant red-orange in the fall. In the multi-stem clump form, its branching creates a natural privacy screen. Plant this tree anywhere a splash of color or a bit of privacy is needed.

Golden Raindrops® Crabapple

Elegant & charming, Golden Raindrops® Crabapple defines curb appeal. From its fragrant white flowers, abundant green fruit, and its incredible fall color— Golden Raindrops® Crabapple is a true stunner! This beauty can be planted in open areas of the landscape, taking center stage in your front or backyard, or along the parkway.

Sargent Tina Crabapple

Can a tree be both zen and cute? We’re not sure but this tree is somehow getting away with it. Don't be fooled by Sargent Tina's size, this petite tree makes quite the statement when planted in garden landscapes. Its horizontally spreading branches reach about 6 ft wide, growing wider than it is tall. Design-wise, Sargent Tina Crabapple's unique spreading form is a wonderful selection for any home and garden landscape. However, for modern homes looking to accentuate their home's clean lines this tree is a sure bet. Its bright white spring flowers and persistent fruit offer ornamental interest throughout all seasons.

Raspberry Spear® Crabapple

What makes Raspberry Spear® Crabapple so special? For starters, take a look at its narrow form. This tree's upright-oval shape is a standout feature, growing to be about 8 ft wide at full maturity. Raspberry Spear®'s colorful display throughout spring, summer, and fall will enhance any home's yard. Its clean deep purple leaves change to a purple-bronze in late summer before showing tints of orange in the fall. In spring, deep pink colored flower buds burst open with bright magenta-pink flowers.

Canada Red Chokecherry

Canada Red Chokecherry’s unique leaves turn from green in spring to a deep purple in the summer. Its small panicles of perfumy white flowers add a bit of sweetness to the landscape. This tree is extremely cold-hardy and can be planted near patios, decks, and open areas of the yard or along the parkway. This versatile tree’s unique look will set your home apart from all the rest!

Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac

Ivory Silk Japanese Tree Lilac has an exotic flare. Large plumes of incredibly fragrant flowers show up in late spring to early summer when most other trees have finished their bloom cycle. Our family partner nursery grows this tree in both the single trunk (caliper) and the multi-stem clump form (multiple trunks). Ivory Silk does well in landscape beds to anchor the corners of your home, and along property lines for privacy & screening. Or, consider planting the single trunk form of this tree on the parkway.

Happy OAKtober!

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 10:09:00 -0500

October was officially proclaimed Oak Awareness Month in Illinois by Governor Bruce Rauner in 2015 through the amazing advocacy efforts of the Chicago Region Trees Initiative and its partners. The purpose of Oak Awareness Month is to raise awareness of the decline in the Oak tree canopy in Illinois and the importance of their role in our very fragile ecosystem.

OAKtober— Oak Awareness Month gives us the chance to celebrate Oaks native to Illinois. There are many communities in our area that have OAKtober-related events that you can participate in.

— Plant native Oak Trees such as White Oak, Swamp White Oak, Bur Oak, Shingle Oak, or Chinkapin Oak & choose a nice sunny location so that they can thrive!

— If you have an existing Oak or a newly planted Oak in your yard be sure to adequately water and mulch your tree.

— Take a hike in an Oak woodland and be sure to take in all the different wildlife and plants— be on the lookout for birds, tree frogs, mice and squirrels, caterpillars and butterflies, lichen, and mushrooms just to name a few of the many species that utilize Oaks.

— Help remove invasive species in our region to help let the sunshine in for Oaks so that they can thrive.

— Find the largest Oak in your community. Hug it, take your picture with it or even better share the picture on social media using #OAKtober to help raise awareness in your community.

— Host an OAKtober tree planting ceremony at your workplace, school, with scouts, or even at your home!

White Oak is the Illinois State Tree and Oaks (Quercus) are the official tree genus of the United States of America.

Oak trees and trees in general help to reduce flooding, and clean our air and water. Oak trees specifically support more than 500 species of native wildlife and flowers including some rare and endangered species, more than most other trees but they are at risk in Illinois.

As existing Oaks grow older, new Oaks are not taking root to help replace them on their own. Oaks once made up 60% of Chicagoland’s tree canopy and today only 5% of our trees are Oaks, according to the Chicago Region Trees Initiative.

Replanting the Oak canopy is crucial in preserving our unique, diverse and beautiful Illinois ecosystem. Oaks represent strength, stature, and beauty and are an important part of our American heritage.

Protecting Oaks and planting new Oaks will assure a healthy and thriving ecosystem now and in the future.

Learn more about #OakAwarenessMonth →

iTrees.com | Illinois Oaks are Outstanding!

CRTI | Oak Awareness Month

Dupage Forest Preserve | Celebrate OAKtober

The NY Times | Why You Should Plant Oaks

Give with Purpose — Give the Gift of Trees

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 10:16:00 -0600

Do you want pretty much the greatest gift idea of all time? Have you been on the hunt for that special gift this Holiday Season? Change the course of your purposeful present-giving forever. Give your friends or loved ones the gift of TREES!

Hold for the sound of your mind EXPLODING with the awesomeness of that idea.

Think about it for a minute. Have you ever thought about how trees are the gift that keeps on giving? Trees give back from day one. In other words, trees are a great investment! Planting a tree will increase property value, add curb appeal, provide shade and privacy, and beautify the world. The benefits of trees do not end there. Don't even get us started on all the environmental and social benefits trees provide. Did you know that trees clean the air and provide us with oxygen to BREATHE? It's totally true! Or, have you ever thought about how cool it is that trees help reduce energy costs, and lower crime rates, or how hospitals with rooms with a view of trees have proven to help speed up recovery time after surgery?! Trees help relax us, reduce stress, clean the water, and fight climate change.

Not only are trees beneficial to us and the planet, but they can also hold so much meaning. A tree can symbolize new life, a growing relationship, a long life well-lived, and a life gone too soon. Trees are s symbol of peace and love. Trees represent strength and perseverance. Trees can be planted to honor those near and dear to our hearts. Trees are a living legacy for future all future generations to enjoy. The bottom line, when iTrees.com plants a tree for your friend or loved one, it will show just how much they mean to you.

Get rid of the great gift you were thinking of buying and give something with purpose... TREES!

Here is how giving the gift of trees works →

Purchase a Tree as a Gift

Choose any available tree and select a Planting & Warranty Option from our website. When checking out, include your friend or loved one's mailing address in the "Shipping Address" section of the checkout form. iTrees.com can coordinate the planting with you or with them directly.

Please, be sure to put any special instructions in the note box when checking out. We'll hold the tree you've ordered until the nursery has the trees dug from the field later in the spring. Our iTrees.com crew will deliver and plant it in the springtime when it is best for the health of the new tree.

Purchase an iTrees.com E-Gift Card

Choose the design & dollar amount that best suits your needs. Please, enter your name and the recipient's name, as well as, their email address and any special message. Your iTrees.com E-Gift Card will be delivered via the email address that you typed in.

Or, email it to yourself and print it out. Place the printed iTrees.com E-Gift Card in a Holiday greeting card, or wrap it up in a box with a bow. Feel free to get creative! The recipient can use their iTrees.com E-Gift Card toward an iTrees.com online purchase. They will be able to choose from our HUGE inventory of large, locally-grown trees and be able to select the one they want to have planted themselves. Our iTrees.com crew will deliver and plant it in springtime when it is best for the health of the new tree.

Learn more about our partnership with One Tree planted, and check out our Charity page.

Do you have questions about how everything works? Head on over to our How it Works page.

Please call or email us with any questions →

815-448-2138 | info@itrees.com

How Trees Make Us Happier

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 10:43:00 -0600

Students, please take your seats because the class is now in session. Today, we are discussing all things trees and happiness!

The exclamation point means this is an exciting topic that we care about and enjoy discussing. We hope you find this blog post fun and engaging, leaving you curious about trees and full of wonderment.

Let's get started! The fact is, trees make us healthier... and as a side effect, happier!

Quick History Lesson → Shinrin-yoku

Shinrin-yoku is the Japanese term for taking a forest bathing trip. The Japanese did not invent this concept, but were responsible for reintroducing it at the beginning of the technological boom in the 80s. Forest bathing, also known as eco-therapy, encourages us to unplug and connect with nature to help improve our physical and mental health.

Lesson 1 → The Science Behind It

Ok, that all sounds great, right? So, what's the science behind it? This all happens on a chemical level. Phytoncides are essential oils that are emitted by trees. These oils contain antimicrobial and insecticidal components that protect the trees from germs and parasites.

There are different types of phytoncides:

a-pinene

d-limonene

β-pinene

sabinene

myrcene

camphene

What do all of these "science-y" words mean? According to the National Library of Medicine, the oil a-pinene is found in coniferous trees such as cedar and pine. This chemical contains antioxidant, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective properties. All of this means health-boosting superpowers to us laymen. No, but really, these different types of phytoncides offer different kinds of health benefits. For example, some are anti-inflammatory, some are considered to be sedative, others anxiolytic (antidepressant), and more.

Lesson 2 → Enter— Forest Bathers

The phytoncide essential oils emitted by trees can be inhaled by visitors to the forest.

When we inhale phytoncides, our blood pressure begins to lower, and as a result, we begin to relax. As this happens, our brows unfurrow, our shoulders lower, our jaws unclench, our muscles untighten, and we feel a sense of serenity and tranquility.

The benefits don't end there! Check it out, when we inhale phytoncides, they help us to:

— Increase our pain thresholds

— Decrease the production of stress hormones

— Increase our body's natural cancer-fighting capability by increasing the production of the protein needed to fight and destroy tumors

So there you have it. Trees are basically superheroes, helping to defend and protect us. They help reduce stress & anxiety, fend off deadly diseases, and more, all of which will ultimately make us happier!

Here's your homework →

Take a field trip →

Go on, get out there. Give forest bathing a try. Connect with nature & unplug from those devices.

Do you need help finding a place to experience nature? You can find a local tree-related event near you and head out on a guided hike or forest bathing tour. Check your local park district or forest preserve webpages for events. Also, we've done some of this legwork for you. We post current Chicagoland tree-related events and learning opportunities each month on our website. Check them out here.

Grab this book →

Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness by Dr. Qing Li

Check your local library to see if you can borrow it for free, check your local bookstore, or order it online.

Do your own research →

There is a surplus of resources available on this topic, and we encourage you to have fun learning more about the benefits of trees! As with anything you read online, this is for informational purposes only and not intended to replace actual medical advice from your healthcare practitioner. Always first seek medical advice from your doctor.

References →

Phytoncides: The Science Behind Forest Bathing Benefits

Local Tree-related Events

National Library of Medicine

National Geographic: The Secret to Mindful Travel? A Walk in the Woods

Citations:

Li Q. Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function. Environ Health Prev Med. 2010 Jan;15(1):9-17. doi: 10.1007/s12199-008-0068-3. PMID: 19568839; PMCID: PMC2793341.

Li Q, Morimoto K, Kobayashi M, Inagaki H, Katsumata M, Hirata Y, Hirata K, Shimizu T, Li YJ, Wakayama Y, Kawada T, Ohira T, Takayama N, Kagawa T, Miyazaki Y. A forest bathing trip increases human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins in female subjects. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2008 Jan-Mar;22(1):45-55. PMID: 18394317.

Khan-Mohammadi-Khorrami MK, Asle-Rousta M, Rahnema M, Amini R. Neuroprotective effect of alpha-pinene is mediated by suppression of the TNF-α/NF-κB pathway in Alzheimer's disease rat model. J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2022 May;36(5):e23006. doi: 10.1002/jbt.23006. Epub 2022 Feb 17. PMID: 35174932.

PubChem [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US), National Center for Biotechnology Information; 2004-. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 6654, alpha-Pinene; [cited 2022 Dec. 20]. Available from: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/alpha-Pinene.

Basil.Star. Phytoncides: The Science Behind Forest Bathing Benefits. 2020, Dec 8. Retrieved 2022, Dec 20.

Fitzgerald.Sunny. National Geographic. The Secret to Mindful Travel? A Walk in the Woods. Retrieved 2022, Dec 20.

Grow Your Love — Give the Gift of Trees this Valentine's Day!

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 11:00:00 -0600

Plant a tree in honor of your loved one or friend. Planting trees or giving the gift of trees shows our loved ones how much we care about them and the environment.

“Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a songbird will come.” - Chinese proverb

Trees are a lasting investment. They will keep on giving for many generations to come. They represent growth, beauty, persistence, strength, and more. Their roots are an example of firm values and show how rooted your love for one another is, no matter the wind or storm.

We have a variety of trees available to choose from. From ornamental & flowering trees to privacy trees, shade trees... and more! Or, give your friend or loved one an iTrees.com E-Gift Card and let them choose the tree!

Eastern Redbud

What's not to love about Eastern Redbud's beautiful pinkish-purple spring flower and its heart-shaped leaves? If this tree doesn't say "Valentine's Day," we don't know what does.

Royal Raindrops® Crabapple

This tree is an early spring bloomer. It has an attractive upright form. Best of all, it has shown proven resistance to common crab diseases.

Deborah Norway Maple

Unique changing leaves— leafs out purple before changing to bronze-green in summer.

Kindred Spirit® Oak

Tightly branched, reaching only 6 ft wide at full maturity. This tree is perfect for that tricky spot in the yard.

River Birch

Privacy, shade, and beauty all in one. River Birch's native look adds beauty and texture to the landscape.

Norway Spruce

Plant Norway Spruce for privacy and persistent evergreen beauty throughout all seasons... just like your love.

Browse all of our available trees here.

Shop iTrees.com E-Gift Cards here.

Questions? Don't worry iTrees.com has you covered. Feel free to give us a call or send us an email.

815-448-2138 | info@itrees.com

Resources →

How it Works → https://itrees.com/how-it-works

FAQ → https://itrees.com/faq

7 AMAZING Facts About TREES!

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:19:00 -0600

Trees are TREEMENDOUS. This we know, BUT did you know these 7 AMAZING facts about trees?

Some of them are pretty out there.

It's totally TRUE! Phytoncides are an essential oil emitted by trees. Phytoncide oils protect trees from their natural enemies. However, as trees do, they offer these same benefits to us. When humans inhale this oil, our physiological response is to relax. Bodies and minds destress when we breathe in these life-giving chemicals. (iTrees.com. Forest Bathing 101: How Trees Make Us Happier. 2 Jan 2023.)

Yep. You read that right. Trees have indeed flown to the moon. During the Apollo 14 space mission, hundreds of tree seeds made the trip and safely returned to earth. Only to later be germinated by the US Forest Service and planted throughout the US as part of the nation's bicentennial celebration in 1976. (NASA. The Moon Trees. 16 Dec 2022.)

Have you ever heard of a Bristlecone Pine tree? The oldest living organism, a Bristlecone Pine tree, lives in the US. Scientists have concluded that this living pine tree is about 5,000 years old. That is older than any other living organism known to man. (US Department of Agriculture. Methuselah, a Bristlecone Pine is Thought to Be the Oldest Living Organism on Earth. 29 June 2022.)

Or something as similar to the internet as they can get. An intricate underground system built of fungi transmits information from one tree to the other through the tree's roots. This system is chock full of information, from survival and growth to behavior... and more. (Let's Talk Science. Talking Trees: How do Trees Communicate. 23 July 2019.)

Taking walks in the woods can be relaxing and calming. That is until you've stepped off the path. Suddenly you're lost. Don't despair! TREES are here! Gain your bearings and find your true north with the help of TREES. In the northern hemisphere, the northern side of trees is more likely to have moss growing on them. See moss? You can bet that it's pointing you north. (Popular Science. How to Find Your Way Out of the Woods Without Tools— Or Your Phone. 30 June 2018.)

A fully mature oak tree is a guzzler of a tree (a term we just made up). These big guys absorb water at ASTRONOMICAL rates. In one year, the transpiration rate is about 40,000 gallons of water. Averaging out to around 100 gallons per day. (Treehugger.com. 15 Astounding Facts About Trees. 14 June 2022.)

Long-living trees record hundreds of years, sometimes thousands of years of growth, and climate change. A tree's rings show yearly growth. One light ring and one dark ring represent one year of growth. Light rings are spring to early summer growth, while dark rings are growth that occurs in late summer and fall.

The tree rings also represent the wet and dry seasons. For example, thicker rings mean it was a warm wetter year, whereas thin rings represent less growth during a cold, dry year. Some years, it may show little to no tree growth at all. Also, tree rings document catastrophic weather such as drought, flooding, and volcanic or seismic events.

Tree rings offer scientists data about tree growth and climate changes long before the National Weather Service began keeping a record. Tree rings are critical data for past record keeping but also to help predict future climate changes. (NASA. Tree Rings Provide Snapshots of Earth's Past Climate. 25 Jan 2017.)

Tree Facts

Tree Benefits: Why Trees Rock

How Trees Make Us Happier

Our Crew's Top Tree Picks for Spring!

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 02:10:00 -0500

Who remembers the days of video rentals? If you're old enough to shop for trees online, you're probably old enough to remember. You'd go into the nearest video rental store to your house. You knew your Friday night was about to rock.

They'd have all of the top picks for the week set right out in the front of the store. Next to the candy, of course, was the BEST section of all. The Employee Picks.

You never knew what kind of gems you'd find over there. It was a goldmine! Ahh, nostalgia.

I digress. So, without further ado, here are the iTrees.com crew's top picks!

Kyle's Killer Pick →

River Birch Trees. Shade, check. Privacy, check. Beauty, check, check, and check again! River Birch & Heritage® River Birch are some of the most versatile trees available. Grown in the single trunk and multi-stem clump form, they work well as a shade tree near patios and wherever privacy and screening might be needed. Green leaves turn a stunning yellow gold in the fall, and their attractive peeling bark adds texture and interest to the landscape.

Ray's Rad Pick →

Purple Fountain Beech. This tree's weeping appearance and dark greenish-purple leaf make a unique statement in the landscape. It's an architectural sculpture and is deserving of that title. This ornamental shade tree will be a head-turner in any yard.

Cesar's Classic Pick? →

Eastern Redbud. This is certainly a tried and true tree. Eastern Redbud is one of the most beautiful flowering trees available. Small purplish-pink flowers emerge in early spring, coating the branches. Huge heart-shaped green leaves follow, offering a wonderfully dense shade. In fall, it turns a bold yellow. This tree is a delightful accent tree in any yard. Plant it front and center or in landscape beds closer to the house. Also, the multi-stem clump form is super-duper useful for privacy and screening.

Marlee's Perfect Picks →

Swamp White Oak, Triumph™ Elm, and Ivory Silk Japanese Lilac. All of these trees are unique and beautiful in their own way. Top choices for any homeowner looking to add value, shade, and beauty to their landscape. Swamp White Oak is a long-living tree, adaptable and faster growing for an oak. Triumph™ Elm is the tree to plant if you want shade NOW. This big, fast-growing shade tree will make an impact in your yard. Ivory Silk Japanese Lilac adds a softness, fragrance, and ornamental interest. Plant it in landscape beds near the house, near patios as a conversation piece, or anywhere in your yard where a welcoming accent is needed.

Chris' Cool Picks →

Just like Marlee, Chris can't just pick one! There are too many great trees available. Celebration® Maple, Shingle Oak, and Native Hackberry.

Here's what's cool about these trees →

Celebration® Maple → Seedless (none of those helicopters in spring). AMAZING yellow to red fall color.

Shingle Oak → Unlobled oak leaf. Native to the Chicagoland area!

Native Hackberry → Native. Attracts wildlife. Tough as nails!

Britt's Best Pick →

Dr. Merrill Magnolia. Are Magnolias trendy? Maybe. Are they beautiful? Yes. Will their beauty transcend any style or trend? Definitely!

Magnolia trees are some of the first to flower in the spring. Buds appear long before any sign of spring. Once the weather warms up to "70 something and sunny" for a few days, their buds burst open! Their flowers hold tightly until they softly fade and fall, and green leaves emerge.

Eventually, Dr. Merrill Magnolia can be the perfect climbing tree with their big, low-hanging branches. In tree form, this tree will grow big enough to offer some decent shade. Once it has reached full maturity, its branches will be evenly tiered and almost ladder-like, meaning it will have some seriously climbable sturdy branches.

Order now for spring planting. The sooner you order, the better to ensure your trees are held for you for spring planting. Depending on the weather and our family-partner nursery, we kick off our planting season around the first or second week of May. Once we start to plant trees for the spring, there is NO stopping us!

We will continue to plant trees throughout the year— spring, summer, and fall until the ground begins to freeze. This is around the end of November.

Our website will stay fresh, reflecting our family-partner nursery's current availability.

Tree Care Instructions for Your Newly Planted Tree

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 08:54:00 -0500

Hurray! Your new tree is in the ground! Now all you need to do is care for it. Here, you'll find answers to your pressing questions about watering, staking, fertilizing, and more. We've included some quick how-to videos that will help make caring for your new tree simple.

We've set you up for success with our easy-to-follow tree care instructions.

Please take a moment to read through our tree care tips below. Your new tree will thank you.

Tree care is an easily manageable process. The most crucial part of tree care is watering. Newly planted trees require routine and thorough watering regularly for at least 3 years after planting.

· Watering Your Tree

Be sure to water your tree immediately after planting. Place your hose at the base of your tree's trunk. Turn the hose on a very slow trickle. Let the hose run for 1 hr. Repeat weekly.

Consistent tree watering with a newly planted tree for the first few growing seasons will ensure a healthy, long-living tree. The growing season in Chicagoland is usually mid-April to the end of November (yes, you will still need to water your tree throughout fall).

Please note it is crucial to NOT over-water your tree. Stick to once a week, and your tree should flourish. If you need more clarification about when to water, dig down at the drip line of your tree about 6 inches from the surface and check for moisture. The soil should be wet enough to form a ball but not dry and crumbly to where it falls apart. If your tree's soil is over-saturated, it will run through your fingers. If the soil is dry, it means it needs water. If the tree's soil is runny, your tree is over-watered, and you should let up on tree watering for the week.

Recommended Watering Devices:

Tree Watering Donuts or a quality hose is best. Watering donuts only take 5 mins to fill and slowly release the water over 5-7 days. Refill the watering donut 1x per week. If it's rained 1" or more in a week, you can let up and resume the following week. Quality hoses last the longest and will hold up when left outside. You can use a traditional garden hose. Or, use a soaker ring or a soaker hose.

Note: We DO NOT recommend using a lawn irrigation system to water your tree. Often irrigation systems result in continuously saturated soil and may cause severe root damage and tree death.

Recap → Water your tree 1x each week, for 1 hr in the absence of 1" of rain or more.

Your newly planted tree should have been mulched, with natural brown shredded wood chips, on the day of its planting by our iTrees.com crew.

· Mulching Your Tree

Mulch will conserve moisture, help prevent unwanted grass and weeds that compete with tree roots, stabilize soil temperature, add organic matter to improve soil, and protect tree trunks from mowers and weed whips. Replace your tree's mulch every one to two years to maintain a three-inch thick layer, expanding the mulch ring as the tree grows.

Pro Tip → When replacing mulch, please expose the tree's root flare. Avoid placing mulch up the trunk of the tree.

· Wrapping Your Tree for Winter

It is beneficial to wrap the trunk of your tree in late fall (November), being sure to remove it the following spring (April). Tree wrapping in the winter can help protect the tree from frost-crack, sunscald, and animal damage. Tree wrap should be wrapped around the tree trunk, starting at the ground and overlapping to the lowest branch. We recommend using DeWitt Tree Wrap, or any protective wrapping material, for all newly planted single-trunk trees up to 3 years.

· Staking Your Tree is Not Required

We do not recommend staking newly planted ball and burlap trees over a 1.5-inch caliper. Young trees standing alone with their tops free to move will develop a stronger and more resilient trunk than a tightly staked tree.

· Fertilization

Fertilizing your newly planted tree is not recommended within one year of being planted. It is best to consult an arborist about recommended fertilization programs for the years following its planting. Be sure to keep up with the health of your tree. It is crucial for the longevity of its life. There are many fertilization products available— please be sure to read all instructions carefully before applying. Always use slow-release fertilizers when applicable.

· Avoid the Temptation of Severely Pruning Newly Planted Trees

One of the benefits of purchasing a large tree is the nursery has already taken care of any crucial pruning before we plant your tree. As your tree grows, you may need to remove the lower limbs if they cause obstruction. Dieback or dead branches are common in newly planted trees due to transplant shock and stress— prune out dead branches, and the tree will replace them given time.

We want your tree to thrive, flourish, and add beauty to your home. We know you do too.

Stick to our easy-to-follow instructions, and you'll be guaranteed to spend less time worrying and more time enjoying what's important— your new tree!

View PDF Instructions

Spring at iTrees.com

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 10:06:00 -0500

Ahh! Spring is officially in the air! Orders are flowing in, we're throwing on our mud boots, and the hustle and bustle of the season has arrived. We absolutely live for this time of year!

Early spring prep takes "all hands on deck" to get the spring season going. Our crew was busy working hard right alongside our family-partner nursery, Spring Grove Nursery. Here they are, digging trees fresh from the field and placing them in a burlap bag and wire basket.

The nursery takes time during March and April to dig trees from their field for us to plant for our customers. Would you look at the size of this Pacific Sunset® Maple!?

Also, during early spring prep, the nursery will also focus on planting its future crops. That's what these liners are, your future front yard trees! SGN Trees grow their homegrown trees for about 8-10 years to bring them to production. At that point, we can then deliver and plant them in homeowners' yards.

Inside the office, we connect with customers and iron out order details. Order readiness is a big deal. We know each tree that gets planted is a SERIOUSLY IMPORTANT investment for our customers, and we don't want to miss a single detail.

The magic is in the details. Here's Marlee in the office drawing up a design.

SAFETY FIRST! Here's Kyle and our office dog, Bailey stopping to smile for a picture. Right before we kick off tree planting our crew is busy prepping the iTrees.com truck. All points of inspection are verified before we take off for the season.

When you see this bad boy on your tree-planting day, you know things are about to get good!

We look forward to planting trees for you this year!

Mother's Day Trees

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 04 May 2023 09:10:00 -0500

Mother's Day is a day to celebrate the mom in your life, whether it be your mom, grandmother, stand-in mom, or the mom-to-be. Let's face it moms deserve to be celebrated every single day.

Can you picture it? You ordered a large, locally-grown tree online to be delivered and planted at mom's house by iTrees.com. We do all the work, and now your mom has a beautiful pink flowering tree in her yard. She has the perfect view of her new tree from the kitchen table, where she drinks her morning cup of coffee. She can see it in passing throughout the day. She enjoys its bright red fall color and the birds on its branches in winter. When she sees her tree, she thinks of her love for you. Your special bond. She reflects on the sweet, sentimental memories of raising you up, holding you tight, and kissing you goodnight. This tree warms her heart, even when you can't be there. Especially when you can't be there.

A tree is a living tribute that symbolizes a mother's love, strength, and beauty. Give mom the gift of trees this Mother's Day. Ditch the cut flowers and give her something that she can enjoy throughout all seasons of life.

Plant a tree in honor of the mother in your life this Mother's Day. E-Gift Cards are available.

Tree Spotlight → Jefferson Elm

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 18 May 2023 01:10:00 -0500

Learn more about what makes Jefferson Elm a top choice by growers and homeowners alike!

American elm trees have a long history of being one of the most beloved trees and became super duper popular in the early 1900s. Native to parts of the Northeastern United States, and, according to The Morton Arboretum, the Chicago region specifically. You used to be able to find American elms in just about every neighborhood and park. That was until it got swept out by DED (Dutch Elm Disease) in the 50s.

In the 30s, the National Park Service planted an American elm alongside a walking path at the National Mall in Washington D. C. Sometime in 1933, the tree on the National Mall in D.C. endured a series of screening tests. The results proved remarkable. The test results showed outstanding resistance to DED. This tree was none other than the Jefferson Elm tree we know and love today. Remarkably, the original tree is thriving today on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., unscathed by DED.

Due to its incredible resistance to DED, it was cloned and continues to be selected for residential parks and yards today.

Check out these pictures of Jefferson Elm planted along a parkway in the Chicagoland area →

Jefferson American Elm has classic Americana vibes! Notice its upright arching form already taking shape. Its leaves are dark green and serrated. This tree is truly stunning in the fall and makes for a standout centerpiece in open areas of yards and on the parkway.

If you look closely at the leaves, you'll notice that the leaf is shorter on one side of the center vein than the other.

This tree's arching vase shape will add shade and beauty to any landscape.

Jefferson Elm prefers full to partial sun. This tree is tolerant of dry and wet soil conditions. Also, it can withstand strong winds and easily adapts to a range of pH soil conditions. Once established, this tree will reach 50-70 ft tall. This stately tree's roots and canopy will need ample room to grow. Jefferson Elm trees will grow well in parks, parkways, or in open landscapes. We suggest planting it about 20 ft away from buildings.

If you're interested in having one of these American beauties planted in your yard, head to our Jefferson Elm product page for our current availability. Contact us directly to get on our waiting list if this tree isn't available on our website.

815-448-2138 | info@itrees.com

References →

iTrees.com Jefferson Elm Product Page

Morton Arboretum: American Elm retrieved Jan. 06. 2023

Wikipedia | Jefferson Elm retrieved Jan. 06 .2023

What Trees Should I Plant to Attract Wildlife?

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 12:13:00 -0500

Are you a nature lover? Squirrel feeding, butterfly catching, bird watching admirer? No? Well, we have got a wild idea for you! Add to the value and enchantment of your yard by planting a tree on this list.

We've all heard about property value. Did you know that trees up a home's property value? Not by just a little bit— your ROI (return on investment) can be up to 20%. That's not nothing! This is a significant benefit of trees to homeowners.

Now, consider the wildlife value of trees. Trees play a critical role in supporting Illinois wildlife habitat and ecology. The trees on this list either produce nuts, seeds, or fruit high in nutritional value, are pollinators for bees and butterflies, and/or provide shelter. These are just a handful of the benefits of trees to wildlife.

One of the best parts of Illinois is its remaining natural and preserved land and parks. Many of us enjoy the beauty of these preserved spaces. The enrichment that natural areas bring to life is irreplaceable to humans and wildlife. Bring a little piece of that home to your yard.

So, what kind of trees should I plant to help attract wildlife?

Native trees: If you're like us and located in the Chicagoland region, please consider a tree native to the midwest and the northeastern United States.

Flowering trees: Welcome friendly critters to your yard by offering a sweet nectar treat! Perfect for birds and pollinating insects like bees, moths, and butterflies.

Fruit, nut, and seed-bearing trees: Feed your friends a nourishing meal.

Evergreen trees: These green beauties provide shelter during all seasons but are especially critical during those harsh winter months.

Here are our top tree picks for attracting wildlife →

Oak Trees

Plant an Oak tree. This tree species is our top choice coming in at numero uno. Did you know, Oak trees are host to over 500 species of life? It's true! Oak trees support important native wildlife and flowers, including some rare and endangered species. That's more species of wildlife than most other trees! Scrumptious acorns are an abundant food source. Acorns are a highly nutritional food for wildlife. Full of good healthy fats and carbohydrates. Oak tree branches are home to butterflies, birds, squirrels, white-tailed deer, and more!

Check out these mighty native Illinois oaks →

Sargent Tina Crabapple

Sargent Tina is a small crabapple variety. This tree's stout stature and wide-spreading branches beautifully accent garden landscapes. Sargent Tina Crabapple fits in garden areas and landscape beds. Its petite size and horizontally spreading shape give off a zen vibe. Birds love to dine on the crabapple fruit in the winter, especially. This tree will attract cedar waxwings, robins, grosbeaks, mockingbirds, and other small mammals.

Spruce Trees

Spruce add value to your landscape and to the lives of wildlife. Spruce will be home to many different species of wildlife. Birds such as siskins, nuthatches, crossbills, and more! Also, fully-mature spruce trees will house large predatory birds like hawks and owls. Other small mammals also call these trees home.

Winter King Hawthorn

Bird watchers, this tree is for you! Migrant birds, turkeys, deer, and squirrels love this tree's persistent bright red fruit. Many critters rely on Winter King Hawthorn in late winter when other food sources are scarce. Bees consider this tree's spring flowers a sweet nectar treat.

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry fruit tastes like a blueberry. Its fruit can be baked in pies, placed in the freezer to enjoy later, made into jam, and more! If humans don't consume the fruit, that's no worry— birds and other small mammals will gobble it up before it has a chance to fall and make a mess! This tree's dainty star-shaped flowers attract butterflies like the tiger swallowtail butterfly and hairstreak butterfly.

Pagoda Dogwood Trees

Pagoda Dogwood produces a bluish-black summertime berry that wildlife love to consume. It attracts small mammals, game birds, songbirds, and water foul, and its flower nectar attracts bees and spring azure butterflies.

White Pine

This American beauty is beloved by people and wildlife alike. White Pine is a top pine selection for mixing into your tree plantings for diversification, color, and texture. When planted near river banks, lakes, and ponds, this tree is known to home American Bald Eagles. Many game birds, songbirds, and other small wildlife take cover under this tree's branches which shelter them from our cold Illinois winters.

American Elm Trees

American Elm attracts migrant birds, nesting birds, butterflies, moths, and other small mammals. The insects that call this tree home are a delicious food source for wildlife. American Elm will turn heads with its rich golden fall color. Princeton and Jefferson Elm trees are some of the best American Elms for resisting Dutch Elm Disease.

Red Maple & Sugar Maple Trees

Red Maples & Sugar Maple's dense canopies offer a spot to cool down from the heat. Their branches host a gathering spot for birds and butterflies. Birds like robins and cardinals will return to these trees' dense canopies annually and dine on insects that live on the tree's branches and leaves.

Canada Red Chokecherry Trees

Canada Red Chokecherry's fruit attracts birds. Please keep in mind it's fruit can be toxic to many other mammals such as humans and dogs. Its fragrant flowers are enjoyed by bees and butterflies. Unique leaves unfurl green and change to puce in the summertime. In the fall, its leaves transition to reddish-bronze.

Native Hackberry

The tree's fruit has a crunchy shell and soft center, a true delight for birds! Its branches and leaves host many species of larvae, caterpillars, and butterflies. Look closely at this tree next time you see it in the summer, and you may find something spectacular! Butterflies such as the mourning cloak butterfly, question mark butterfly, or tawney emperor butterfly may be hanging out. This fast-growing tree will provide dense shade. Nesting birds and cavity-nesting birds call this tree home.

River Birch

Commonly planted for shade, beauty, and privacy & screening. This native tree is an important wildlife food source. It hosts many species of larvae, moths, and butterflies. You may be able to spot a mourning cloak butterfly or a beautiful luna moth! Also, many birds like woodpeckers, nuthatches, crossbills, finches, chickadees, songbirds, and small mammals call this tree home.

Northern Catalpa

This is one of the most unique trees available. Native to the Chicagoland region, this tree houses nesting birds, such as robins, and cavity dwellers, like owls. Other critters like squirrels and rabbits are often found lingering around this tree. Its flowers and leaves are home to many predacious insects that are thought to help fend off other pests that could feed on the leaves. Hummingbirds and bees dine on flower nectar.

Moraine Sweetgum Trees

Sweetgum's round spikey fruit, commonly called "gumballs," is a nutritional food source for many animals. Gumballs are full of seeds. The contents of these little surprise-filled balls feed critters such as squirrels, chipmunks, and birds. The tree may have some fruit litter, but it will not go to waste!

Butterflies Cucumber Tree Magnolia

Sometimes called "Cucumbertree," this tree's buttery yellow flowers and seeds attract songbirds, ground birds, and small critters. Its saucer-like flowers are attributed to having a lemony aroma.

Tulip Tree

Fully mature Tulip Trees bloom in late spring. With that comes large yellow and orange tulip-like flowers. The flowers dot the top of the tall tree's canopy and welcome visitors such as hummingbirds. Since the tree grows so tall and the birds are so small, you may need to get out your binos for this one. Other birds and small mammals also call this tree home.

Horsechestnut & Buckeye Trees

Horsechestnut & Buckeye Trees provide shade, and their branches offer nesting birds a home and a temporary resting place for migrant birds. These trees produces a fruit. Within its husk is a seed otherwise known as the buckeye nut. The seeds contain toxic tannic acid. Seeds can't be consumed by humans, pets, horses or livestock and are not used as a wildlife food source other than for small mammals such as squirrels. Large panicles of trumpet-like flowers appear in late spring and attract pollinating insects such as bees, the nectar, however, can be poisonous to honey bees. The best part of all is the flowers DO attract butterflies, and BONUS— hummingbirds!

American Hophornbeam Tree

This native tree's hop-like nutlets are a limited food source for small mammals and birds, especially in winter. Wildlife critters that call this tree home include squirrels, grouse, ring-necked pheasants, and songbirds. Its leaves and branches are home to butterflies.

American Hornbeam

This tree brings all the beautiful birds & butterflies to the yard! Oh, and other small mammals too. Wildlife visit this tree to consume catkins, seeds, and hop-like fruit. American Hornbeam is an excellent ornamental shade tree. American Hornbeam is a top selection for those tight areas where you need shade and beauty. Its red-orange fall color is outstanding and sets the landscape on fire in autumn!

Eastern Redbud

In early spring, tiny fuschia-colored flowers bloom before leaves appear. Hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, specifically Henry's elfin butterfly, visit this tree to consume its flower nectar. After its bloom cycle, branches give way to green, heart-shaped leaves. Its canopy provides dense shade and a welcome home for nesting birds and other small mammals.

What are some other ways I can attract wildlife to my yard?

Attracting wildlife can be as simple as you want. Plant a tree and let nature take its course. Or, go on and be a little bit extra!

Adorn your trees with bird & squirrel feeders: Add feeders to your trees and yard to keep those critters' bellies full, especially during winter, and they'll be sure to come back for more.

Decorate your garden with a birdbath: Summertime can be hot and dry. When this happens, birds, butterflies, and other small mammals risk dehydration. Birdbaths filled with fresh water will give friendly critters a nice spot to cool down and get a bit of much-needed hydration.

Plant a butterfly or prairie garden: Take your whimsical wildlife oasis to the next level and garner more wildlife in your yard. Design your own version of a butterfly or prairie garden. Before you know it, you'll have your own backyard wildlife sanctuary.

Final thoughts →

Trees offer so many practical benefits to us as humans and wildlife. BONUS— they're beautiful too! So, be green and plant a new tree! You'll increase your property value, reduce energy costs... and much more! All while welcoming a few new friends to your yard.

Resources & References →

iTrees.com Oaktober

Morton Arboretum

USDA Plants Database

IDNR Landscaping for Wildlife

Chicago Botanic Garden: Gardening for Butterflies

Audubon Society

Arbor Day Foundation

Dupage Forest Preserve

U of I, The Garden Scoop

Best Books on Trees

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 01:53:00 -0500

Have you been in a rut and unsure about what to read? iTrees.com has got you covered! Check out our specially curated list of the BEST books on trees — our list has books for young adult readers, books for us adults, and fun reads for you and your littles.

Some of the books on this list will shift your perspective about trees. Step out of the box you have in your head about trees. Head to your local library or the internet and grab one of these books.

You will not want to put these books down, but please feel free to dip in and out of them. These books are more than just a coffee table ornament. The books on this list will be something that you will want to return to again and again.

Here's the List →

Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness by Dr. Qing Li

A book on the Japanese art and science of how trees can improve our health and happiness. This is a must-read!

Autumn Leaves by Ken Robbins

A book for both young and old. This colorful book gives a close-up look at North American tree leaves. Engaging and educational, detailing reasons why leaves change color in the fall.

The Man Who Planted Trees: A Story of Lost Groves, the Science of Trees, and a Plan to Save the Planet by Jim Robbins

A story about David Milarchs journey to clone the BIGGEST trees on the earth. All in an attempt to save our forests.

The Whisper of a Million Leaves by Beatrice Haverich

Beatrice Haverich, a photographer, views trees as survivors. Her portraits of trees in this book observe their state among cityscapes, after storms, in abandonment, and she recognizes how they persist, even still.

Tree Stories: A Collection of Extraordinary Encounters Edited by Warren David Jacobs and Karen I. Shragg

Meetings with Remarkable Trees by Thomas Pakenham

A wonderfully whimsical book of tree portraits compiled based on their "Tree Personalities," Natives, Travelers, Shrines, Fantasies, and Survivors.

The Wild Muir: Twenty-Two of John Muir's Greatest Adventures by Lee Stetson

This book features some of John Muir's best writing.

"From the famous avalanche ride off the rim of Yosemite Valley to his night spent weathering a windstorm at the top of a tree to death-defying falls on Alaskan glaciers, the renowned outdoorsman’s exploits are related in passages that are by turns exhilarating, unnerving, dizzying, and outrageous."

The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America by Douglas Brinkley

This epic biography details the life and legacy of our 26th President of the United States of America, Theodore Roosevelt. This great American leader championed conservation, working tirelessly and without apology to reclaim and protect our nation's land, natural resources, and wildlife. He is responsible for saving some of our country's most valued assets, including many National Parks.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

A story taking place in the early 1900s. The idea behind this book is to live with tenacity, to have and show determination during even the most difficult circumstances. An analogy, if you will, of fighting for survival, fighting for basic necessities of life such as sun and air. This book is not directly about trees or nature but an interpretation of encouragement and growth. This book is listed as a PBS Great American Read Top 100 pick.

The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate―Discoveries from A Secret World by Peter Wohleben

This New York Times bestseller takes scientific evidence to show how trees are like humans. Trees take on the job of parenthood with their children and communicate and support one another.

Thoreau and the Language of Trees by Richard Higgins

Thoreau and the Language of Trees explore Henry Thoreau's deep connection to trees. Thoreau credits his inspiration to his most creative muse, trees!

"When Thoreau wrote that the poet loves the pine tree as his own shadow in the air, he was speaking about himself. In short, he spoke their language."

Tree Soldier: A Children's Book About the Value of Family by Sarah M. Flores, Illustrated by Maksym Stasiuk

An enchanting tale of Billy and a tree that changes his perspective on happiness.

Poetrees by Douglas Florian

Douglas Florian wrote and illustrated this whimsical book of tree poems that describe the "...incredible heights and shapes of the trees."

Bertolt by Jacques Goldstyn

A book about a boy and his best friend, an oak tree named Bertolt. This is a deeply felt book about "...loss, sorrow, and acceptance."

The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins, Illustrated by Jill McElmurry

This true story of a green activist named Kate Sessions is wonderfully illustrated and details just what it takes to use your talents and follow your dreams!

Maple by Lori Nichols

"Lori Nichols’ enchanting debut features an irresistible, free-spirited, nature-loving little girl who greets the changing seasons and a new sibling with arms wide open."

Because of an Acorn by Lola M. Schaefer, Adam Schaefer, Illustrated by Frann Preston -Gannon

"Because of an acorn, a tree grows, a bird nests, a seed becomes a flower. Enchanting die-cuts illustrate the vital connections between the layers of an ecosystem in this magical book. Wander down the forest path to learn how every tree, flower, plant, and animal connect to one another in spiraling circles of life. An acorn is just the beginning."

The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-Ups by Gina Ingoglia

This guide will answer all of your children's questions (and even some of your own) about 33 different trees native to North America.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

A book for readers of all ages, Shel Silverstein's way with words and delicate illustrations teaches the simple lesson of giving without expecting anything in return.

The Lorax by Dr. Suess

This book is a total classic! Fun and brightly illustrated, this book details the importance of appreciating our natural resources and highlights just how critical it is to replenish them.

A Tree Is Nice by Janice May Udry, Illustrated by Marc Simont

This Caldecott Medal winner tells a "...classic tale about the beauty of the everyday world. Simont's watercolors perfectly complement the poetic simplicity of the text, allowing the reader room to engage in his, or her own imaginative embroiderings about trees."

With help from the Tree Love" Amazon Book List, specially curated by @thelibrarymama, a fellow tree lover and librarian, and Amazon.com

iTrees.com is not currently a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program

Tree Spotlight → Kindred Spirit® Oak

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 09:31:00 -0500

Now presenting Kindred Spirit® Oak! Standing ovations are welcome. Seriously though, can we please get a round of applause for this tree's branching structure? Who knew an oak tree could only grow to be 6 ft wide? It's true!

Check out its slender form right here →

Kindred Spirit® Oak is worthy of all the fuss. We will highlight the unique and beautiful characteristics that make this tree SO worthy.

— Dense, tightly formed canopy

— Beautiful dark green leaves have a matte sage green tone on the bottom side

— Fawn brown autumn leaves hold tightly in winter

— Versatile!

As mentioned, its narrow form is a sight to behold, and it's about as versatile as they come. Its upright, slender form is an attractive accent in the landscape. Use it as an exclamation point in your yard, or plant it in your landscape bed or garden. When planting trees for additional privacy and screening, consider Kindred Spirit® Oak. This tree is an excellent alternative to the traditional arborvitae row. We can plant them in a row along a fence line or all on their own.

Not only that, but its leaves stay put throughout much of winter. This characteristic is called marcescence, and it offers additional screening & a pop of color in the landscape during winter months when many other trees have long since lost their leaves.

Did we forget to mention that this tree's tough as nails?

Kindred Spirit® Oak combines the tolerance of English Oak and Swamp Oak. Its drought and mildew-resistant qualities make it an ideal choice for narrow city streets. You can add "Parkway Tree" to this tree's versatility resume.

The late, great, tree-lovin' Bob Ross once said, "It's OK to have a tree as a friend."

Well, dear readers, he was right. Kindred Spirit® Oak will indeed become a lifelong friend of yours.

See more pictures, tree specs, current availability, and more on the Kindred Spirit® Oak product page.

Love this tree, but you're looking for something with a bit more spread? Check out Kindred Spirit® Oak's sister seedling— Regal Prince® Oak.

Tree Spotlight → Dr. Merrill Magnolia

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 09:07:00 -0500

What is it?

Dr. Merrill Magnolia, Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’ is a magnolia tree cultivar named after Harvard University botanist and professor Dr. Elmer Merrill and horticulturist Max Löebner. Dr. Merrill Magnolia is a hybrid of M. Kobus (Kobushi Magnolia) and M. Stellata (Star Magnolia). Both are native to Japan. Max Löebner completed the first successful cross of these two species in the early 1900s. However, it was not until after Dr. Merill retired that a student under his successor, Karl Sax, hybridized the two species successfully. Thus, making the cultivar Dr. Merrill Magnolia that we all know and love today.

It has become one of the most popular and trusted varieties due to its beauty, reliability, and toughness.

What do we love about it?

Oh, that classic magnolia tree vibe. Magnolia buds begin to swell in late winter. Buds have a fuzzy outer layer, which acts like a warm winter coat that protects them from harsh winter conditions. Soft white to pinkish petals emerge in early spring and unfurl large white flowers with yellow centers. Dr. Merrill Magnolia is one of the first flowering trees of springtime to see in bloom in the Chicagoland area. After our notorious long cold winters, its heavily coated branches of frothy white flowers are a breath of fresh air.

After this tree finishes its bloom cycle, rich shiny bright green leaves emerge. New leaves can have a red tinge.

The leaves are uneventful in the fall, turning a yellow-brown before falling off.

Seeds are almost otherworldly looking— Large pink to red pods appear in late summer and persist throughout fall.

In its adolescent years, it does appear more shrub-like. However, as this tree matures, it will grow to about 25-30 ft tall and 25-30 ft wide with an attractive round shape. Dr. Merrill Magnolia will grow large enough to offer some shade.

Where should you plant it?

This tree is where form meets function. Useful for privacy, and it is oh so beautiful! Dr. Merrill Magnolia goes well with other plantings. We can plant it for you in landscape beds around the house, along property lines for privacy & screening, or as a stand-alone accent in the yard.

Learn more about this tree here.

Resources:

'Merrill' Loebner Magnolia - Arnold Arboretum. © 2023 The President and Fellows of Harvard College. Available at: https://arboretum.harvard.edu/plant-bios/merrill-loebner-magnolia/ (Accessed: 04 August 2023).

Chicagoland's BEST Trees for Fall Color

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 11:40:00 -0500

One of the best things about living in the Midwest is having four seasons— the freshness of spring, the warmth and fun of summer, the bounty and colors of fall, and the calm, cold nights of winter. But oh, how we all know that fall in Chicagoland is IT. The flannel, the cider, the hay rides, the first autumn leaves tumbling down the street when a crisp October breeze rolls through.

Autumn strolls on colorful treelined streets, or simply looking out your window while doing your dishes or reading a book and seeing your fall tree in its full fiery fall glory is IT y'all.

This fall aesthetic can be yours year after year. We want to help you plant one of the trees on this list in your yard. You will not regret it!

Maple Trees →

Maples are the tree we all think of when we think of autumn leaves. Some maple trees will be showier in the fall. Consider trees like Sugar Maples, Red Maples, and Red/Silver Maple hybrids such as Autumn Blaze, Autumn Fantasy® and Matador™ Maple.

Do you want that glorious golden fall color? Check out State Street™ Maple, Rugged Ridge® Maple, and Emerald Lustre® Norway Maple.

How about an array of colors? Celebration® Maple, or Pacific Sunset® Maple, has an incredible pallet of fall reds, oranges, and bright yellow.

Any one of these trees will add a splash of color to your yard.

Ornamental Trees →

Ornamental trees are EXTRA. They are extra beautiful. While most we think of as having flowers, some do not but have other features, such as peeling bark, unique leaves, etc. They can act as a statement in the garden or landscape beds. Plant them on the parkway or along property lines for privacy and screening. Their versatility is endless! Check out these trees— Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry, Royal Raindrops® Crabapple, Pagoda Dogwood, Birch Trees, Early Glow™ Ohio Buckeye, and Hornbeam Trees. These ornamental and flowering trees are some of our top suggestions for fall color.

Other Shade Trees →

In the vast world of shade trees, there is something one tree might offer that the next tree doesn't. One may have smaller leaves, while others have leaves that grow to be larger than your head. Some have flowers, while others have nuts. Large shade trees help reduce energy costs, provide shade and beauty, and increase property value. BONUS! They look absolutely stunning in the fall. Look into trees such as Linden Trees, Honeylocust Trees, Ginkgo Trees, Sweetgum Trees, White Oak, Red Oak, Elm Trees, Black Tupelo Trees, and Tulip Trees. These are some of our top picks for Shade Trees with popping fall colors!

The trees on this list will bring IT in the fall.
The benefits of these trees don't end there. Also, most have ornamental features or other benefits you'll appreciate during the spring, summer, and winter.

Be sure to check out our website. Discover the tree for YOU.

Why Does Tree Diversity Matter?

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 03:53:00 -0500

One of the founding values at iTrees.com is our commitment to the health of urban forests in the Chicagoland area.

Check it out— one of the ways we follow through on this commitment is by encouraging biodiversity in public parks, parkways, and homeowners' yards. This helps our environment, and it looks beautiful too!

Why does diversity matter?

Biodiversity is essential for preserving native species of wildlife, plants, and other natural resources. In case you didn't realize it yet or didn't know... Trees are the foundation of species diversity.

Imagine having a neighborhood or park full of beautiful trees. The caveat is that they are all the same kind of tree. This could potentially be detrimental. For example, some pests and diseases target specific tree species, such as the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) that kills Ash trees. Which, at one time, were seriously overplanted and left with depleted tree canopies in many neighborhoods. The same thing happened with Elm trees with Dutch Elm Disease (DED).

Now, let's take an even closer look. Imagine zooming in on a single oak tree. A single oak tree hosts over 500 wildlife species— from lichen to small mammals. What an incredible boost for the local ecology, and that's just ONE tree!

Now imagine zooming out from that single oak tree in a neighborhood with nothing but oak trees. Then, a disease comes through and sweeps out the entire canopy. What a grim reality that would be. These side effects will trickle down to insects, birds, and the human population. Humans rely on trees for resources that allow people to live and work.

We can't continue to lose the Earth's tree canopy. If so, without a doubt, we would lose other forms of life.

Now that we understand the big WHY... the solution is simple. Plant more trees and plant different kinds of trees.

Not to worry, we can help you with this. Check out this Customer Yard Tour videofor ideas! You'll see what diversity in a homeowner's yard looks like!

Keep these points in mind when shopping for your new trees →

• Be sure to use no more than 10-15% of the same species of trees in your tree-planting project.

• Consider existing trees in your neighborhood. Taking this inventory will ensure that any given species is not overplanted.

• Plant trees that have seasonal interest in different areas of your yard.

Do this, and your landscape and community will thank you!

The good news is that many of the trees we plant are grown by our family-partner nursery and are newer and better varieties. These new varieties are less prone to the threat of disease and are more tolerant of urban conditions.

One of the easiest ways to achieve diversity in your yard is to think seasonally. Plant trees that have seasonal interest in different areas of your yard. Doing this will help achieve year-round interest, and it's good for the local ecology. It's a win-win.

We will help you make tree choices you will feel good about. We can't wait to help you grow a diverse & healthy tree canopy.

Contact us to learn more.

Outstanding Oaks Worth Celebrating

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 01:34:00 -0500

What makes oaks worth celebrating?

Let us count the ways... These trees are considered long-living, ancient even. Often thought of as majestic. Oaks have long since been part of history and folklore. Environmentally, oaks play a seriously critical role in ecological preservation.

Oaks are worth celebrating any day of the week! They even get their own month, OAKtober!

October is Oak Awareness Month in Illinois. We celebrate all month long. Learn more about OAKtober and the importance of oak trees here.

Around 600 species of oak trees (Quercus) exist today. 90 of those species of oaks call the US home, and 21 oak species are native to IL.

Here are a few oaks that are native to the Chicago region. They are some of our finest trees!

White Oak

Swamp White Oak

Chinkapin Oak

Red Oak

Hill's Oak

Bur Oak

So, what makes up an oak?

The beauty of an oak tree is made up of many parts. Zoom in to see what makes up the parts of an oak.

Flowers- Oaks have a flower cluster with no pedals called catkins and appear in early spring as the leaves unfurl. Catkins dangle from the tree in early spring. They are yellow to greenish-purple in color. Catkins are a delicious early spring food source that boosts wildlife diets.

Fruit- Acorns (sometimes called an oaknut)! After the tree is done flowering, the catkins are replaced by acorns. Emerging light green before turning the classic tan to the chestnut brown color we all know. Acorns will then drop sometime between September and October. Some are more frilly and husky than others. It has a cap (cupule or a crown) and a hard outer shell that holds a single nut (seed) inside. Acorns vary in appearance between species of oaks. It is a preferred food source for many small mammals.

Bark- Bark protects trees from disease, pests, and the weather. Most oaks will have or develop deeply furrowed bark, and some have an exfoliating appearance. Bark will vary depending on the species.

Leaves- These babies offer substantial shade and provide safe shelter for wildlife. Leaves are usually arranged in a spiraling pattern off the branch and vary in appearance. Most oak leaves are lobed or serrated. While trees like the Shingle Oak have unlobed smooth-edged leaves.

Oak trees and trees, in general, help reduce flooding, and they clean our air and water. Plant native oaks & choose a sunny location so that they can thrive!

Let's take a closer look at each one of these outstanding oaks →

White Oak

White Oak is a Chicago region native. Beautiful, stately, and wide-spreading at full maturity. This is a slow grower. Given time and patience, this tough-as-nails oak will adapt and thrive. Rich green leaves offer a dense shade. In autumn, its leaves turn a deep maroon red. This beauty is our beloved state tree.

Swamp White Oak

This is an outstanding oak variety. Tolerant of a variety of site conditions, especially those with wet soil. Once fully mature, it will stand stoically with a broadly rounded form. Green leaves change to yellowish-tawny brown in the fall. Swamp White Oak is the fastest-growing oak variety we have available.

Shingle Oak

This large shade tree has unique unlobed leaves, which are different from what we are used to seeing in an Oak. Smooth gray bark matures to be slightly furrowed. Its leaves are dark green in the summer before changing to a yellow-orange to russet-brown in the fall. We only wish we planted this beauty more often.

Chinkapin Oak

Rich, glossy green serrated leaves provide dense shade, color, and texture in the landscape. Pyramidal in its youth, becoming rounded with age. Leaves transition from green to yellow-orange to rusty-red in the fall. The bark matures to be textured by scaley plate-like bark.

Red Oak

Red Oak, or Northern Red Oak, is one of the more moderate-growing oak trees. Its leaf lobes are more pointed, emerging a light pink before turning light green in late spring to early summer. Fall brings a rich scarlet red fall color. This tree offers year-round picturesque appeal, and it's an ideal urban shade tree selection due to its tolerance to air pollution and salt.

Hill's Oak

Hill's Oak, known as Northern Pin Oak, has a higher tolerance to soil pH than its Pin Oak counterparts, which makes it less susceptible to chlorosis (yellowing of the leaves). This tree unfurls with pink, fuzzy new leaves in spring. Leaves transition to a glossy green in summer before turning a deep scarlet red in the fall.

Bur Oak

Bur Oak is beautiful and majestic. This is a shade tree to plant for future generations. This native tree is one of the toughest oaks available. The bark matures to be corky and furrowed. Rich green leaves have a silvery underside and turn yellowish-brown in the fall.

Bottom line? Illinois oaks are outstanding!

References →

The Mighty Oak: Oak Trees of the Chicago Region

The Morton Arboretum: Oak Collection

OAKtober

The Best Time to Plant Trees in the Chicagoland Area

Brittany Johnson — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 03:11:00 -0500

Some may ask, is summer an OK time to plant? Or you may wonder, is fall a good time for tree planting? Our answer is a solid YES and YES again.

So, when is the best time to plant trees in the Chicago area?

The best time to plant is the spring, summer, or fall. Hang with us on this, and we'll explain.

Here's why →

What matters most is when the tree you ordered was dug from the field. This is far more important than when it gets planted. We follow our family-partner nursery's guidelines for that. So long as the tree was dug at the right time, we can plant trees anytime— spring, summer, and fall. Weather provided, we will keep planting trees until the end of November.

Digging is a Science →

The digging of trees is a science. This entire process depends heavily on the weather. The nursery will closely monitor the process. They will ensure that all trees are dug from the field at the appropriate time. All trees need to be dug up while they are in dormancy.

The trees we plant for you are machine-dug with a tree spade and placed in a burlap bag and a wire basket. Extra care is given to protect the trunk and branches for transportation.

Spring Dug Trees:

In the springtime, the trees get dug before they get their leaves. Spring-dug trees move from the field to the nursery's holding yard and are put on drip irrigation. The trees will stay in the holding yard to be maintained and cared for by nursery staff until they can be delivered and planted.

Summer Dug Trees:

Very few trees are actually dug from the field in the summertime. With careful consideration, some evergreens can get dug from the field in late spring/early summer or late summer/early fall.

Fall Dug Trees:

In the fall, trees get dug after they've gone dormant and have begun to lose their leaves. Fall-dug trees don't make it into the holding yard. They move straight from the field to your very own yard.

Final Thoughts →

We will help you plant a tree anytime— spring, summer, or fall. We will work with you to ensure your tree is put in the ground at the best possible time for the health and success of your new tree. After planting, something to keep in mind is consistent watering. We provide easy-to-follow tree care instructions. Stick to our tree care info, and your tree will flourish!

Best Stickers Ever

Brittany Johnson — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 11:16:00 -0500

iTrees.com rocks our brand stickers wherever we can put them. We slap them on everything from our mugs and water bottles to our office front door! These babies are so tough. They withstand numerous washings and have withstood all kinds of crazy Chicagoland weather conditions. Look at the sticker on the OUTSIDE of our office door. This is for real, folks.

Sticker Mule is our number one source for quality stickers.

The stickers we've ordered from Sticker Mule have a texture and quality that makes them STICK. Our customers love receiving them in the mail as a small token of our appreciation. They love how good the stickers feel (sticker #ASMR, anyone?). They look so good, too.

Want to order your own custom stickers? << Follow this link! #ad

Should you be worried about this new pest?

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 02:09:00 -0500

Earlier this fall, the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association notified members of a new invasive pest, the spotted lanternfly.

What is it?

The spotted lanternfly, also called a leafhopper, is native to China (and not the USA). This invasive pest is known to feed on woody tree sap, hops, hard & softwood trees, grape crops, apple trees, and more. When it's through with its host plant, it leaves behind a residue known as "honeydew" that can be harmful.

Here's the good & the bad news →

The Good News:

You don't need to panic. Spotted lanternflies will not cause widespread plant or tree death. They are not harmful to animals or humans.

"If there is a silver lining associated with spotted lanternfly in Illinois, it is that we have no reason to believe that widespread plant or tree death will result from its presence," said Scott Schirmer, Illinois Department of Agriculture's Nursery and Northern Field Office Section Manager.

The Bad News:

They are a nuisance and come with a major ick factor. As with other pests, they can be hard to eliminate once they establish themselves in an area.

A spotted lanternfly matures to about 1" in length at full maturity. With wings fully expanded, it measures 1.5" in spread. It has distinct spots, contrasted by a red-orange color on its wings.

Please note the spotted lanternfly's appearance changes depending on its stage of life.

Here's what you need to do →

— take pictures & report sightings to lanternfly@illinois.edu

— remove and destroy them

— before you leave an area, check for them under vehicles, boats, etc

— let others know & share this post

Important Resources →

IL Dept of Ag Press Release: https://agr.illinois.gov/news/press-release.27063.html

USDA: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-pests-diseases/slf

U of I Fact Sheet: https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/spotted_lanternfly_fact_sheet_v8.pdf

Local News Reports:

https://news.wttw.com/2023/09/27/spotted-lanternfly-isn-t-eco-disaster-it-does-have-major-yuck-factor-here-s-how-chicago

https://www.pbs.org/video/illinois-first-infestation-of-spotted-lanternfly-confirmed-d/

https://www.wcsjnews.com/news/local/spotted-lanternfly-spotted-in-illinois/article_5391a7c6-6cfa-11ee-826f-d7852a6ca4fd.html

https://patch.com/illinois/across-il/moderately-populated-area-spotted-lanternfly-found-il

Give the Gift of a PLANTED Tree!

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 03:26:00 -0500

This year is all about tradition. Whether you're keeping or reigniting old holiday traditions or establishing new ones, we are HERE for it.

Think back to a time and place when tradition was something you counted on, and it came through on its promise. Nothing beats that warm fuzzy feeling.

Gift-giving is all about the feelings that come with it. You want those feelings to last.

Remember that the front yard tree your daughter grew up climbing? That tree was planted by your grandfather. Now, your daughter has a family & home of her own. Let the family traditions continue. Plant a tree for future generations and give the gift that keeps giving. Err... we mean growing!

Or, start a NEW tradition with friends or a loved one and watch it GROW.

'Tis the season for giving with purpose and carrying on traditions. Give the gift of a planted tree! Watch it grow, flourish, bloom, and turn its beautiful fall colors year after year.

Why trees are the BEST gift →

The environmental, economic, social, and aesthetic benefits of tree planting are endless!

One of the best things about giving your friend or loved one a tree is that it is the gift that keeps giving. Trees have SO many benefits. They are one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly gifts available. Trees help our environment, increase property value, provide shade, offer a place to rest on a hot summer's day, add beauty to the world... and SO MUCH MORE. Trees are a gift that can be opened each spring and fall. Their branches burst in spring with flowers and leaves. Come autumn, they'll put on a celebratory display of colors that will warm anyone's heart year after year.

Why should you choose iTrees.com?

The tree you order from iTrees.com isn't some empty promise of a tree that will be planted someplace where you'll never get to personally enjoy it.

No, no, no. The tree you order from iTrees.com is... MORE. It is a large, locally-grown tree. Our experienced crew will personally deliver and expertly plant it in your friend's or loved one's yard. All with the assurance of our full replacement warranty. This tree can be enjoyed every single day and cherished for generations.

This year, keep your traditions growing and give the gift of a PLANTED TREE.

Order a tree for your friend or loved one this holiday.

Choose from hundreds of trees— shade, ornamental and flowering, evergreens, and more. Order now, and we'll plant it later next spring.

E-Gift Cards are available.

The Best Love Songs with Lyrics Inspired by Trees

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 10:06:00 -0600

It is not new information that artists take inspiration from nature. Often, we see trees as a muse in song lyrics, poetry, paintings, and more.

This makes sense when you consider the strength and resilience of a tree after a storm, the sweet way old oaks seem to live forever, and how they give and expect nothing in return. The whimsical way trees store wisdom in their roots, trunks, branches, bark, and leaves is something of lore. Yet, we trust wholeheartedly that the trees and forests hold some of life's most precious secrets. As for music, it is after all, universal.

Love ♥ songs that reference trees; now we are talking. This is something we can all relate to in the modern world.

Here, you will find a specially crafted custom blend of love songs. So, depending on your mood, you will find the recipe you need in a love song. From the warm notes of romantic love songs to the melancholy cool tones of breakup songs to simple hum-along love songs with lyrics inspired by trees— this list has you covered.

Here’s the list →

To listen to the playlist, scroll to the bottom ↓ of this post and hit play.

Van Morrison, Tupelo Honey

"She's as sweet as Tupelo honey. She's an angel of the first degree. She's as sweet, she's as sweet as Tupelo honey. Just like honey, baby, from the bee."

Jeff Tweedy, Evergreen

"When I get back from wherever I go I'll look for you in the shade. A marker in the grass. I'll tell you at last you're not the reason I went away. Sometimes I wish you were the one who had left and I had stayed. Evergreen, evergreen... Have you even seen anything, evergreen? Evergreen, evergreen... Have you even seen anything, evergreen?"

The Beatles, Norwegian Wood

"I once had a girl. Or should I say she once had me. She showed me her room. Isn't it good Norwegian wood?"

Cam, Redwood Tree

"Oh, redwood tree. Don't you recognize me? No, it's not much time for you. It's been decades for me. Oh, redwood tree. Sorry, I had to leave. An eager mind and a teenage heart. Can get hooked on a dream. I saw the world. You saw my parents grow old. You've got your roots and I've got the wind. The wind in my soul."

Paul McCartney, Little Willow

"Bend, little willow. Wind's going to blow you hard and cold tonight. Life, as it happens nobody warns you, willow, hold on tight. Nothing's gonna shake your love, take your love away. No one's out to break your heart. It only seems that way, hey."

The Kinks, Village Green

"Twas there I met a girl called Daisy and kissed her by the old oak tree. (La, la, la, la) Although I loved my Daisy, I sought fame And so I left the village green."

Joni Mitchell, Cactus Tree

"There's a man who sends her medals. He is bleeding from the war. There's a jouster and a jester and a man who owns a store. There's a drummer and a dreamer and you know there may be more. She will love them when she sees them. They will lose her if they follow and she only means to please them, and her heart is full and hollow like a cactus tree while she's so busy being free."

Ed Sheeran, Thinking Out Loud

"When my hair's all but gone and my memory fades and the crowds don't remember my name. When my hands don't play the strings the same way. I know you will still love me the same. 'Cause honey your soul can never grow old, it's evergreen. Baby your smile's forever in my mind and memory."

Mumford & Sons, Hold on to What You Believe

"I ran away. I could not take the burden of both me and you. It was too fast. Casting love on me as if it were a spell I could not break. When it was a promise I could not make But what if I was wrong? Oh, what if I was wrong? But hold on to what you believed in the light. When the darkness has robbed you of all your sight and oh, hold on to what you believed in the light. When the darkness has robbed you of all your sight and now this land means less and less to me without you breathing through its trees."

The Verve, Weeping Willow

"Weeping willow I got to learn to leave the pain. Walk through the door and kiss the rain beside me, beside me. I got to learn to leave the pain. Walk through the door and kiss the rain beside me, beside me."

Dawn & Tony Orlando, Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree

"I'm comin' home, I've done my time. Now I've got to know what is and isn't mine. If you received my letter telling you I'd soon be free then you'll know just what to do. If you still want me, if you still want me. Whoa, tie a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree. It's been three long years, do you still want me? If I don't see a ribbon round the ole oak tree I'll stay on the bus, forget about us, put the blame on me. If I don't see a yellow ribbon 'round the ole oak tree."

Dolly Parton & Porter Wagoner, Beneath the Sweet Magnolia Tree

"A hint of autumn was in the air. Grass was turning a soft shade of brown. Petals were falling from withering flowers. Amber leaves were flowing around. There beneath the sweet magnolia in each others arms, we lay hidden away. Our needs grew stronger as our hearts grew closer. Autumn winds blew and the magnolia swayed. Beneath the sweet magnolia tree we found love we knew was for keeps. We made love and sweet memories beneath the sweet magnolia tree."

Patsy Cline, Walkin' After Midnight

"I walk for miles along the highway. Well, that's just my way of sayin' I love you. I'm always walkin' after midnight, searchin' for you (wa-wa-walking, wa-wa-walking). I stop to see a weepin' willow cryin' on his pillow maybe he's cryin' for me... and as the skies turn gloomy night winds whisper to me, "I'm lonesome as I can be."

Gram Parsons & The Byrds, Hickory Wind

"In South Carolina there are many tall pines. I remember the oak tree that we used to climb but now when I'm lonesome, I always pretend that I'm getting the feel of hickory wind. I started out younger at most everything. All the riches and pleasures, what else could life bring? But it makes me feel better each time it begins... Callin' me home, hickory wind. It's a hard way to find out that trouble is real. In a far away city, with a far away feel. But it makes me feel better each time it begins... Callin' me home, hickory wind. Keeps callin' me home, hickory wind."

Kick back with your favorite warm beverage and hit play.

Better yet, we dare you to dig up those old dusty CDs or vinyl records and spin one of your own. We recommend listening wherever you have an admirable view of trees.

Please take a moment to comment and let us know your favorite love song about trees. Maybe it was one we left off of this list? I would love to hear it!

Year of the Cicadas

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 17:35:00 -0500

The Morton Arboretum has released information regarding the 2024 spring emergence of multiple cicada broods.

View the complete article → 'Cicadas Due to Emerge All Over Illinois in Spring 2024.'

Above is a map of this year's double brood emergence schedule, from the US Forest Service.

13-year, Brood XIX, The Great Southern Brood— View Emergence Map here.

17-year, Brood XIII, The Northern Illinois Brood— View Emergence Map here.

Here are our key takeaways →

- In addition to the annual “dog day” cicadas, two main broods are expected to emerge throughout Illinois this spring, the 13-year and 17-year “pharaoh” cicadas.

- The periodical pharaoh cicadas will hang around for about 4-6 weeks, from about May through June. The annual dog day cicadas take over around July and stick around through September.

- During their 4-6 week visits, they’ll eat a little bit, mate, and lay eggs.

- The 17-year Northern Illinois Brood and the 13-year Great Southern Brood will simultaneously emerge. View the maps above to see if you’re in an area where you will be able to experience both broods at the same time.

- Cicadas are not harmful, but they are noisy. Yep, you probably already knew this, they are loud… but completely harmless. They do not bite or harm humans.

Here’s what the cicadas look like →

The periodical pharaoh cicadas have transparent wings with red-orange veins, and red eyes. They are sometimes called pharaoh cicadas.

The annual dog day cicadas have green coloring, with green veined transparent wings.

Life cycle →

Periodical pharaoh cicadas lay their eggs in branches of tree saplings, whips and small young plants. The nymphs will fall to the ground, stay in the ground, and burrow into the soil, attaching themselves to roots where they'll feed on plant water and nutrients until they can emerge. This event happens every 13 to 17 years. They arrive around May and they will head out after about 4-6 weeks.

Annual dog day cicadas will lay eggs in the same fashion. Their nymphs will spend between 2-5 years in the ground. Due to an overlapping of their egg-laying schedule, the dog day cicadas emerge annually. They appear between July and September, hence their name, referencing the “dog days of summer.”

The good news →

“People really shouldn’t worry. Cicadas are not defoliating insects and have nothing to do with locusts. They won’t eat your plants, vegetables, or even the leaves of trees. They are emerging only to mate and lay eggs.”

— Sandy Liebhold, research entomologist with the Forest Service’s Northern Research Station in Morgantown, West Virginia

- They are not destructive and do not cause permanent damage. They will not harm the overall health of your newly planted tree.

- Cicadas benefit the local ecology and our environment. They are NOT the same as locusts. Locusts are known to form large swarms and devour plants and crops.

- Cicadas are a nutritional food source for local wildlife, helping with “pest” management.

- The simultaneous emergence of the 13-year and 17-year periodical pharaoh cicadas is an incredible spectacle that only occurs once every 221 years. Enjoy it for what it is!

This can be a cool experience. Make it an event! Sit outside at night and enjoy the symphony of millions of cicadas with your family and friends.

The bad news →

- Cicadas can affect the appearance of small saplings under about 1.5" Caliper and plants under about 4-5 Ft Tall, causing minor temporary damage to young branches.

- These wounds will self-heal over time. They may become weakened and break off during strong winds or a storm.

- Cicadas are noisy (yes, this is worth mentioning more than once).

What do you need to do →

- You do not need to treat your tree with insecticides, as they aren’t proven to do anything to help.

- You can use a mesh tulle-like material to protect small saplings under a 1.5" Caliper and plants under 4-5 Ft Tall.

- Do replenish your existing tree's mulch this spring.

- Do water your tree weekly. We recommend using a tree-watering donut. You can purchase one here and view our recommended tree care information here.

- Spring is a great time to fertilize the roots of trees that have been in the ground for a year or more. You can pick up Jobes fertilizer spikes or Bayer Advance at most local hardware stores.

Resources:

Cicadas | The Morton Arboretum

Cicadas are coming! | The Chicago Botanic Garden

Cicadas Stir Up a Ruckus | US Forest Service

The Buzz: What’s the Difference? Cicada vs. Locust | Forest Preserve District of Will County

Timed to Perfection: Cicada’s Biological Clock Determines Emergence | U of I

Periodical Cicada Information Pages | University of Connecticut

Inspiring People Who Planted Trees

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 10:48:00 -0500

If you’re looking for inspiration look no further! We have a list of everyday heroes who have made their mark on history by planting trees.

You may be asking yourself,

“...But WHY? Why is planting trees SO important 🤔?”

Well, the benefits of planting trees are truly endless.

Sociological Benefits

- Trees provide food, resources, and livelihood.

Economic Benefits

- 1 large tree has the potential to up property value by as much as 20%.

- Trees planted in business districts are proven to increase local sales.

Environmental Benefits

- Trees help reduce energy costs.

- Trees reduce the risk of flooding.

- Trees clean our air.

Ecological Benefits

- Lush canopies provide shade and a welcoming habitat for local ecology.

- Flowering trees are a prime source of pollinating insects.

- A single native oak tree hosts over 500 wildlife species (that’s a BIG IMPACT for as little as one tree).

Reduced Crime

- Neighborhoods and business districts with tree-lined streets have lower crime rates.

Health Benefits

- Spending time with trees is proven to help reduce stress.

- Patients in hospital rooms with a view of trees have a quicker recovery time.

... and these are just a few important benefits of trees.

By virtue of the benefits of tree planting, the inspiring individuals on this list made it their mission to PLANT MORE TREES.

Their stories are sure to INSPIRE you to do the same.

1. Julius Sterling Morton

Did you ever celebrate Arbor Day in school as a kid? You might remember being sent home from school with a sapling on Arbor Day. With its roots wrapped in a damp paper towel to keep it alive until we could plant it at home. Only for us to forget about it until we opened our backpacks on Sunday night... and now that tree is growing at our childhood homes.

Well, if you nodded along to all of that, you can thank this guy!

Julius Sterling Morton, otherwise known as J. Sterling Morton made it his personal mission to make the Great Plains more habitable. J. Sterling Morton founded the first-ever Arbor Day celebration in 1872. A whopping 1 million trees were planted throughout Nebraska that day.

Since then, the US celebrates Arbor Day annually. It’s an important day, bringing awareness and encouraging action. Everyone is excited to get their hands dirty and plant a tree. Arbor Day has become a part of many elementary educational curriculums with tree plantings happening each year at schools across the country.

It is, of course, our favorite holiday!

“To preserve beauty on the earth, beauty herself beseeches us to plant trees, and renew dead landscapes with the shadow and light of plant life flitting through the pendant limbs, the willowy boughs and the waving foliage of sturdy, yet graceful woods. Our ancestors planted orchards to fruit for us, and homes to give us shelter.”

2. Saalumarada Thimmakka

Saalumarada, a name given to her by locals, is how you’ll find her in a Google search. The name Saalumarada in Kannada language means “row of trees.” She is also known as Aala, or simply Thimmakka.

Aala had a challenging upbringing in Southeastern India and lived a hard life. However, she has found a great purpose in life by planting trees.

In her 20s she and her husband discovered they couldn't have children. This circumstance became a catalyst for her spiritual journey of planting trees. Now in her 100s, Saalumarada advocates for a better India and the world. In her lifetime, she’s responsible for over 8,000 tree plantings.

The area where Aala and her husband planted trees was once an arid desert and is now a thriving lush forest. This has earned her numerous awards and global recognition.

The planting process was no easy feat. The arid desert climate was not the most ideal environment to begin with, and because of this, each tree had to be hand-watered. This one step in the process was very involved, Aala hauled water several miles from local wells to the area where she planted the trees.

She and her husband consider all of the trees they’ve planted as their children. They’ve cared for and nurtured them just so. Thus, the other nickname India gave her, is “The Mother of Trees.”

“How we planted and took care of the trees, everyone from children to the elderly should plant and grow trees... It will be beneficial for all of us.”

3. Solan Parkes

Solan Parkes was a tree surgeon who originated the idea of honoring moms on Mother’s Day by planting a tree. In 1923, Solan planted a white birch in honor of his late mother. This simple act of love and posterity caught wind and became a national movement inspiring tree plantings throughout the United States. The following year, Solan was invited to The White House to plant a Mother’s Tree for President Calvin Coolidge.

A commemorative plaque reads,

“Mother’s Tree

The White Birch — The Nation’s Choice to Honor Motherhood. This is the initial tree, planted and dedicated by Solan L. Parkes on the Shores of Lake Antietam on May 13, 1923.

... Registered in the “Hall of Fame for Trees” by the American Forestry Association of Washington, D.C.”

4. Queen Elizabeth II

Since she was a child, the late Queen Elizabeth II was a tree enthusiast. She planted over 1,500 trees throughout her reign as the Queen of England.

At age 93 the Queen attended a tree planting event celebrating 100 years of research at the National Institute of Agricultural Botany. During a ceremonial tree planting of a hornbeam tree, she was offered help, and to this she admirably replied, "No, no. I'm still perfectly capable of planting a tree."

For the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, marking her 70th year on the throne, Her Majesty initiated a movement across the UK, The Queens Green Canopy (QGC). The QGC program provides training for young adults looking to enter the world of environmentalism. The program is geared specifically toward planting and maintaining the UK’s green canopy. In addition, it advocates for elementary-aged children to work toward earning their Junior Forester Award.

Between 2022 and shortly after her passing in 2023, around 3 million trees have been planted in her honor through the QGC program.

5. Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai grew up in rural Kenya and would eventually become the first female to earn a doctorate in Central and East Africa. Passionate about helping to end poverty and increase conservation efforts, Wangari founded the Green Belt Movement in the 1970s. The organization is specifically geared toward improving the lives of women in Africa. She chose tree planting because trees are critical in improving livelihood and local ecology.

Through the Green Belt Movement women in the poverty-stricken areas are encouraged to plant trees, which in turn provides food, firewood, and other critical resources all while earning a small income for their efforts.

Her grassroots movement spread to many other countries throughout Africa. Her organization is responsible for the planting of over 20 million trees.

6. Jadav Payeng

Jadav Payeng lives his life restoring a desolate island in India. He spends his early mornings making an incomprehensible trek from his home to the island each day to tend to and plant trees.

What was once a barren island in India, covered in sand, caused by extreme heat, a dried-up river, and dead snakes is now full of over a hundred thousand trees, and notably, vibrant wildlife. All of which was single-handedly nurtured by Jadav. He planted bamboo, teak, and cottonwood. From there, the trees began to self-seed. Now, the once-dry sandy island is a rich habitat full of tigers, elephants, deer, monkeys, and birds.

His reason for taking on this mission— the snakes. Seeing the dead snakes in the scorching heat struck a deep chord with Jadav, and he felt a profound sadness. He saw the snakes and realized that humans could ultimately have the same fate. He understood the assignment and began to passionately plant trees.

"First with bamboo trees, then with cotton trees. I kept planting all different kinds of trees."

Jadav, once considered insane by locals, has received one of India’s highest civilian honors, the Padma Shri, and is considered a renowned conservationist, and rightfully so.

We interrupt your scroll to notify you that the last three individuals on this list began their ascent into the heroic tree-planting championship ring as elementary-aged children. It's one thing to live a long rewarding life and come to the conclusion that something must be done about climate change. It's a whole other level of awesomeness to grasp the concept as a kid, these young adults are making climate change waves, baby.

7. Ellyanne Wanjiku Chlystun

At the young age of 11, Ellyanne was recognized for her work to preserve the earth’s environment by advocating to end plastic pollution, and for her work planting trees. She is East Africa’s youngest ambassador for climate change. Now a teenager, Ellyanne has helped to plant over one million trees and there is no slowing her down.

"Everyone has dreams. Everyone has goals. The only difference is that when you can’t pursue those goals to the fullest due to the lack of a conducive environment, then your safety on this planet is not guaranteed. You have to first look out for your safety through appreciating the value of a clean environment. You can do that by planting a tree at least once a month.”

In the fall of 2023, she created a child-led summit, Children for Global Climate Change. “... I’m glad to be carrying the global environment flag, to represent the whole world. My target is to plant at least one trillion trees before I reach adulthood.”

8. Evan Nied

As a teen, Evan Nied once claimed to be the real-life version of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax in his Instagram bio. It read, "Literal and Figurative Embodiment of the Lorax."

Ah, The Lorax. The great protector of trees.

After experiencing Hurricane Florence, Evan saw firsthand the impact of climate change. In turn, Evan founded a nonprofit organization, Planting Shade to help slow it down.

Planting Shade is geared toward working with young adults to provide resources for tree planting in their communities. From there, the organization partners with schools, parks, and communities to plant trees. His foundation has since formed ten other chapters throughout the US.

What started as a goal of planting 1,000 trees with his high-school club, has ended up being a tree-planting initiative that stretches across the globe with over 15,000 trees planted in the US, Israel, and Costa Rica.

More recently he won a national award for his environmental efforts, the Teen Tikkun Olam Award.

9. Felix Finkbeiner

At the young age of nine years old Felix was inspired by environmentalist Wangari Maathai. He proclaimed to his fourth-grade class that he would plant one million trees. 15 years later, this dream became a reality.

Felix is now the founder and CEO of Plant for the Planet. A nonprofit organization that’s youth-based, encouraging young adults to become ambassadors for climate change. In 2011 when Wangari Maathai passed away, he took over the Billion Trees Campaign and upped the initiative's goal to one TRILLION trees.

The reason behind this number, if you can even fathom it 🤯, is climate change scientists have estimated that one trillion trees is the amount of trees needed to offset climate change.

More recently, Felix became the 2019 National Geographic Young Explorer Grant recipient.

Tree planting can be a big celebratory event or a small act. It can be just one tree or a multitude. Either way, it’s apparent to us that it’s an inspiring and instinctively altruistic act.

Many communities, businesses, colleges & schools advocate for tree planting through programs such as Tree City® USA and Tree Campus® USA.

However, you do not have to be part of these programs to make a difference. You can simply plant one tree in your yard, leaving a living legacy behind.

Tree planting is one thing worth catching on and going viral.

"The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second-best time is now." — Anonymous

Resources:

The Arbor Day Foundation | The History of Arbor Day

CNN World | India's 105-year-old Mother of Trees

Reading Eagle | A Growing Tribute to Mother's Everywhere

Royal | The Queen's Green Canopy

Capital Gardens | The Princess Who Went Up a Tree and Came Back Down a Queen

Independent | Queen Insists She's Perfectly Capable of Planting a Tree Aged 93

The Nobel Prize | Wangari Maathai

The Green Belt Movement | Wangari Maathai

NPR | A Lifetime of Planting Trees on a Remote River Island: Meet India's Forest Man

Rotary Club | Ellyanne Wanjiku Young Ambassador

Nation | Ellyanne Wanjiku, the 13-year-old Environmental Champion with Big Dreams

Planting Shade | Our International Leaders

AP News | Teen Wins National Award for His Tree-Planting Non-profit

NPR | Virginia Beach Teenager Who's Planted Thousands of Trees Wins National Recognition

National Geographic | Teenager is on Track to Plant a Trillion Trees

CNN US | It's Plant A Tree Day This PhD Student is on a Mission to Give Back a Trillion Trees

Plant for the Planet | Top Projects

Tree Planting Grant Opportunity

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 10:00:00 -0500

The Chicago Region Trees Initiative has announced that Round II of the Tree Equity funding is up for grabs. What does this mean? Disadvantaged communities in the Chicagoland area may be eligible to apply for the grant. With funding from this grant, communities will be able to enhance their communities safety, beauty, and replant depleted tree canopies helping to restore urban canopies.

What: Inflation Reduction Act Tree Planting Equity Grants

Who: Disadvantaged Communities in Illinois

Where: View the Illinois IRA Screening Tool. This interactive map will help you to see if your community qualifies.

Check it out right here

When: Deadline → September 13th at 5:00 pm

How: The first step is to see if your community qualifies. If it does you'll need to first submit your notice of intent. You can do that here.Then, submit your Tree Equity Grant Application by the September 13th deadline.

From our friends at CRTI →

"Round II Application Released — Tree Equity Grant for Disadvantaged Communities

Funding for projects to enhance urban and community forestry in nature-deprived populations and disadvantaged communities is now available from the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry allocation of the Inflation Reduction Act. This request for proposals provides funding assistance to nonprofits, government entities, and other eligible groups described in the Request for Proposals (RFP). All projects must occur in and directly benefit disadvantaged areas. Grant awards are available for a minimum of $25,000 and a maximum of $500,000. For all eligible projects, there is no match requirement."

Visit CRTI's Grant Hub for access to helpful tools & resources → https://chicagorti.org/program/grants-hub/

9/11 & The Tree That Survived

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 16:44:00 -0500

This is the story of 9/11 & the tree that survived.

The Early Days

In the early 1970s, construction of the World Trade Center Twin Towers was complete. The original outdoor pedestrian concourse surrounding the Twin Towers set out to achieve an ethereal vibe in a downtown environment, and of course, the design included trees.

At that time, in the northeast corner of the outdoor concourse, the tree we now refer to as the "Survivor Tree" was planted. There, it would grow season upon season for nearly three decades.

Terror Strikes the Heart of NY

During the early hours of September 11th, 2001, in an act of terror, the New York City World Trade Center was demolished by al-Qaeda hijacked airplanes. Nearby on the WTC concourse, with its roots gripping the urban soil below, an ornamental pear tree was buried alive, burned, and badly damaged. It lay there for weeks beneath the rubble.

The Aftermath

Almost one month later, in October, Becky Clough, Assistant Commissioner for the NYC Department of Design & Construction, was working another grueling day cleaning up debris from the destruction site. In a moment of gratification, she discovered a single tree branch with sprouted green leaves. It became clear that it was in rough shape. Yet, the charred and battered Callery Pear tree showed a glimmer of hope.

With the help of Ronaldo Vega, who worked alongside Becky during cleanup and witnessed this incredible discovery, the Arthur Ross Citywide Nursery and The NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, the team relocated the fragile tree.

Carefully, the Callery Pear was transported & replanted along the northeast side of Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. The team planted the tree along a fence. The idea was to help stabilize the tree as it was being brought back to health. From there, it went under the care of Richie Cabo & his mentor, Robert Zappala.

Ground Zero

The 9/11 Memorial Park & Plaza, designed by Michel Arad, is where the New York City community & the public can grieve, cope and come together in remembrance. Michael chose to have the grounds decorated with a symbol of green resilience by planting 400 Swamp White Oak trees hugging the Twin Tower Memorial Pools. The Swamp White Oak is an obvious choice for this memorial site, as they are native and tolerant of urban conditions.

When Ronaldo Vega was assigned the position of Senior Director of Design for the 9/11 Memorial, he remembered the "tree that survived," and had an epiphany! He decided to visit the tree in the Bronx. There it was, growing, full of life. His heart filled with love for the tree as he noticed the scars of that horrible event— a clear delineation of the before and the after was visible. Soon after, his mission was to give the tree a proper homecoming.

The tree was almost lost again in a bad Nor'easter storm, where it was uprooted and rehabbed once again by Bartlett Tree Experts. Finally, the Survivor Tree was moved back home to the Memorial Plaza in 2010.

As Ronaldo says,

"This tree is a fighter. It’s a New Yorker."

Now, millions of visitors pilgrimage to the 9/11 Memorial Plaza & Museum. The vastness of the Memorial Pools symbolizes the lives lost and the pain the nation felt when the two towering buildings collapsed that sad September morning.

On the grounds nearby, visitors can meet the tree that survived. One can’t help but imagine what the tree witnessed that day when bright blue skies were suddenly enveloped in clouds of toxic dust. The Survivor Tree is a solemn reminder of what once was and of hope & resilience.

Growing Hope

In 2013, Bartlett Tree Experts, the John Brown HS, and the local community came together to launch the Survivor Seedling Program.

Each year, the program sends seedlings from the Survivor Tree to communities that have endured recent tragedies.

Learn more about the Survivor Seedling Program here.

For other resources and learning materials about the Survivor Tree, view these resources used to help write this blog post.

Resources →

9/11 Memorial & Museum

NYC Parks | The Daily Plant

The New York Times Archives | A 9/11 Survivor Blossoms in the Bronx

Tree Hugger | Meet the Beautiful, Remarkable Tree that Survived 9/11

NY Daily News | Scorched ‘Survivor Tree’ Rescued from Ground Zero After Attacks to Get New Home at 9/11 Museum

Barry Bradford | 9/11 Survivor Tree Silent Witness to History

Science Direct | Green Resilience

Wikimedia Public Domain | WTC Sphere at Plaza Fountain

Wikimedia Public Domain | WTC View from Plaza

Wikipedia | World Trade Center (1973 - 2001)

Badass Trees for Urban Areas

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 14:56:00 -0500

So, what exactly makes up a *badass* tree? For urban areas, it’s gotta be tough 👊.

The trees on this list will kick butt in all of the following departments of badassery →

There’s no “Jump to the Recipe” button here. We’re gonna get right to it.

Shade Trees:

These trees throw some serious shade. Bred to help you beat the heat and lower energy costs. These shade trees provide all of that and more. Fall color, anyone? From adaptability and disease resistance to heat & drought tolerance, these trees are worthy of a standing ovation.

State Street™ Maple

Autumn Gold Ginkgo

Jefferson American Elm

Crimson Sunset® Maple

Emerald Avenue® Hornbeam

EXCLAMATION!® London Planetree

Swamp White Oak

American Dream® Oak

Emerald City® Tulip Tree

Afterburner® Black Tupelo

Espresso™ Kentucky Coffee Tree

Autumn Treasure® Hophornbeam

Columnar Trees:

These babies are underrated in our book. They fit like the final puzzle piece in those oh-so-small urban yards. They can be planted as an accent, to add shade, or for privacy and screening.

Scarlet Letter™ Oak

Kindred Spirit® Oak

Crimson Spire™ Oak

Streetspire® Oak

Armstrong Gold® Red Maple

Shawnee Brave™ Bald Cypress

Urban Pinnacle® Oak

Princeton Sentry® Ginkgo

Pyramidal European Hornbeam

Ornamental & Flowering Trees:

Go on, be *EXTRA*. Plant an ornamental tree. Many ornamental & flowering trees provide interest throughout all seasons and are a wise choice for under utilities. Overall, Ornamental & Flowering Trees can easily be mixed into your plantings. From spring flowers to beautiful branching, these trees make the cut in our book.

Snowdance™ Japanese Tree Lilac

Ruby Slippers Amur Maple

Raspberry Spear® Crabapple

Eastern Redbud

Little Twist® Cherry

Pink Flair® Cherry

Amur Maackia

Golden Raindrops® Crabapple

Spring Snow Crabapple

Evergreen Trees:

From beautiful year-round color and privacy to superb drought & salt tolerance— these evergreen trees are some of the toughest around and will get the job done.

Vanderwolf’s Pyramid Pine

Juniper Trees

The trees we plant are all well-acclimated to various soil and site conditions in the Chicagoland area.

Find the tree that’s right for you and your yard today! Feel free to contact us for further guidance on selection and placement.

Is there a tree not on our list that we missed? Please drop us a line and let us know what you think!

America's Spookiest Trees

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 20:27:00 -0500

America's history isn't all stars and stripes. Some of it can be a bit... spooky. Old trees have taken witness to historical events, but not all have been recorded in our history books.

Lore has it that some of these old trees have spirits protecting them, or will haunt those that dare to go near them.

1.) The Devil’s Tree

An old oak with gangly, lumpy limbs resides in New Jersey. Some say it used to be the NJ headquarters for the KKK, and has a dark history during the times of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement. Legend has it that the tree is cursed and is the gateway to H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS. It's said that the soil beneath it stays snow-frree even during the winter months. The tree may curse those who go near it.

2.) The Hanging Tree of Calabasas

This tree has bore witness to times of war, and times of peace but it’s mostly remembered for the darker of times when execution by hanging was acceptable whether by law or vigilantes.

3.) Fairchild Oak of Florida

This ancient live oak, all knotted, tangly and large, stood for over 400 years near old plantation grounds. In recent years, visitors to the tree have noted sightings, and apparitions.

4.) Angel Oak Tree

Ancient oaks have a mystical presence. The Angel Oak of South Carolina could be the most mysterious oak tree of them all. Exactly as it is— an old tree, large, with its branches shading over 17,000 square feet, the oak tree all on its own is remarkable and worth visiting. Stir in a bit of spooky history and it’s now a Halloween Bucket List must-see item. This tree was witness to the dark times of slavery in the US. Visitors report the tree has an “aura of protection” surrounding it. Some say, the presence is demonic and evil.

5.) The Cora Tree

Oh to have been a free-thinking female in the early 1700’s. The Cora Tree is a landmark for the burning at the stake of a young woman and her infant child.

A single mother, who sought refuge in the Outer Banks for a chance at a new life with her baby was deemed a witch. When the tree was torched, it is said that lightning struck the tree, and she and the baby were nowhere to be found. Leaving only the word, Cora carved into the bark of the tree.

6.) The Witching Tree of RI

This last one is harder to find information on, though, that isn’t unheard of when it comes to superstitious topics. Some thrill seeking raconteurs have pinpointed the tree’s location. While others say it can’t be confirmed.

The tree is said to be the cause for automobile accidents when driving by it at night. The accidents have repeatedly scarred the tree giving it the legend of being a haunted tree.

Disclaimer → None of us at iTrees.com have ever seen these spooky trees in person. We can't testify to their spooktacularness. Plan your trip at your own discretion. We are not responsible for any hauntings, sorcery or eerie vibes.

Resources:

1.) Wikipedia | The Devil's Tree

2.) PBS | Witness to a Hanging: California's Haunted Trees

The Acorn | Calabasas Tree Hangs it Up

3.) Daytona Beach | Myth of Fact? Hear the Story of the Haunted Fairchild Oak

4.) Fox News | Haunted History: Angels Surrounding the Oldest Oak

5.) Island Free Press | The Cora Tree: Halloween-worthy Local Legend

6.) New England Legends | The Witch Tree

The Paranormal Guide | The Witch Tree

5 Inspiring Tree Stories from 2024

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:04:00 -0600

From our reforestation partner, One Tree Planted, here are 5 inspiring tree stories from 2024 →

1.) United States National Parks received a $100 MIL Donation to Help with Park Restoration

This is the largest one-time donation in United States history benefiting US National parks. It was endowed through the Lilly Endowment Inc. foundation. The funds will be distributed as grants and released on a schedule.

The gift will help restore ecosystems and wildlife species and will also create opportunities to welcome more visitors to the parks.

2.) Colombian Deforestation Drops To Its Lowest Level

In a remarkable turn of events, the Colombian government’s conservation and restoration efforts have proven effective. In 2023, deforestation dropped 36%, with the biggest impact in the Amazon rainforest. It's the lowest it’s been in 23 years. This is BIG news. This, friends, is good news.

3.) Formerly Extinct Tree Has Been Found In Tanzania

Extinct? Who’s extinct? No, we're not talking about Jurassic Park, we're talking about Millettia sacleuxii! A tree so elusive, there’s no English word for it! This cool tree was thought to be long extinct until two, yes, two individual trees were discovered growing near one another by Andrea Bianchi. The two trees were found growing in the Nguru Mountains of Tanzania.

Since then, the tree’s seeds have been collected and germinated to ensure the future success of the species.

4.) A New Oak Tree Could Save Sumatra’s Orangutans

Oaks are an important tree species here in Illinois. Did you know that a single mature native oak hosts over 500 species of insects and wildlife? It's TOTALLY TRUE! Many species of wildlife rely on that single oak tree for survival. With Illinois oaks declining rapidly, you can see how important certain species of trees can be for sustaining an ecosystem. From food to shelter, that one tree plays a vital role, BUT did you know oaks are just as important in other areas of the world as well?

Take the Indonesian island of Sumatra, for example. In the Batang Toru forest, a new species of Stone Oak tree could save an entire species of rare endangered orangutans, the Tapanuli Orangutan. The oak tree's acorns are an important source of nutrition for the orangutans. The tree itself is already at risk of endangerment due to deforestation. This area of the tropical forest is now under protection through efforts from local conservation committees.

5.) A Victory for Bees & Colorado’s Fragile Ecosystem

A new bill has declared bees “animals too.” This win means wildlife conservation efforts in Colorado can now include bees. Bees pollinate around 90% of the earth's plant life. They are essential in sustaining entire ecosystems. With over 900 species of bees in Colorado alone, many bee species in Colorado are at risk of becoming endangered. Wildlife grant funds can now be used to protect these species. This is a big win for conservation efforts across the board.

#BeInspired by these uplifting tree stories from 2024!

iTrees.com Proudly Sponsors Local 23P Racer— Peyton Oswald

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 08:59:00 -0500

23P Racing — Peyton Oswald — Sponsored by iTrees.com

In 2024, Peyton Oswald zoomed into a courageous 2nd place finish for the season, crossing the finish line in style with his BP Wing Kart!

Sponsoring Peyton this last season has been an absolute blast! He rocked it, and we couldn’t be more proud of his stellar achievements!

Check out these snapshots from Peyton’s epic final season 🏁 🏎️!

We can't wait to see what wild adventures Peyton tackles next! Next up, he’s revving up for Street Stock car racing!

P.S. That iTrees.com sticker on his kart? The total cherry on top!

Our Top 5 Favorite Flowering Trees To Plant This Spring

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 11:29:00 -0500

🌸 April showers bring May flowers, and what better way to celebrate spring than by planting a blooming beauty in your yard? 🌸

With many *green* events during April & May, we cannot help but relish all that these months bring! From Earth Month to Earth Week, Earth Day 🌎, Arbor 🌳 Day, and the grand finale, Mother’s 🤱 Day! There is SO much to CELEBRATE 🎉!

Whether you want to be more green and make the earth more beautiful, or shower that special mother with love, flowering trees are the way to go when planting a tree to honor these special occasions.

Why Choose Flowering Trees?

No matter the occasion, chances are, there is an area in your yard that could use a pop of color. Flowering trees will surely upscale your landscape bringing in rich colors, inviting textures, and the privacy you've always desired. Branching structures that can sometimes seem almost architectural look interesting, all while helping to screen areas where extra privacy is needed. Flowering trees often don’t stop providing benefits in the spring, either. Oftentimes, their benefits extend well into each season. Whether it is producing edible fruit, providing shade during those hot summer months, or painting the landscape with remarkable fall color, you can count flowering trees as your go-to choice for just about any need.

🌸 Seasonal Beauty

Enjoy a stunning display of flowers each spring, followed by lush green leaves and fall foliage.

🐝 Pollinator Friendly

Attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to support a healthy ecosystem.

🏡 Curb Appeal & Property Value

Flowering trees add charm and value to homes, making them a wise investment.

🌳 Shade & Comfort

Some varieties provide cooling shade in summer while staying compact enough for smaller yards.

This year, ditch those cut flowers and choose something that brings joy year after year!

So, here they are! In no particular order because they are all numero uno in our book…

Our Top 5 Flowering Trees To Plant This Spring→

1 🌸 Eastern Redbud

Best Features:

What can we say? This tree is the true definition of a knockout! Hands down, the best feature of this tree is its stunning pinkish-purple flowers that appear early in spring, though its beauty persists throughout all seasons. In summer, its round canopy full of heart-shaped leaves will provide ample shade. In fall, it will shine in all its autumn glory when its leaves transform into a warm, buttery yellow hue. During the winter months, this tree’s dense branching provides screening. As the tree matures, its bark will begin to peel away, revealing a reddish-orange undertone adding texture and color even during the winter months.

Where to Plant It:

Select this tree for just about any area of the yard. It is suitable for tight, more restricted spaces, as a screening along property lines, or as a stand-out accent in the landscape. Plant it near patios for shade and beauty, around fence perimeters for screening, or front and center in your landscape— showing off to all your neighbors.

2🌼Pagoda Dogwood

Best Features:

Pagoda Dogwood is the epitome of ornamental appeal. This tree’s wide-spreading branches offer an Asian flair, though it’s 100% native to the Chicagoland area. Its round canopy is covered in dark green leaves before small clusters of creamy-white flowers appear in late spring. These fragrant flowers are indeed pollinator-friendly, welcoming bees and butterflies alike. In autumn, its leaves turn a vibrant, deep red hue. Tiered branching offers winter interest and a perfect landing spot for birds who love to visit this tree and consume its blueish-black fruit.

Where to Plant It:

Pagoda Dogwood is the perfect companion tree for layering in with large evergreens and tall, towering shade trees. It adds a unique horizontal design element to landscapes, drawing the eye in. Plant it in landscape beds around the house in odd-numbered groupings for screening along property lines for a naturalized feel or as a stand-alone accent in the yard. Also, consider planting it near patios and decks. This will not only add a bit of shade but also screening & privacy. This tree will be sure to be a conversation piece during backyard gatherings.

3 🍎 Crabapple

Best Features:

Ahhh! Glorious, frothy flowering crabapple! The blooms on these beauties are hard to beat! Crabapple trees are some of the showiest flowering trees available. Their flowers not only look beautiful, but they smell fantastic, too! Crabapples are available in various shapes, colors, colors, and sizes, from compact to upright or round. From red ornamental fruit to yellow and even fruitless varieties, we have them all! Find the crabapple that’s right for you, and you’ll reap the benefits of their gorgeous spring flowers & ornamental fruit year after year!

Where to Plant It:

Most crabapples work just about anywhere in the landscape. Some are better suited for small gardens or landscape beds, while others are the perfect eye-catching parkway or front yard tree. Either way, these trees are valuable as an accent in the landscape or can be the centerpiece of your yard. Plant them near patios and decks or along fence lines for added privacy and screening.

4🌺 Magnolia

Best Features:

Once the dark spell of winter breaks, eyes will quickly turn toward Magnolia! These early spring bloomers are awe-inspiring with their HUGE flowers that burst open just as soon as its the right amount of sunny & warm outside. Their flower buds are held tightly in large, fuzzy capsules. When the warm spring days arrive, they open up, topping branches and presenting onlookers with colors ranging from yellow and bold pink to crisp & classic white. These large, fragrant flowers will stop your neighbors and any passerby in their tracks. Magnolia is capable of providing screening, while their dark green, shiny leaves provide rich shade. Some Magnolia will grow large enough to become the perfect kid-friendly climbing tree.

Where to Plant It:

Magnolia is available in various colors and sizes. Making them multifunctional in the landscape. These ancient and beautiful trees add SO much value to the landscape. Attracting butterflies and birds, all while upping property value. Plant these lovely trees just about anywhere around the home. For a pop of color, consider planting them front and center in your front yard or as a conversation piece near your back patio. Not only will you be adding beauty, but you’ll have additional shade and screening that you will enjoy throughout all seasons.

5🍇 Serviceberry

Best Features:

Serviceberry is undoubtedly one of our favorite flowering trees! It's a customer favorite, too! This breathtaking accent tree shines throughout all three seasons. Watch as it livens up landscapes in spring with its small, five-petal white flowers that top branches. This tree will delight in summer when its edible fruit begins to ripen. These blueberry-like fruits are a treat for humans and wildlife alike. Come autumn, it will light up your landscape in hues ranging from vibrant yellow-orange to a deep crimson red. Serviceberry stands out among flowering trees, and its remarkable three-season attributes are unparalleled.

Where to Plant It:

Serviceberry is grown in the single trunk and multi-stem clump form, allowing homeowners flexibility in their plantings. In the multi-stem clump form, its branches provide screening and shade for patios, decks, and other areas around the home. The single trunk form is suitable for planting in tight spaces and works well on the parkway. We highly recommend this tree for homeowners seeking to add elegance, beauty, and privacy to their landscape.

Other Top Picks →

Then, there are some trees we can't help but want to sneak into this lineup. Let's be real, it's pretty much ALL flowering trees, isn't it?

💐 Sweet-smelling Japanese Tree Lilac

🌻 Cheerful Catalpa

🌳 Majestic Linden

💜 Striking Purple Robe Black Locust

🍒 Beautiful Canada Red Chokecherry

🌿 Lovely Limelight Hydrangea, Hawthorn, Horse Chestnut, and more!

Whether you’re dreaming of vibrant pink blooms or the frothy white flowers that blanket branches in early spring, we’ve got just what you need! Our dedicated team will deliver and expertly plant a flowering tree in your yard, giving you peace of mind with our full replacement warranty.

🌟 All of our trees are locally grown and of the highest quality, perfectly suited for the Chicagoland area.

Check out our online selection, give us a call to set up a tagging appointment, and we invite you to handpick the tree that will bloom beautifully in your yard this spring. Let’s create lasting memories together!

Arbor Day! What is it and why do we celebrate it?

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 13:40:00 -0500

🌳 Arbor Day Excitement! Have you heard about this TREEmendous holiday? Whether you're a seasoned tree enthusiast or new to the concept, we’re thrilled to share the joy of Arbor Day with you. It's a special day dedicated to planting trees, and what could be more rewarding than nurturing a tree for future generations to enjoy? 🌱 Each year, we eagerly count down the days until Arbor Day arrives.

So, what's the story behind Arbor Day? 🌲 Its roots reach back to the era of Westward Expansion when settlers journeyed west and encountered vast, treeless plains. They missed the lush greenery they left behind, with trees offering beauty, shade, and a bounty of edible delights. 🌳 Trees were essential for building materials, providing protection from the scorching sun, and fierce winds, and preventing soil erosion. Imagine the stark landscape of the time!

Enter the visionary, J. Sterling Morton, an optimistic pioneer who saw the potential in Nebraska's open spaces. As the secretary of the Nebraska Territory, he proposed a new state holiday to encourage settlers to plant trees. His vision was simple yet profound: transform the Great Plains into a more welcoming and vibrant place with the help of trees. And thus, in 1872, the first-ever Arbor Day was celebrated, with an astonishing 1 million trees planted in Nebraska alone! 🎉 By 1885, it became an official state holiday.

News quickly spread of what was happening in Nebraska. Soon many states picked up the holiday, inspiring schools nationwide to educate students on the importance of trees and the joy of planting them.

The inaugural Arbor Day was a resounding success, sparking a beloved tradition across the U.S. and a global movement that is still celebrated annually. Arbor Day continues to be a staple in school curriculums, with students eagerly participating in tree plantings each year. Many organizations, businesses, universities, and families join in the fun, celebrating this green holiday in various ways.

Trees are nature's gift, offering countless benefits: they nourish wildlife, support communities, produce oxygen, help reduce flooding, and beautify the world. 💚

There's truly nothing like Arbor Day, a celebration of hope, greenness, and a more beautiful tomorrow.

“To preserve beauty on the earth, beauty herself beseeches us to plant trees and renew dead landscapes with the shadow and light of plant life flitting through the pendant limbs, the willowy boughs, and the waving foliage of sturdy yet graceful woods. Our ancestors planted orchards to provide fruit for us and homes to give us shelter.” — J. Sterling Morton🌍🌳💚

Quick Facts About Arbor Day:

• Arbor Day is a special celebration dedicated to planting and nurturing trees. The holiday traces its origins back to the 19th century, particularly to the efforts of J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska. Morton, a strong advocate for tree planting, proposed the idea to encourage settlers to plant trees to improve the environment and make the plains more habitable.

• The first Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska on April 10, 1872, and it was reported that approximately one million trees were planted on that day. By 1885, Arbor Day became an official state holiday in Nebraska, celebrated on Morton's birthday, April 22. The tradition quickly spread, and today, Arbor Day is recognized in all 50 states, with each state selecting a date that aligns with its best tree planting season.

• Arbor Day has inspired a global movement, with many countries observing similar celebrations. The Arbor Day Foundation, established in 1972, continues to promote the importance of trees and tree planting worldwide. Trees offer numerous benefits, including providing oxygen, supporting wildlife, preventing soil erosion, and enhancing the beauty of landscapes.

• Arbor Day remains a cherished tradition that encourages individuals and communities to contribute to a healthier and more sustainable environment.

#PlantMoreTrees

Resource: The Arbor Day Foundation

Underrated & Underplanted Native Trees

Brittany Johnson — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 11:49:00 -0500

Oh, have we got a hot topic for you— Native Trees! Natives are often discussed in the green industry; however, they are a rare topic among customers looking to plant a tree in their yard. So, homeowners, this post is for YOU!

First and foremost, what is a native tree?

Definition of Native Trees → Native trees occur naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat. They have evolved over thousands of years to be part of the local environment. In Illinois, native trees support local wildlife and contribute positively to the ecosystem.

Simply put, native means it’s from here, and it’s supposed to be here. Native trees are found naturally in Illinois and support local ecology in small and BIG ways. When planted, they help boost wildlife ecology and do some pretty important things for the environment. They provide shelter for wildlife, supply food for animals and humans alike, and are crucial for attracting pollinators such as birds, bees, and butterflies.

Native trees hold great value not only for your home landscape but to your local neighborhoods and communities.

In our humble opinion, native trees are often underused in residential areas. However, when focusing only on new exciting cultivars and hybrids (which certainly have their place), we are doing a great disservice to the native species available. At the very least, they are worthy of consideration for your landscaping project.

Here are Our Top Illinois Native Trees for Your Home →

Native Ornamental & Flowering Options

Planting a native ornamental tree in the landscape offers numerous benefits that enhance both the aesthetic and ecological value of your garden.

Native ornamental & flowering trees are well-adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, which means they require less maintenance and are more resilient to pests and diseases. This adaptability leads to healthier growth and reduces the need for chemical treatments, making them an environmentally friendly choice.

Incorporating these trees into your landscape can help anchor landscape beds by providing a focal point that draws the eye and creates a sense of balance and structure. When used as understory trees, they complement larger shade trees by filling out the canopy layers, promoting biodiversity, and offering habitats for local wildlife.

Additionally, native ornamental trees can serve as stunning stand-alone accents, with their unique shapes and vibrant flowers adding visual interest and seasonal color to any garden. Their blooming periods often coincide with local pollinator activity, supporting bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects that contribute to the health of the ecosystem.

Eastern Redbud

This tree, native to parts of the eastern United States, including Illinois, is celebrated for its stunning pink flowers that bloom in early spring. Its ornamental appeal makes it a popular choice for landscape use. In gardens and parks, it serves as a striking focal point with its vibrant blossoms that provide a burst of color after the long winter months. Its moderate size makes it suitable for urban environments, where it can be planted along streets or in smaller yards without overwhelming the space. Additionally, the tree's attractive foliage and graceful branching structure add visual interest throughout the year, making it a versatile addition to any landscape design. Its flowers also attract pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, enhancing the ecological value of the area. Overall, this tree is a favored choice for creating picturesque landscapes that blend beauty and function.

River Birch

River Birch, with its natural habitat along riverbanks, is a versatile tree widely used in landscape design, especially in the eastern U.S., including Illinois. Its distinctive, peeling bark provides year-round visual interest, making it a popular choice for ornamental purposes. The tree's adaptability to various soil types and conditions, including wet and poorly drained areas, allows it to thrive in diverse landscapes. This makes River Birch an ideal candidate for planting in areas prone to erosion or waterlogging, where it helps stabilize the soil and manage stormwater. Additionally, its lush foliage offers shade and creates a natural habitat for wildlife, enhancing biodiversity in landscape settings. Whether used as a standalone specimen, in group plantings, or as part of a larger landscape composition, River Birch brings both aesthetic value and practical benefits to any outdoor space.

American Yellowwood

Native to the southeastern United States, American Yellowwood is highly valued in landscaping for its fragrant, white flowers that fill the air with a delightful aroma, creating a welcoming and serene atmosphere. Additionally, the tree's blossoms attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, supporting local ecosystems and promoting biodiversity. Its lush, green foliage provides an attractive backdrop throughout the growing season, enhancing the visual appeal of any garden or public space. Furthermore, the tree is relatively low-maintenance, making it an excellent choice for both amateur gardeners and professional landscapers. It has also been found growing in Illinois, where it not only adds beauty and charm to gardens and public spaces but also contributes to environmental sustainability by improving air quality and providing shade, which can help reduce urban heat. The tree's adaptability to various soil types and climates makes it a versatile option for a wide range of landscaping projects.

Pagoda Dogwood

Native to the northern U.S., including Illinois, this tree not only features horizontal branching and attractive flowers but also offers numerous landscape benefits. Its horizontal branches provide a unique architectural element, adding visual interest and structure to gardens and parks. The tree's attractive flowers bloom in clusters, creating a stunning display that attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies, contributing to local biodiversity. Additionally, its foliage offers a lush, green canopy in the spring and summer, and often transforms into vibrant shades of red or yellow in the fall, enhancing seasonal beauty. Its adaptability to various soil types and resistance to harsh weather conditions make it a resilient choice for enhancing both residential and public landscapes.

Washington Hawthorn

Native to the eastern U.S., including parts of Illinois, boasts a striking landscape presence with its clusters of delicate white flowers that bloom in the spring. These blossoms create a soft, ethereal canopy that brightens any garden or park setting. As the seasons transition to fall, the tree becomes even more captivating, sporting vibrant red berries that contrast beautifully with its lush transitioning foliage. This not only enhances the visual appeal but also provides a lively habitat for birds, making it a dynamic focal point in the landscape. Its ability to thrive in various soil types and its moderate size make it a versatile addition to any outdoor space, offering year-round interest and ecological benefits.

American Hornbeam

Found in the eastern United States, including Illinois, this small but mighty tree is often used for ornamental purposes and is loved for its flaming hot fall color. Beyond its vibrant appearance, it offers several landscape benefits. Its compact size makes it ideal for smaller gardens or urban settings where space is limited. The tree provides excellent shade during the hotter months, creating a cool, inviting environment. It also contributes to soil stability and erosion control with its root system. Additionally, the tree attracts a variety of wildlife, supporting local biodiversity. Its resilience to different soil types and adaptability to various conditions make it a low-maintenance choice for landscapers and gardeners alike.

Native Shade Trees

Native shade trees offer a multitude of benefits when incorporated into residential landscapes. These magnificent giants are not just visually appealing; they play a crucial role in supporting local ecosystems by providing habitats for various forms of wildlife, from birds to insects. Their presence enhances the natural beauty of a barren landscape, transforming it into a lush, inviting environment. Moreover, they contribute to the privacy of homes, particularly for second-story residences, by creating a natural barrier with their broad canopies.

Native shade trees offer more than aesthetic and ecological benefits. Their sturdy branches provide a natural playground for children, encouraging outdoor play and exploration. Additionally, native shade trees serve as living storytellers, witnessing and becoming part of the memories created in the spaces they adorn.

From a practical perspective, these trees are an investment in energy efficiency. Strategically planting them on the east, west, or northwest sides of a home can lead to significant reductions in heating and cooling costs. By providing shade during the hottest parts of the day, they reduce the need for air conditioning, ultimately leading to substantial savings on energy bills.

It's important to note that most native shade trees will grow to be quite large, so adequate space is essential for their full development. By allowing them the room to expand, homeowners can ensure that these trees reach their full potential, offering shade and beauty for generations to come.

Northern Catalpa

Native to the central U.S., including Illinois, Northern Catalpa is celebrated for its striking HUGE heart-shaped leaves and late spring flowers. Its large leaves create a lush, tropical feel, making it an ideal choice for adding texture and depth to landscapes. The showy panicles of orchid-like flowers add a dramatic flair, serving as a captivating focal point in any outdoor space. These flowers not only attract attention with their beauty but also serve as a magnet for pollinators, enhancing the biodiversity of the garden. Whether used as a standalone accent or as part of a mixed border, this tree thrives in a variety of settings, from residential landscapes to public parks, offering both visual appeal and ecological benefits.

Native Hackberry

Native Hackberry is indeed native to Illinois. This native beauty significantly enhances residential landscapes with its tough-as-nails adaptability and ecological benefits. Its resilience makes it an ideal choice for homeowners seeking a low-maintenance addition to their garden, capable of thriving in diverse soil conditions and weather extremes. Its ability to support a variety of wildlife species contributes to a thriving ecosystem right in your backyard. Birds, insects, and small mammals are often attracted to this tree, fostering biodiversity and creating an engaging, dynamic environment. Its presence not only adds aesthetic appeal with its natural beauty and seasonal changes but also ensures a healthier, more balanced habitat that enriches the overall quality of the residential landscape.

Kentucky Coffee Tree

Native to the Midwest, including Illinois. Kentucky Coffee Tree’s tropical appearance is characterized by lush foliage and rough bark, adding an element of intrigue to residential landscapes or parks. The dappled shade it provides creates a serene and inviting environment, perfect for relaxation and enjoyment of outdoor spaces. Its large stature not only makes it a striking focal point in the landscape but also offers practical benefits, such as acting as a natural canopy that can shelter smaller plants and wildlife. This combination of aesthetic and functional qualities makes it a cherished addition to the Midwestern landscape.

American Hophornbeam

Native to the eastern United States, which includes Illinois. It is valued for its hardwood, often used for tool handles and fence posts, and it is known for its adaptability to various soil types. In residential landscaping, the American Hophornbeam is appreciated for its ornamental appeal, featuring delicate, birch-like leaves and a graceful, rounded canopy. Its modest size makes it an excellent choice for urban gardens and parks, providing shade and enhancing biodiversity. The tree’s resilience to drought and resistance to pests and diseases also make it a low-maintenance option, ideal for naturalizing areas and adding structure to mixed plantings.

Quaking Aspen

Though more common in northern regions, Quaking Aspen can be found in parts of Illinois. It’s known for its trembling leaves and chalky white bark. This tree is a true standout in any landscape, adding a touch of elegance and uniqueness. Its bark, with its striking white hue, creates a dramatic contrast against the surrounding greenery, making it a focal point in gardens and parks. In the fall, its yellow-gold foliage transforms the tree into a breathtaking spectacle, as its vibrant colors light up the landscape. The fluttering leaves create a dynamic and lively visual effect, providing movement and texture that enhance the overall aesthetic of any outdoor space. This tree’s ability to adapt to different environments and its stunning seasonal transformations make it a valuable addition to any landscape design.

Shingle Oak

Shingle Oak, native to the eastern U.S., including parts of Illinois, offers several benefits for residential landscapes. Its unique oblong, smooth-edged leaves add distinct visual interest, while its adaptability makes it suitable for various soil types and conditions. This versatility allows it to be effectively used in diverse settings, from spacious backyards to parks and naturalized areas. In the fall, the leaves undergo a stunning transformation, displaying vibrant shades from rusty orange to deep crimson red. This seasonal display can create a striking focal point or beautifully complement other autumnal plants, enhancing the overall aesthetic of the landscape.

Bald Cypress

While often associated with southern swamps, this tree finds a welcoming habitat in the wet areas of Illinois, making it a unique and valuable addition to residential landscapes. Its striking bark and feathery foliage not only provide a distinctive aesthetic but also serve practical purposes. The tree's ability to thrive in damp soil conditions makes it an ideal option for areas prone to flooding or poor drainage, where other plants might struggle. Its towering presence and graceful branches can create a natural focal point in gardens, enhancing the overall architectural design of the space. Bald Cypress offers a tranquil, serene environment that can attract birds and other wildlife, adding life and movement to the landscape. As a versatile component of landscape design, it can be used as a standalone specimen or as part of a mixed border, complementing other plants with its unique texture and color. Whether lining a water feature or standing majestically in an open yard, this tree contributes significantly to the beauty and functionality of residential landscapes.

White Oak

White Oak, the state tree of Illinois, is highly valued not only for its strength and longevity but also for its notable landscape contributions. Its majestic presence and broad canopy provide ample shade, making it an ideal choice for large open spaces such as parks, estates, and campuses. In residential settings, it can serve as a stunning focal point in spacious backyards or along property boundaries, where its expansive shade can cool outdoor areas and reduce energy costs by shielding homes from the sun.

Its vibrant foliage introduces seasonal interest, transitioning from lush green in spring and summer to brilliant yellows and reds in the fall, making it a captivating addition to any landscape. This dynamic color display can complement other plantings, enhancing the overall aesthetic of landscapes and public spaces.

White Oak plays a critical role in enhancing biodiversity. It can be strategically placed in naturalized areas or along the edges of woodlands to provide habitat and food for various wildlife, including birds and small mammals. In urban landscapes, it can be planted along streets or in community parks to create green corridors that support local ecosystems.

White Oak's versatility and ecological benefits make it an essential component of both urban and natural landscapes, offering beauty, shade, and a haven for wildlife.

Swamp White Oak

Swamp White Oak is an excellent choice for residential landscapes, especially in areas where the soil tends to be poorly drained or where other trees might struggle to thrive. Its adaptability to wet conditions makes it particularly valuable in regions prone to flooding or those with heavy, clay-based soils. When strategically placed in a yard, it can provide significant shade due to its broad, spreading canopy, making it perfect for creating a cool, inviting outdoor space during hot summer months. Additionally, its attractive, peeling bark and rich, green foliage add visual interest throughout the year. In the fall, the leaves turn a stunning golden brown, providing a burst of color. It's also a beneficial habitat for wildlife, supporting various bird species and insects. When incorporating Swamp White Oak into a residential landscape, consider situating it in low-lying areas where water tends to gather, ensuring it has enough space to grow to its mature size without interfering with structures or other plants.

Bur Oak

Native to the Midwest, including Illinois, Bur Oak is a hardy tree renowned for its massive size and resilience. In residential landscapes, this tree offers numerous benefits. Its sprawling canopy provides ample shade, making outdoor spaces more comfortable during hot summer months. This can lead to reduced energy costs by naturally cooling nearby homes. Additionally, Bur Oak is highly adaptable to different soil types and environmental conditions, making it a reliable choice for a variety of landscape settings. Its deep root system helps to prevent soil erosion, contributing to the stability and health of the landscape. Bur Oak supports local wildlife, providing habitat and food for birds and small mammals, and enhancing the biodiversity of residential areas. The tree's majestic appearance also adds significant aesthetic value, creating a focal point in any landscape or yard.

Tulip Tree

Often referred to as Tulip Poplar, this tree is a remarkable addition to any landscape, celebrated for its large mature size and seasonal beauty. This tree is native to the eastern United States, including Illinois, and is renowned for its striking tulip-like flowers, which bloom in late spring. These flowers, typically a vibrant yellow-green with an orange band at the base, add a splash of color and a sense of whimsy to the landscape.

In terms of landscape value, the Tulip Tree is an excellent choice for creating a dramatic focal point due to its tall, straight trunk and broad, symmetrical canopy. Its large, uniquely shaped leaves turn a brilliant golden-yellow in the fall, providing a stunning display of seasonal color change.

Additionally, the tree's rapid growth rate and ability to reach impressive heights make it ideal for providing shade and enhancing the vertical dimension of landscapes or parks.

When considering where to plant a Tulip Tree in the landscape, it is important to choose a location with ample space for the tree to reach its full potential. It thrives best in well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil, and prefers full sun exposure to ensure optimal growth and flowering. Due to its size, it is commonly planted in large yards, parks, or as a street tree, where it has room to expand without interfering with structures or power lines. Planting it in a location where its shade can benefit outdoor living areas or where its flowers can be easily admired will maximize its landscape value.

Chinkapin Oak

Chinkapin Oak is highly regarded for its landscape value due to its adaptability to various soil conditions and its natural landscape appeal. This deciduous tree can thrive in well-drained soils and is tolerant of both alkaline and drought-prone environments, making it an excellent choice for many landscapes in the Midwest, including Illinois. Its attractive, glossy green leaves turn to a rich yellow to deep red in the fall with its color varying depending on weather season to season. This tree provides significant seasonal interest and color throughout spring, summer, and fall. Additionally, Chinkapin Oak produces small, sweet acorns that attract wildlife, such as birds and squirrels, adding to the ecological value of any garden or yard.

When considering placement around a home, the Chinkapin Oak is best situated in locations where it can receive full sunlight, as this promotes healthy growth and optimal acorn production. It is ideal for planting in large yards, as it can grow to a substantial size, reaching heights of 40 to 60 feet with a similar spread. Planting this tree as an accent in the front yard can create a striking focal point while placing it in the backyard can provide shade and a natural habitat for wildlife. It is also a good choice for lining driveways or property lines, where its symmetrical shape can enhance the landscape design. Be sure there is adequate space away from structures and power lines to accommodate its mature size.

Native Evergreen Trees

Planting a native evergreen tree in your home's landscape offers an array of benefits that extend beyond their mere beauty. These trees, adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, require less maintenance and are more resilient to pests and diseases, making them a sustainable choice for any Illinois landscape.

One of the primary advantages of native evergreens is their ability to serve as natural windbreaks. By strategically placing these trees, you can significantly reduce wind speed around your home, which can help lower heating costs in winter and protect more delicate plants in your landscape.

Native evergreens provide essential habitats for local wildlife. Their dense canopies offer a safe haven for birds and small mammals, contributing to biodiversity and creating a lively, dynamic ecosystem right in your backyard. This can be particularly beneficial for bird watchers and nature enthusiasts, as these trees will attract a variety of species throughout the year.

In addition to ecological benefits, native evergreens contribute to the aesthetics and functionality of your landscape. They maintain their foliage year-round, providing continuous privacy and screening for your home. Their ability to offer shade during the hot summer months can also make outdoor spaces more enjoyable and reduce cooling costs.

Lastly, the enduring beauty of native evergreens adds visual interest to your landscape, with their varied shapes, textures, and shades of green creating a stunning backdrop that enhances the overall appeal of your property.

Eastern White Pine

These native trees hold significant landscape value due to their majestic appearance and versatile functionality. Eastern White Pine are towering evergreens, reaching heights of 50 feet, creating a striking visual impact, making them ideal focal points in large yards or naturalistic landscapes. Their soft, flexible needles and layered branches contribute to a lush, textured backdrop that enhances the beauty of surrounding plantings.

When it comes to placement around a home, White Pine trees serve multiple purposes. For optimal benefits, consider planting them at the northern or western edges of your property. This strategic positioning not only maximizes their ability to act as windbreaks—shielding your home from harsh winter winds—but also provides shade during the hot summer months, potentially reducing cooling costs.

Additionally, White Pine can be used to create a natural privacy screen. Their dense canopy offers year-round seclusion from neighbors or busy streets, fostering a sense of tranquility in your outdoor living spaces. For those living near water, these trees are particularly valuable, as they offer habitat for wildlife, including American Bald Eagles, enhancing the ecological diversity of your landscape.

White Pine is not just a tree; it’s a multifaceted asset to your property, providing aesthetic appeal, environmental benefits, and practical solutions for privacy and weather protection.

Embrace Native Trees for Your Landscape

By incorporating a native tree into your landscape, you’ll not only add a touch of life back to the environment but also enhance the beauty of your home. This is a worthwhile investment that you can truly feel good about!

To recap... The Benefits of Native Trees →

Support Local Ecosystems: Native trees play a crucial role in providing habitat for wildlife.

Environmental Advantages: They offer benefits such as energy savings and improved air quality.

In addition, selecting native species aids in preserving local flora, ensuring the protection of the region's natural heritage and biodiversity. Planting native trees enhances your landscape with beauty, sustainability, and ecological balance. By opting for native species, you create a landscape that reflects the natural splendor of the area, fostering a deeper connection with your local environment.

How Trees Impact Local Businesses

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 15:52:00 -0500

While strolling your downtown shopping area, you may *or may not* notice the greenery around you. Some shopping areas are more charming than others. The secret to success is in the canopies above. No, not the awnings with the store names scrolled across them in the hottest font, but in the lush greenery that hovers above. Trees create more vibrant and healthy communities. Attracting more shoppers and bringing more to the bank for nearby bustling businesses.

Did you know that trees in business districts can improve the overall value in urban areas? Trees offer numerous benefits to business districts, contributing to both the aesthetic and functional aspects of urban environments.

Improved shopping experiences, reduced crime, and an increase in sales of local businesses equal a healthier and more harmonious shopping environment.

💡Fact →

Shoppers are willing to pay 11% more for goods in well-maintained, landscaped areas with trees. This little tidbit is not nothing— an 11% increase in sales during each shopping experience will add up significantly over time.

University of Washington, College of Forest Resources. Trees in Business Districts: Positive Effects on Consumer Behavior! Nov. 1998.

Why Tree Planting is Necessary for a Healthy Economy and Environment

"Trees are not just something that are nice to have."

"Trees are critical city infrastructure, from cooling the air and providing shade to improving air quality. Trees are essential to building a healthy economy and environment."

"Trees are these incredible workhorses for cities. They provide all of these different benefits."

Key advantages of trees in business districts →

1. Good for the Environment: Trees are natural air filters. Their leaves absorb carbon dioxide and other harmful pollutants, all while releasing oxygen. This improvement in air quality can make a business district more attractive to both customers and employees, promoting a much healthier & thriving shopping environment.

2. Good for Health: The presence of green trees has positive effects on physical and mental health. Trees provide shade and cool the air, creating a more comfortable environment for pedestrians, which can encourage people to spend more time in the area. Additionally, exposure to natural settings has been linked to reduced stress levels and improved mood. Good moods = even better shopping sprees!

3. Good for Curb Appeal: Well-maintained tree-lined streets can significantly boost the value of nearby properties. Businesses in attractive environments are often able to charge higher rents and enjoy increased foot traffic, as consumers are more drawn to visually appealing spaces.

4. Good for Reducing the Risks of Flooding: Trees are critical in stormwater management. Trees help to prevent flooding and erosion, protecting the infrastructure of business districts. Effective stormwater management, with the help of our green superheroes (trees), will reduce the burden on drainage systems, lowering maintenance costs for local governments.

5. Good for Aesthetics: A business district graced with healthy, well-maintained trees and landscaping creates a visually appealing environment. Healthy trees will attract more visitors and encourage longer stays, ultimately leading to increased sales for local businesses. Cha-ching!

6. Good for Community: Nice shady trees will serve as gathering spots for community events, markets, or social activities, fostering a sense of community, all while keeping people feeling cool and protected. Nourishing this kind of community engagement encourages retail customers to visit more frequently for various activities, as they'll be more comfortable.

7. Good for Sustainability: Trees help save energy and lower energy costs. Trees provide shade to nearby buildings, helping to reduce the need for blasting the AC during those sweltering summer months. Strategically placed trees will result in significant savings on energy bills. In addition, incorporating trees into business districts not only reflects positively on businesses but also attracts environmentally conscious consumers who prefer supporting eco-friendly establishments.

By recognizing and harnessing these benefits, business districts can cultivate vibrant, healthy, and economically prosperous shopping experiences that appeal to both businesses and consumers.

Issues with getting trees planted in cities and business districts:

• Oftentimes, local governments view trees as a nice-to-have addition rather than a critical investment.

• A local health department may want to include tree planting as part of its strategies for mitigating heat islands. Additionally, workers in frontline transportation and public works may recognize opportunities for tree planting. However, they might not have the authority to initiate the planting unless funding is first approved.

• Concerns regarding long-term maintenance, fall cleanup, and overgrown trees that need pruning.

What can you do to help?

Proper site inspection and planning, and selecting the right tree— we can help with this!

Disadvantaged communities can apply for Tree Equity Grant Opportunities.

Check out SGN Trees' Curate the Canopy Program.

Municipalities can apply for the Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA opportunity.

Partnerships are available with local nurseries, such as our CommuniTrees Partner Program.

Our main takeaway →

Where healthy, thriving trees are growing in business districts, everyone wins.

When the environment is healthy, the community is healthy. When the community is healthy, employees show up to work more consistently and spend more money. Shoppers with a view of trees are proven to spend more overall than in areas without trees.

It is a win-win-win! In short, a tree is a rock-solid investment that pays back exponentially over time.

Resources →

The Nature Conservancy: 6 Ways Trees Benefit All of Us

The Nature Conservancy: Health Benefits of Trees

The Nature Conservancy: How Cities Can Harness the Public Health Benefits of Urban Trees

University of Washington College of the Environment: Trees in Business Districts: Positive Effects on Consumer Behavior!

University of Washington College of the Environment: Trees in Business Districts: Comparing Values of Consumers and Business

Bloomberg Philanthropies: Why Tree Planting is Necessary for a Healthy Economy and Environment

Ordering a Tree Online: Your Guide to Delivery & Planting Options

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 14:16:00 -0500

So, how does ordering a tree from iTrees.com work 🤔💭?

In a nutshell, it's easy!

Choose your trees
Select your delivery, planting & warranty option
...Enjoy!

For a quick breakdown of these three simple steps, visit our 'How it Works' page.

In this post, we will provide a slightly more detailed look at the iTrees.com online ordering process. Diving deeper into tree selection and placement, choosing the delivery and planting option that's right for you, and understanding how ordering and scheduling work.

To recap, here's what we'll talk about ↓

• Availability & Pricing

• Tree Selection & Placement

• Delivery, Planting & Warranty Options (what you came here for)

• Ordering & Scheduling

Availability & Pricing

Our Tree Availability

To be transparent, we do not grow any trees; we plant them 🌳! The good news is that we have a reliable supplier. The trees we plant are all locally grown, high-quality trees. The majority of the trees we plant are grown by our family-partner nursery, located right down the road from us in Mazon, IL.

Our online availability depends on what the nursery can grow and dig each season. There is a small number of trees that the nursery does not grow, but that we have available online; those trees are sourced from another local, high-quality nursery.

Timing:

Our family partner nursery digs deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves in the fall) when they are in dormancy. The nursery will dig trees before they get their leaves in spring, and some trees can be dug again in the fall when they lose their leaves.

To explain this more, in spring, the nursery digs trees before they leaf out, and the trees are then placed in the nursery's holding yard. This is where the trees are kept safe & sound until they find their new home. The trees are held there and maintained on drip irrigation throughout the rest of spring, summer, and into the fall. This is also the same area where customers can come out and visit to tag their own tree! More on that later.

Some trees can be dug again in the fall after they begin to go dormant for winter and lose their leaves 🍂. So long as the tree was dug correctly and at the right time, we can plant trees anytime, spring, summer, or fall. Our family-partner nursery assures us of this with every tree we plant.

We plant trees beginning in early May after the nursery has wrapped up their spring digging, and continue to plant throughout the summer and well into fall. Usually, our crew finishes up planting for the year around the end of November, to the first week of December, weather permitting.

Online Shopping Tip → When browsing trees on our website, be sure to check the stock status.

Common stock statuses you might see:

The stock status indicates when a tree will be available for planting.

• In Stock - Planted Spring: You might see this in late winter or early spring. This stock status means you can order before your tree has been dug for the spring. Ordering early is beneficial so you can ensure the tree you want doesn't sell out before our planting season begins!

• In Stock - Planted 2-4 Weeks: This is our standard turnaround time during our planting season, which usually begins in early May. This means we are about 2-4 weeks out from the date you order.

• In Stock - Planted 3-6 Weeks: You might see something like this if we've had several rain delays, or our schedule is packed. Sometimes things get pushed back a bit, and we always work hard to get orders out as timely as possible.

• In Stock - Planted Fall: You might see this in late summer, early fall, when we are taking orders for fall planting. This stock status means you can order early, before your tree has been dug from the nursery's field. Fall orders typically get planted sometime between mid-October and November.

• Out of Stock - Sold Out: This means that we don't have any more of that tree in any size. If you see this but still want the tree, let us know. We can place you on a callback list. So as soon as the tree becomes available again, you'll be the first to know. First dibs are the BEST 😁!

Our Pricing

One of our founding principles is to provide our customers with quality trees at an unbeatable rate. We account for the quality of the trees we plant. We take into consideration the maintenance that is needed to grow and care for the trees so that we can comfortably plant them in your yards.

• All-inclusive Pricing: The pricing includes the cost of one tree, planted with a 1-year warranty. We will go into warranty options more below. Also, there are no hidden taxes or fees. What you see is what you will pay. If you're looking at a tree in a particular size, click/tap on the tree size, and you will see the total cost for that size tree.

• Get an Estimate: Before placing your order, please do not hesitate to reach out to us to go over the details once more. We are happy to get you a formal estimate. Estimates can be helpful if you're working with an HOA, a tree reimbursement program through your village, for insurance purposes after the loss of a tree, when you want another tree planted, or if you plan to order a large quantity of trees. Also, estimates can be useful if you simply need more time to mull things over; you can get an estimate so you have the pricing information right at your fingertips.

• Discounts & Deals: We do offer quantity discounts. If you order more than one tree, you'll see a savings applied automatically when you check out. For other deals, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on our social media. Those are the two places where we advertise any sales and dish out those Willy Wonka golden tickets 🎫, aka coupon codes. For bulk orders, we will work with you on pricing.

Selection & Placement

Start by visiting our Design Center →

• Design Tutorial

• How to Select Your Trees

• Plan Your Tree Layout

• Selecting the Right Area for Your Tree

Tree Selection

Selecting a tree can seem daunting. Let us make this clear: it does not have to be!

• Browse Our Website: Start by browsing our website to familiarize yourself with our tree selection. Start right here → Shop Trees

• Contact Us: Call or email us, we'd love to chat! This is a good first step in the process. We can discuss your needs and wants, and take it from there. Give us a shout right here → Contact Us

• Let Us Take a Look: By looking at the area where you want to plant, we can get you more customized recommendations. An easy way for us to do this is by looking at a picture of where you want to plant. By pairing that with looking at your property online using Google Maps/Street View, we can get a pretty good overall picture of your yard. In some cases, an in-person consultation may be needed.

• Tag Your Tree: This step is entirely optional. You do not need to tag your tree; however, some customers enjoy the tree tagging experience. Customers are welcome to visit us by appointment only. Contact us to set something up. If you want to see your tree before ordering but can't make the trip, do not worry. We can send you pictures via email. Otherwise, the nursery will personally select your tree for you. They guarantee to select a healthy, well-branched tree for your yard.

Tree Placement

This aspect ties into tree selection. Tree placement often dictates tree selection. Have a tight space? You may want to go with a tree that won't grow too big. Large open yard? You've got options, baby.

Sometimes, homeowners come to us knowing the general area for their tree and need help with the finer details of placement. Other times, homeowners start with a blank canvas and only know they need trees, but need assistance determining where to put them.

• Let Us Take a Look: Again, the best way for us to help with this is by chatting about it and taking a look at your yard.

• Hit Up Our Design Center: This is for those who like to be more hands-on with their landscaping. Here you'll find a design tutorial, guidance on planning your tree layout, and more. Check it out right here → Design Center

Delivery, Planting & Warranty Options

Okay, here it is, the meat of it all. What are your delivery & planting options anyway? Simply put, we deliver and we plant. Feeling smart? You can upgrade your warranty, too, if you'd like. Oh, and if you are an expert at planting, we can deliver the tree to you, and you can do the hard work instead of us!

Get to know more about the different options below.

Delivery

Delivery is free within our service area when you have us plant your trees. We repeat, DELIVERY IS FREE when you have us plant your trees.

We proudly deliver and plant trees across select counties in Northeastern Illinois and parts of Northwestern Indiana!

Is your county not on our list yet? No worries! We might still be able to plant for you. Depending on where you are, a minimum tree order or a small delivery 🚚 fee could apply.

Got questions or live just outside of our service area? Give us a shout 📞! We’d love to see if we can bring some trees your way!

View our service area map right here →

Planting & Warranty Options

We plant trees; it’s all we do. Our crew has the experience and equipment to properly plant large trees. The trees we plant are all large, ball & burlap (B&B) trees weighing upwards of 500 - 1000 lbs. The crew uses a skid steer to move the tree from off the truck to the planting site. Then, they'll use the skid steer to help plant the tree using their auger attachment. It kind of looks like a giant drill bit. You can see it in action right here.

When planting, our crew ensures your tree is planted correctly with no detail left unnoticed, all with a mulch finish and a tag containing our tree care instructions.

• Planting with a 1-Year Full Replacement Warranty: Our planting comes with a 1-Year Full Replacement Warranty. We usually know within the first year whether or not a tree is going to make it, especially if you communicate any concerns about your tree with us. We will work with you to remedy the situation or get it replaced if necessary.

• Additional Warranties: Some customers prefer a little buffer, which is why we offer the peace of mind of having a 2 or 3-year warranty at an additional cost.

• Delivery Only with 50% Standard Warranty: The Delivery Only option is not recommended, as the trees we plant are heavy and generally require special equipment and more than one person to install. However, if you are a tree planting pro all on your own, this could be the option for you! It can be a fun activity for the entire family. A little bit of hard work, and you'll have planted a tree yourself, and one you can enjoy for many years to come. Please keep in mind that this option may incur a delivery fee. Also, the Delivery Only option means we will deliver the tree next to the planting site. You will need to do the digging and planting yourself. This option comes with a 50% Standard Warranty, which is good for 1 year from the date of planting. If the tree needs to be replaced, we’ll cover 50% of the cost. We’ll also provide you with our recommended planting instructions. Delivery Only is not an option on our website when ordering online. To order Delivery Only, please call us at (815) 448-2138, and we can take your order by phone.

Ordering & Scheduling

Ordering

Once you've done the legwork, you can officially place your order!

• Accept Your Estimate: If we've been emailing and you've received an estimate from us, you can approve your estimate by emailing it back to us signed, or by simply sending us an email back stating that you approve it. Ensure the estimate has the correct details on it before approving it. You'll want to double-check that the billing and shipping address are correct, phone number too, and that your order looks good.

If you approve of the estimate, we can simply take all of that info and place the order for you. It's really that easy.

• Order Online: Simply order online from the comfort of home! Select the tree & size you want and head to the online checkout. When ordering online, you can select the option to pay upon ordering with a card, use Shop Pay, or you can choose the option to pay with cash or a check when we come to plant.

• Call to order: Call us at (815) 448-2138, and we can place your order by phone.

Other payment options are available. We also accept bank transfers, or you can mail a check.

Please note that the final payment is due upon delivery and planting. We will email your invoice to you after ordering, and we will automatically send it to you again around the time that we plant for you.

Scheduling

Ahhh anticipation! Everybody wants to know WHEN the tree will be planted 📆! As soon as you've placed your order, we'll hold your tree and place you on our scheduling list. Not to worry! We'll stay in communication along the way.

We'll be sure to coordinate planting with about 1 week's notice.

For more on what to expect before your tree gets planted, check out Tree Planting Day: What You Can Expect. In it, we go over everything you need to know about what to expect before we arrive to plant your tree.

Now that you know your options and how it all works, it's time to get started!

Be sure to check out our other tree planting blog posts linked below!

Happy Planting!

📍Chicagoland's Hottest 🍂 Fall Color Viewing 👀 Spots

Brittany Johnson — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 09:40:00 -0500

📍Chicagoland's Hottest 🍂 Fall Color Viewing 👀 Spots

Whether or not you are a tiny bit basic or a tree-loving enthusiast (maybe you are secretly both?), you cannot deny Illinois its annual autumnal beauty.

📸 Anderson Japanese Gardens

As soon as the summer drought hits the trees, we notice green leaves tipped with red, and our minds are tricked. Our mouths begin to water for a PSL (that's basic for Pumpkin Spice Latte). It is inescapable. We wait like dogs on a chain. Pawing and pulling to be released. In our minds, we are eyeing the nearest pile of leaves to jump in, accompanied by a cool breeze with a bright yellow sun smiling down upon our rosy cheeks. A lover of all things fall can only dream.

Before you know it, the stress on trees caused by the heat of summer and the lack of rain has passed, and any sign of premature fall color is no longer a worry. The real thing will soon be on its way.

Then, whoosh! September ushers in autumn with warmth and hopefully rain— a grand goodbye to summer. Suddenly, it's October. Finally, it is fall color time, baby. Time for leaf peeping, yard raking, and leaf-pile jumping fun!

In Illinois, it is typical for fall color to peak in the northern parts of the state between the first and second week of October. Whereas, in the more central & southern regions, you may spy fall color peaking closer to the end of October. Oftentimes, fall color lasts well into November.

Ultimately, fall color is all dependent on the weather from year to year. Things like the amount of sun during the day vs the cool temps at night, and moisture levels during that growing season, all affect fall color. Different combinations create varying levels of saturation of the colors we see each year.

There are numerous fun learning opportunities available in the Chicagoland area this fall. We've listed some fun fall resources at the end of this post.

Here it is! Your guide to the best spots for fall color leaf peeping 🍂 👀 ! →

Check out these popular spots for fall color viewing, along with some top-secret locations you may not have thought of yet🤫 !

• Glacial Park Conservation Area

• Lincoln Park Conservatory: After strolling the conservatory grounds, head to Chicagoland's very own FREE zoo! The zoo's Fall Fest will add to the season's fun.

• Jackson Park: Osaka Garden

• University of Chicago Campus

• Garfield Park Conservatory

• Lurie Garden at Millennium Park

• Chicago Botanic Garden

• Cantigny Park

• St. James Farm

• Greene Valley Forest Preserve

• Fabyan Forest Preserve

• The Morton Arboretum: View the arboretum's fall color report before heading out to get an idea of when and where to expect the best show.

• I&M Canal: From Lemont, Illinois, to Morris, Illinois, and beyond, there are quite a few quaint stops along the old I&M where you can peep glorious fall color, while pretending to be in a Hallmark movie.

• Swallow Cliff Woods

• Sagawau Environmental Learning Center

• Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center

• Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve

• Starved Rock State Park

• Matthiessen State Park

Up for more of a roady? Outside of Chicagoland, you can check out these other hot spots:

• Anderson Japanese Gardens

• Galena River Trail

• Shawnee National Forest & Gardens of the Gods

Looking for more to do?

Head to our very own Morris, IL!

📸 Nostalgic Downtown Morris, IL

For a more quaint fall color viewing experience, consider checking out nostalgic downtown Morris, IL. Built along the historic I & M Canal and the Illinois River, it boasts a Hallmark-esque atmosphere. Complete with nearby parks that are perfect for picnicking and enjoying the fall color sights.

Visit Stratton Park and Gebhard Woods for a more secluded small-town viewing experience. Feeling adventurous, you can hike the nearby trails, fish, and kayak. When you are done, be sure to grab a hot drink at a nearby cafe and stroll through beautiful downtown Morris. Want to make it a day of fall fun— after fall leaf viewing, head to nearby Dollinger Family Farm to pick a pumpkin, and your fall bucket list will be complete!

Has all of this left you wondering how fall color even occurs? It's un-be-leaf-able 🍂!

There is a simple scientific explanation, and it may just blow your mind. Check out this video to learn more!

Read more about how fall color happens:

• Spring Grove Nursery | Autumn's Magic

• Forest Preserve District of Will County | The Science Behind Fall Foliage

• IDNR | Illinois Fall Colors

• For Kids: PBS | Why Do Leaves Change Color?

Other Resources on Things to Do & Where to Find Fall Color →

• iTrees.com | Local Tree Events & Learning Opportunities

• Enjoy Illinois | Fall Color Trip Planner & Color Report

• DuPage Forest Preserve | Fall Color Finds

• Time Out Chicago | This map can tell you when fall foliage will peak in Chicago

• Village of Lemont | Where to Catch the Fall

• Explore Fall | Fall Foliage Map

• Morton Arboretum | Fall Color Report

The BEST Trees to Plant Under Utilities

Brittany Johnson — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:21:00 -0600

Do you have an area that could use a tree or two, but and it is a big BUT.... there are overhead wires looming above? Don't you dare let those daunting power lines halt your plan because we have UtiliTrees™!

UtiliTrees™ is a curated list of utility-friendly trees from J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.

We included several of these trees on our own list of the BEST Trees to Plant Under Utilities, along with some other trees that are more than worthy of consideration.

UtiliTrees™ and other small-stature trees are a smart pick for the restricted zone (the area between the street and sidewalk, and under the utility lines above).

The utility-friendly trees on this list have been carefully selected with your exact situation in mind.

One benefit of many of the trees on this list is that they are all relatively disease and pest-resistant, as well as tolerant of urban conditions.

Key characteristics to look for in a utility safe tree →

Before planting a tree under utilities, consider its mature height, taking into account walkways, branching height, and its overall shape and form. You'll ensure the tree will not grow too tall or wide, preventing it from growing into wires or impeding nearby walkways.

• Small mature size: Avoid planting trees that will grow to be larger than 25 feet tall. This will help prevent the tree from becoming tangled up in the wires.

• Adaptability: You'll want a tree that's built tough. One that's tolerant and requires minimal maintenance.

• Pedestrian-friendly: Planting a more compact tree, with vase-shaped or upward-sweeping branches, will allow cars and pedestrians to easily access the area. Also, it makes it easy for the trees to be pruned back without compromising their shape. Avoid low-branched trees near walkways.

Sizing & Spacing Tips →

• Plant a tree no larger than 25 feet tall. 15-20 feet tall is best, and 25 feet max. This will allow you to safely plant directly under utilities without having to do any kind of major pruning down the road.

• Keep LARGE shade trees 25 to 40 feet away from overhead power lines. If you must plant a tree that will grow to be medium to large in height, it should be planted a minimum of 25 feet away from utility lines. 25-40 feet away is best. This will help prevent branches from becoming entangled in wires. Also, it will help you avoid danger or damage that can be caused by storms when branches from large shade trees hit a power line.

We have all seen those trees. The ones who have half of their canopy carved out. Don't you even think about letting your tree be that tree!

Planting the right tree in the right space can help eliminate a lot of problems down the road. It can help to prevent storm-related damage, and it will save an immense amount of money when it comes to tree pruning and removal. Save yourself the headache and extra expenses, and plant a tree on this list.

• UtiliTrees™ for Near Walkways and Streets •

These options will have more upright branching habits, which give clearance for parked cars and sidewalks. For these areas, consider a single-trunk (caliper) tree.

Red Jewel™ Crabapple

Meet the dazzling Red Jewel™ Crabapple! This tree boasts a fantastic, compact, upright branching style, making it our top choice for a white flowering crabapple. It grows to be about 15 feet tall and around 12 feet wide.

In spring, prepare to be impressed as it erupts with beautiful, fragrant white flowers that cover its branches, creating a breathtaking display! As fall approaches, this beauty will surprise you with persistent red fruits that add a pop of color.

Adaptable and disease-resistant, Red Jewel offers year-round charm with something special for every season. Plus, it won’t even come close to those pesky overhead lines when fully grown! This tree is truly a safe bet for your landscape and will be the crown jewel of the neighborhood!

Amur Maackia

Let us introduce you to Amur Maackia! This tough tree is a solid choice for city environments where space is at a premium and site conditions can be iffy, and it's particularly useful for planting beneath utilities. With its striking upright branching and elegant vase-shaped form, Amur Maackia serves as a stunning ornamental and flowering tree that enhances the beauty of any landscape while still being highly functional.

When most other trees are done blooming, Amur Maackia rises to the occasion, bringing delightful scents and beauty to your yard. Its soft, medium green leaves provide a lush backdrop throughout the growing season. While there may be no dramatic fall color change, the unique coppery colored bark with green undertones adds a layer of charm and texture to the landscape.

Plant this tree in your landscape, and you'll not only solve the challenge of planting under utility lines but also transform your outdoor space into a multi-seasonal oasis.

Raspberry Spear® Crabapple

Transform your landscape with the stunning Raspberry Spear® Crabapple tree! This tree boasts a tightly branched, upright, oval canopy that only gets about 8 feet wide once fully grown. This makes it perfect for those tight spaces under utility lines and near those "restricted zones."

As spring arrives, prepare to be captivated by a breathtaking display of dark pink blossoms that blanket its compact canopy. The air will become infused with a delightful floral aroma. In the fall, watch as the dark purple leaves become a bold rusty orange color 🍂.

With its seasonal beauty, this tree will enhance any outdoor space!

Great Wall® Tree Lilac

This showy ornamental tree checks all the boxes! It's beautiful throughout the seasons, its small stature makes it a top pick for tight spaces, and it's durable to boot!

Great Wall® Tree Lilac remains compact in size, reaching only 20 feet tall and about 12 feet wide once fully mature. Ideal for tight spaces and where space restrictions are a challenge. This tree is suitable for parkways, as an accent in the landscape, and it is particularly suitable for planting under utilities.

This tree's upward-sweeping branches create an upright oval canopy. Clean, glossy, dark green leaves are tear-drop-shaped with a sharply tapered tip. Bright white fragrant flowers contrast against dark leaves, and its cinnamon to russet-colored bark peels away in papery layers, revealing a smooth, shiny trunk with light-colored lenticels. Great Wall® Tree Lilac's fragrant plumes of flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. How charming is that?

Pink Flair® Cherry

Get ready to be mesmerized by Pink Flair® Cherry, a stunning flowering cherry tree that packs a punch despite its compact height! As spring unfolds, this tree will spark joy with its clusters of fragrant, single pink blooms 🌸 that bring a delightful fragrance to your yard.

What makes Pink Flair® Cherry truly special is its resilience; it blooms a week or two later than other cherry blossom trees, cleverly avoiding potential late frost damage. This hardy little gem is not just easy on the eyes; it’s built to withstand the elements, too!

As the seasons change, watch in awe as its leaves transform into an eye-catching range of rich reds and outstanding oranges, adding a colorful canopy to your autumn landscape.

With its elegant, vase-shaped silhouette, Pink Flair® Cherry reaches a mature height of no more than 25 feet, fitting in under utility lines, no sweat 💦!

Golden Raindrops® Crabapple

Golden Raindrops is an enchanting small tree that matures into an elegant upright vase shape, making it a smart ornamental option. Its small mature size ensures it won’t interfere with overhead wires, allowing you to maintain safety while elevating your landscape. In spring, its branches become profusely covered in frothy white flowers, making it a true spectacle you'll look forward to year after year. As autumn arrives, its dark green leaves change into a golden-yellow hue brushed with hints of deep red, lighting up your autumn landscape!

During the winter season, this tree's slender limbs create an elegant silhouette against the snowy backdrop, offering a unique and striking visual element during the colder months. It's small, bright golden yellow crabapple fruit adorn the branches, adding a splash of color and interest, while serving as a food source for local wildlife.

This tree is renowned for its excellent disease resistance, making it a low-maintenance choice for homeowners. Its resilience allows it to thrive in various conditions while maintaining its beauty. With all these features, Golden Raindrops® Crabapple is not just a beautiful addition to your yard; it’s a practical choice for planting under utility lines, combining sophistication with functionality!

Ivory Silk® Japanese Tree Lilac

We present the exotic Ivory Silk® Japanese Tree Lilac! We get it, we can’t stop raving about this tree. Can you blame us? It's that fabulous! If you've got a spot for it, we will probably recommend it!

This intriguing beauty is an exclusive UtiliTrees™ VIP list member. It can strut its stuff safely under those pesky overhead utility lines. Ivory Silk® Japanese Tree Lilac is a small tree that grows to be about 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide with an oval-rounded crown providing a glorious canopy of shade. Come late spring, be on the lookout for its stunning clusters of fragrant, creamy-white flowers. They truly smell as heavenly as they look, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies! This unique tree is safe for parkways, backyard retreats, or as a stunning backdrop for your patio. Plant this beauty, and turn your ordinary yard into a dreamy outdoor paradise!

Paperbark Maple

Oh, let us count the ways! This compact, ornamental tree is an exciting addition to landscapes of all shapes and sizes. Yes, it's another maple, BUT hear us out. This maple tree IS different. Paperbark Maple stands out for its unique beauty and functionality, especially in areas with overhead power lines. It doesn't grow to be too large, and its compact branching means you can plant it confidently under utilities without the worry of interference.

Paperbark Maple is a showy tree that showcases trifolate green leaves that provide a delicate texture in summer. When autumn arrives, it transforms into a spectacular sight with vivid reddish-orange hues. Its striking canopy is complemented by attractive peeling cinnamon colored bark, adding texture to the landscape throughout all seasons.

Paperbark Maple requires little maintenance, and its adaptability allows it to thrive in various soil types and conditions. Also, it's known for its resistance to pests and diseases. Plant a Paperbark Maple tree and you'll enjoy the peace of mind of having a practical tree that fits smoothly into environments where a towering tree might pose a problem or two.

Paperbark Maple is a striking, thoughtful option that ensures both form and function in your landscape design!

Autumn Brilliance® Serviceberry

Autumn Brilliance® Serviceberry is hands down THE superstar of small ornamental trees! Not only can this tree shimmy under utility lines, it's a looker with edible fruit too!

This tree shows off throughout the seasons, showcasing fragrant spring blossoms, blueberry-like edible fruit in summer, and brilliant fall foliage. In spring, the branches are adorned with small, crisp white flowers. The flowers give way to delicious, tart blueberry-like fruit that both people and wildlife enjoy. Birds tend to eat up the fruit before they have a chance to fall, making this tree less messy.

Medium green leaves transform into a brilliant array of reds, oranges, and yellows in autumn. There is so much to adore about Autumn Brilliance® Serviceberry! If you want to add charm, beauty, and privacy to your space, while safely avoiding those overhead power lines, this is the tree for you!

Amur Flame Maple

Amur Flame Maple is truly a hidden treasure. This small, ornamental maple tree is quickly winning over homeowners' hearts. Amur Flame Maple matures to be about 20 feet tall and wide, giving it a uniform, round shape once fully grown, yet staying small enough to fit under those looming power lines.

This useful tree is pretty too! In spring, the branches are topped by small, fragrant clusters of creamy-white flowers. Its striking red-winged seeds provide an extra touch of ornamental beauty. As autumn arrives, prepare to be amazed as its rounded canopy explodes into a stunning display of deep red-orange leaves, bringing life to your landscape once again.

This tree's upright, spreading branches create an elegant silhouette, while the intricate texture of its leaves adds depth to your outdoor spaces. Amur Flame Maple is capable of transforming ordinary yards into breathtaking landscapes.

Beijing Gold® Tree Lilac

Beijing Gold® Tree Lilac is a little something different for your landscape. It stands out for its yellow flowers, which set it apart from other lilac trees. This tree grows to be about 20 feet tall and wide, giving it a supple, round shape once fully grown. Yet, it stays short enough that it won't encroach on those overhead wires.

This spectacular lilac tree shows off large plumes of pale sunny yellow flowers in late spring. Its dark green leaves transform into a rich yellowish-orange hue in autumn, complementing its interesting fawn brown bark.

Beijing Gold® Tree Lilac is an outstanding ornamental tree, useful in various planting locations from front yards to backyards, in groupings, along driveways, patios, and, of course, under wires.

Hot Wings® Maple

Hot Wings® Maple is H-O-T-T-O-G-O🎶 hot-to-go 🔥! This showy maple tree gets its name from its bright red-winged seeds. It's a small tree reaching about 20 feet tall and about 24ish feet wide once fully mature, keeping it nice and small with a round canopy. It's a tough tree, durable enough for tricky site conditions, and for under those overhead power lines.

Hot Wings® Maple's dark green ruffled-edged leaves are complemented by tiny clusters of white flowers in spring. With autumn's arrival, its leaves transform into a palette of sunset yellows and reds.

Plant this tree for the peace of mind of a reliable maple, and the enjoyment of its seasonal beauty!

• Trees for Other Areas with Overhead Wires •

The trees in this section may become more wide-spreading with lower branching. These trees are a solution for areas that have a little more leeway when it comes to space, with no nearby roads or sidewalks to worry about, only those overhead wires to keep in mind.

Snowdance™ Japanese Tree Lilac

Meet Snowdance™ Japanese Tree Lilac, a delightful addition to any landscape! This small tree grows to be about 18 feet tall and wide, making it an easy choice for yards with height restrictions or where overhead utilities are present. With its wide, vase-shaped branching, this tree not only serves as a stunning focal point but also enhances the architectural appeal of your outdoor space throughout all seasons.

One of the exciting features of Snowdance is its annual heavy bloom of creamy white, fragrant flowers. These flowers will attract butterflies and pollinators, adding life and movement to your landscape.

Its lush, dark green leaves provide a beautiful contrast against the delicate flowers, creating a picturesque scene that changes with the seasons. Its tiered branching not only offers a zen appeal but also provides shade for your yard and a serene spot to relax.

Beyond its beauty, Snowdance™ Tree Lilac is a practical choice for planting under overhead power lines. Its compact size ensures it won’t interfere with utility structures. While its minimal seed production means less mess in your yard (not hating it, right?). Plus, being disease-resistant means you'll spend less time worrying about maintenance and more time enjoying your serene outdoor retreat.

Royal Raindrops® Crabapple

This tree is a true gem for any landscape! Royal Raindrops® Crabapple brings an enchanting layer of texture and vibrant color to your outdoor spaces. With a compact stature of around 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide, it’s perfect for those tight spots where you want to make a bold statement without overwhelming the area.

What truly sets this tree apart is its incredible versatility. Need to enhance your yard's beauty? Looking to create a natural privacy screen? This tree fits the bill seamlessly! Its upright, spreading, branching habit makes it a top candidate for screening while also adding an artistic touch 🎨. Plus, its manageable size means it’s a fantastic choice for planting under utility lines. No more worries about branches interfering with overhead wires!

In spring, get ready to be wowed by the gorgeous reddish-pink blooms that burst open, creating a stunning contrast against the deep purple leaves. As fall approaches, watch the foliage transform into rich shades of red-orange, providing a spectacular autumnal display. The best part? This resilient tree boasts excellent resistance to common crabapple diseases, ensuring it thrives with minimal effort.

Whether you're enhancing your landscape, softening an urban space, or seeking a reliable option underneath utility lines, Royal Raindrops® Crabapple should be on your list of trees to choose from!

Ruby Slippers Amur Maple

Want a maple but don't want the height and spread of a traditional maple tree? Then look no further! Ruby Slippers Amur Maple is the tree for you! This unique cold-hardy maple grows to be 20 feet tall and wide, giving it a full, round shape while still staying small enough to fit under those hovering utility lines.

This beautiful tree brings a distinctive touch of texture and color to the landscape. It can thrive in urban environments and will adapt well to various soil types, making it suitable for challenging locations. In the summer, its canopy lights up with pairs of bright red seeds, resembling a pair of ruby slippers 👠👠. Autumn ushers in a change of color once again as its lush, dense canopy of finely textured green leaves transforms into a blazing array of yellows, reds, and oranges.

Pagoda Dogwood

This native beauty is a top contender for areas where a striking centerpiece is needed, or an attractive outdoor screen would be useful. If you have an area like this plus overhead utilities, this could be the tree for you!

Pagoda Dogwood has a distinct, horizontally tiered branching pattern, reminiscent of an Asian garden. Whether it is white flowers, bluish fruit that attracts wildlife, or deep red fall colors, this tree provides beauty in every season.

BONUS! It doesn't grow too large, reaching about 20 feet tall and wide at full maturity. Due to its small stature, it will fit in nicely under utilities.

Winter King Hawthorn

Winter King Hawthorn is a striking three-season accent tree, useful in the landscape in SO many ways, including under utilities! This ornamental tree's branches spread wide, but not too tall.

In spring, dark shiny green leaves are complemented by crisp white flowers. As autumn arrives, its leaves subtly change from glossy dark green into hues of rusty-yellow to deep reddish-purples. Its silvery bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape, and the crisscrossing branching habit adds intrigue & interest. As the seasons change, this tree holds onto shiny red fruit, adding much-needed color to the winter landscape. Its branching is a safe spot for those fun winter birds who visit the tree to snack on the ruby-red fruit. A bird watcher's paradise 🐦! There is certainly a reason why this tree is referred to as the "Winter King."

Show Time® Crabapple

Do you have an area that could use a little extra something-something 💃, especially under those pesky power lines? Consider this tree your answer! This show-stopping tree will grow to be 22 feet tall and about 20 feet wide, with its canopy becoming broadly oval with age.

In spring, its branches are coated in punchy fuchsia flowers. Dark purplish-green leaves add another layer of interest to this hard-working ornamental tree. Its leaves change to shades of reddish-orange in the fall. The curtain won't fall on this tree in winter; persistent red fruit will take center stage, making this tree an attractive addition to the landscape throughout the seasons.

Show Time is disease-resistant, durable, and won't overpower your yard, making it a fantastic choice for your landscape.

American Hornbeam

Are you looking for a classic shade tree, and one that won't become too large? Look no further. This native tree only reaches 25 feet tall and about 20 feet wide, which will allow it to squeeze right in under power lines.

American Hornbeam's canopy has a striking oval shape, which becomes apparent as it matures. In spring, this tree's canopy is covered in finely textured green leaves. American Hornbeam, though small, provides shade during the summer months. It's smooth gray trunk stands out against this tree's fiery fall color. Keep in mind, this tree is a slow grower, but it's well worth the wait! This tough, adaptable, American classic is a wise choice for under utility lines or anywhere a small, attractive ornamental shade tree is needed. Enhance your landscape by planting this American beauty!

Spring Snow Crabapple

If you want something real pretty and not so messy, this is your tree. Yes, sir, it's a fruitless crabapple! For this reason, Spring Snow is one of the best ornamental trees for home landscape use!

In spring, this crabapple tree is smothered in white flowers. When the flowers begin to fade and fall, it looks as if it's snowing 🌨️. This tree's canopy is dense enough to provide shade in those hot summer months. As autumn is ushered in, its green leaves turn a smooth buttery yellow. Spring Snow Crabapple's graceful oval canopy gives the impression of formality. This tree only grows to about 25 feet tall and 22 feet wide at full maturity and will safely fit under power lines.

Call it a day and plant this fruitless beauty!

Let's recap →

If you have a space in your yard that needs a tree and worry about overhead utility lines, consider UtiliTrees™! The best trees for these areas are small-statured, disease and pest-resistant, and can thrive in urban conditions. For areas near sidewalks and streets, consider trees like Red Jewel™ Crabapple, which grows about 15 feet tall and boasts beautiful white flowers in spring, and Amur Maackia, known for its upright branching and durability, are excellent choices. These trees not only enhance your landscape but also avoid the hassle of excessive pruning or storm-related damage.

For areas away from sidewalks and roads with overhead power lines, you have a bit more wiggle room. You can consider trees with lower branching and a wider spread if you'd like.

Planting the right tree in the right spot can save you time, money, and headaches in the long run.

Where to Plant Trees for Energy Savings ⚡

Brittany Johnson — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 09:17:00 -0600

If you are looking for savings, you've come to the right place. Planting trees in the right spot is a sustainable + smart option for lowering energy bills.

Trees can be planted in different areas for different reasons. Want beauty in one spot and privacy in another? That is wonderful. There are trees for that, and we can help you figure it out.

This post, however, is specifically tailored to homeowners who want more bang for their buck, so to speak 💸. They want to save ENERGY ⚡!

Unlock Energy Savings, Beautify Your Yard & Feel Good About It🌳⚡!

The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life. — Greek Proverb

Summer Savings

Shade trees provide sooo many benefits. If you look closely at the work they do, it seems as if they do it all. In summer, the main contributor to our energy expenses is our AC Unit 🌬️. Those babies work overtime 🥵! The good news is we can help lighten the load with a simple tip on tree placement 🏡.

Established shade trees in certain areas can contribute to energy savings at home and add up to savings for the energy companies, too!

Strategy for Energy Savings in Summer

Check it out, it is all about tree placement → Plant shade trees around the east, west, and northwest sides of your home. Doing so will help offer your AC unit some much-needed relief.

Quick Facts about Shade Trees 🌳→

• Properly placing shade trees around your home can help reduce AC energy costs by up to 35%. Cha-ching!

• Using less energy for cooling reduces carbon dioxide emissions, benefiting the environment 🌱. Lower energy consumption = reduced greenhouse gas emissions! Including CO2. Look at you, you little eco-conscious homeowner you.

• Shade lowers temperatures in and around buildings, improving comfort and reducing the heat island effect.

A side effect of properly placed trees is that you use less energy. In doing so, you are not putting out as many carbon dioxide emissions. This means you’re doing good for your home environment and the planet 🌎. There’s nothing wrong with that!

Shade trees will help cool your yard and home, and make your outdoor spaces more enjoyable throughout the seasons, especially during the hot summer months. They add beauty too! Fall 🍁 trees, anyone?

Winter Savings

When the warmth of summer and fall has long passed, the cold of winter will surely settle in ❄️. The good news is, if you have trees, you will enjoy the benefits they provide all year long, like unique architectural branching that casts artistic shadows on the snow, or bright red ornamental fruit that wildlife flock to for a filling solstice snack. Who knows, maybe you'll even spot a cardinal 🐦!?

There are many other benefits trees provide during winter.

One benefit, for example, and maybe one you've already guessed, is the energy savings provided by trees during the wintertime.

Most of us think of energy savings from shade trees in the summer, but have you ever thought of the benefits of trees during the winter months?

Trees planted in the right spots can help you conserve energy and lower those energy bills year-round.

In short, deciduous trees lose leaves and let sunlight filter through in winter, while evergreens 🌲 block winter winds. All of which help keep your home warmer, protected, and those energy bills low, low, low.

Strategies for savings in winter → One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when planting evergreens is planting them on the south side of their house. In doing so, evergreens block all that glorious winter sunshine ☀️ that can still filter through tall deciduous shade tree branches, the kind that lose their leaves.

Quick Placement Tips for Winter Savings →

• Consider planting evergreens on the north and northwest sides of your home. This will help block those bitter 🥶🌬️ Chicagoland winds, cutting back on that oh-so-blustery wind chill and unavoidable heating costs.

• Pair evergreens with shade trees. Plant shade trees in areas that allow the sunlight to filter through their branches in winter.

Let's recap →

Careful consideration of tree selection and placement can save you loads on energy bills, keeping your home nice and cool during the summer, and toasty warm during winter.

For more information on where to place your trees, be sure to hit up our Design Center!

Resources →

Arbor Day Foundation | How to Plant Trees to Conserve Energy for Winter Warmth

Arbor Day Foundation | How to Plant Trees to Conserve Energy for Summer Shade

EPA | Heat Island Effect

EPA| Using Trees & Vegetation to Reduce Heat Islands

Best Trees for Wet Areas

Brittany Johnson — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:11:00 -0600

Do you have an area in your yard that tends to hold water after a significant rainfall? If your answer is YES, then you will want to keep reading.

Planting trees in these areas will help to alleviate drainage problems you may be experiencing. Not all trees or shrubs will suffice in that spot; instead, plant a tree that will thrive in wet site conditions.

iTrees.com owner, Marlee Harford, curated this list with your specific needs in mind. She carefully selected trees that are well-suited for problematic areas, that are prone to occasional standing water, or for planting near naturally wet areas, such as along lakes, ponds, or rivers.

The Unsung Heroes of Your Landscape:

Trees that thrive in wet environments play a crucial role in managing floodwater runoff. Also, they help to →

• Prevent soil erosion

• Enhance biodiversity

• Elevate your property's value!

River Birch

River Birch reigns supreme among ornamental shade trees! This tree has demonstrated exceptional performance in landscapes and is a trusted choice for customers. Its broadly pyramidal canopy gradually becomes more rounded with age, offering shade, privacy, and aesthetic appeal. This fast-growing tree is cherished for its ornamental peeling bark and stunning buttery golden-yellow fall color. River Birch is useful as a landscape accent, provides privacy, and offers relief from the intense summer heat. This native beauty grows naturally along river banks and streams. It's a go-to tree for areas prone to holding standing water. River Birch continues to prove why it remains a customer favorite!

Heritage® River Birch

Heritage® River Birch is a fast-growing ornamental shade tree that adds beauty and privacy to outdoor spaces. Its attractive mottled bark reveals a smooth, creamy-white interior. In the fall, its large, glossy leaves transform into a stunning golden color. This charming tree attracts songbirds and butterflies, while its lush canopy offers cool shade, making it an excellent choice for screening decks and patios. With its broadly pyramidal shape and natural ornamental features, Heritage® River Birch provides year-round beauty and is a valuable addition to any landscape. Like its parent, River Birch, Heritage® River Birch is a useful yet beautiful option for those tricky locations that tend to hold standing water from time to time.

Northern Catalpa

Northern Catalpa is a stunning Illinois native, known for its adaptability and beautiful late-spring blooms. It features a rugged branch structure that adds character to any landscape. In late spring to early summer, its shape is complemented by fragrant, white, bell-shaped flowers with vibrant yellow-orange and purple centers, attracting pollinators and hummingbirds. In autumn, its leaves shift from rich green to gentle yellow, providing ample shade and visual interest. This unique tree is an excellent choice for spacious landscapes, especially wet areas where shade and beauty are also needed. Enhance your outdoor space with the natural beauty and elegance of Northern Catalpa.

Heartland® Catalpa

Heartland® Catalpa is about to steal the show in your yard! This adaptable, magnificent tree has a dark green canopy that forms a uniform, narrow oval shape. In spring, the Heartland® Catalpa tree bursts forth with heart-shaped leaves. From late spring to early summer, it showcases large clusters of fragrant white flowers with frilly edges and striking yellow and purple centers. These beautiful blooms attract birds and butterflies. When autumn arrives, Heartland® Catalpa transforms into a warm, soft yellow. If you need a shade tree that can withstand the harshest conditions, such as wet areas, heat, drought, and demanding urban environments, then your search ends here! Let Heartland® Catalpa take center stage in your yard!

Purple Catalpa

Purple Catalpa is another stunning ornamental shade tree known for its large leaves and impressive late-spring blossoms. In spring, its massive, deep purple leaves make a grand entrance, transforming into a beautiful bronze-green in summer. Late spring brings fragrant white flowers with bold yellow-orange and purple centers, creating a haven for birds and butterflies. As autumn approaches, the leaves shift to a soft golden hue, while long, slender pods add winter interest. Similar to Northern Catalpa, Purple Catalpa is a unique option offering both shade and beauty while being able to withstand wet areas. This tree will not only provide refreshing shade but also add unique charm to your outdoor space.

Dawn Redwood

Dawn Redwood is a deciduous conifer. Simply put, this means it has similarities to evergreen trees. The big difference is that instead of holding onto its green needles during winter, this tree drops them in the fall. This characteristic allows the warmth of the winter sun to filter through its branches. In summer, Dawn Redwood adds a layer of texture to the landscape! Its beautiful shaggy canopy of green leaves is complemented by its red, flaking bark. In autumn, the leaves turn a coppery color before the twiglets drop to the ground. Its small leaf size makes fall cleanup a cinch! Due to its large mature size, be sure to plant this tree in an area where it will be admired and has room to grow and flourish. Dawn Redwood is pretty darn adaptable, tolerating not only dry sites and road salt but also occasional flooding and overly saturated areas. This makes it a truly unique specimen tree that is not only beautiful but functional too!

Afterburner® Black Tupelo

Picture it, a striking shade tree from the view of your kitchen window. As the seasons change, you will join this tree on a beautiful journey. Spring buds emerge into glossy green foliage. In summer, beneath its branches, rest can be found, and it becomes a comforting place of play. Its branches attract songbirds and other delightful wildlife. Then comes fall, bringing a brilliant display of fiery colors lighting up the landscape! Winter's finale is a display of architectural branching and the quiet beauty of soft snow on its horizontally tiered branches that grow out of its straight, upright trunk. This tree will bring a sense of peace to your heart and mind. Afterburner puts up with various site conditions ranging from clay soil, dry sites, tolerates road salt, and... you guessed it, wet sites!

EXCLAMATION!® London Planetree

EXCLAMATION!® London Planetree is a tree to get excited about. Do you have an area where a large stately tree would be the absolute finishing touch? This is your tree! It's a fast grower, super-duper durable, and is attractive. In summer, its canopy is covered in large, green leaves with a velvety smooth underside. Its soft, dense canopy is complemented by its mottled, shedding bark. In the fall, its leaves will change to a warm, glowing yellow. This useful tree is suitable for parkways, malls, parks, shopping centers, or anywhere where you need a tough, fast-growing, and unique shade tree. The best part of all is that it is tolerant of just about all site conditions, including clay soil, dry areas, road salt, and saturated soils.

Swamp White Oak

It's all in the name when it comes to Swamp White Oak! This native beauty is extremely versatile in the landscape. Tolerating wet, poorly drained soils. In summer, its canopy is covered in two-toned leaves with a dark green, shiny hue on top and a smooth silvery underside. In autumn, its leaves transform into classic fall hues ranging from yellow-gold to reddish-orange. Its acorns attract wildlife, adding to the whimsy and enchantment of the landscape. Swamp White Oak’s rough, peeling bark is extremely showy. It can be planted in dry sites, but loves water so much that it is sensitive to drought. Swamp White Oak can withstand occasional flooding, road salt, and overly saturated areas. While oaks are known for being slow growers, of the oaks, Swamp White Oak is one of the fastest-growing oaks available!

Niobe Golden Weeping Willow

If you were to close your eyes and imagine a willow tree, it would probably appear in your mind near a pond or a river. That's because willow may be the number one tree people think of when considering a tree for wet areas. Niobe Golden Weeping Willow grows majestically along ponds, river banks, and streams. This tree should not be planted in confined areas due to its extensive root system. Niobe Golden Weeping willow requires ample room to flourish and do its thing! This tree is absolutely stunning when overhanging water. Niobe Golden Weeping Willow's brilliant yellow fall color lights up the landscape in autumn, and its long green swaying branches add enchanting color and texture to the summer landscape. This tree tolerates various site conditions, from alkaline soils, clay soils, road salt, and areas prone to flooding.

Bald Cypress

This native, ancient beauty is known for growing in wetlands and swampy sites. Bald Cypress commands attention with its soft canopy of feathery foliage. In its youth, this deciduous conifer has evergreen qualities. The big difference is that instead of holding onto its needles throughout winter, Bald Cypress drops its coppery-colored needle-like leaves in fall. In winter, it can finally show off its reddish-brown shaggy bark. Bald Cypress is hardy, tough, and adaptable, tolerating a wide range of soil conditions, including wet and dry sites, and even standing water. Bald Cypress is a beautiful addition to spacious landscapes. In odd-numbered groupings, it adds a naturalized feel. This tree is also capable of being a standalone accent in front or back yards, or along parkways. It grows well in wide-open areas, adding charm to community parks or surrounding golf courses. This majestic tree has stood the test of time for a reason. Bald Cypress is tolerant of most Chicagoland soil conditions and is a smart, native substitute for evergreens in wet locations.

Green Whisper® Bald Cypress

Green Whisper® Bald Cypress is similar to its parent, the native Bald Cypress. The biggest difference between this tree and the straight species is its spring and summer leaf color. Green Whisper® Bald Cypress's leaves emerge in spring with the softest, brightest spring-green feathery leaves. This variety has a well-branched, uniform, and pyramidal form, as well as a vigorous growth rate. Green Whisper® Bald Cypress is an excellent option for saturated sites. It adds beauty to open front yards, backyards, and open landscapes as an accent tree, and grows beautifully along parkways, boulevards, and wide medians.

Shawnee Brave™ Bald Cypress

Unlike Bald Cypress and Green Whisper® Bald Cypress, Shawnee Brave™ Bald Cypress has a more narrow upright form reaching only 20 feet wide once fully mature. This tree has proven to be widely adaptable in urban conditions, as it will flourish in standing water or well-drained soils. In the fall, it will show off with a handsome rusty orange color, then it will drop its needles, allowing its bark to stand out, adding winter interest. Shawnee Brave™ Bald Cypress is a unique choice for adding privacy, shade, and beauty. This tree is where form meets function! Plant it in areas that have overly saturated soils, but that also need shade and privacy. Plant this tree in odd-numbered groups for a natural look. It can be a vertical accent in large, spacious gardens and in open areas of the yard.

As you browse around and do your own research on what to plant where, be sure to keep in mind that we are a phone call or email away. Our friendly staff can help you with getting customized recommendations for your yard.

If you're more of a do-it-yourselfer, be sure to head to our Design Center to get started with planning your next tree planting project!

Growing Love: The Story Behind the New Wedding Trees at Buffalo Rock State Park

Brittany Johnson — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:05:00 -0600

General History & Lore

You may have heard of Husband & Wife Trees, Bride & Groom Trees, or Twin Trees. The planting of these trees was a common tradition in the early to mid-1800s. Some of those trees are still growing today! Like the Bride & Groom Bald Cypress trees of Lewes, Delaware. The lore behind the Bride & Groom Trees of Lewes, DE, is slightly different, because it's said that the bride & groom never did marry. That is another story for another time.

Bride & Groom Trees are sometimes seen as the conjoining of two trees of the same species that are then planted to commemorate a marriage or the start of a new home. As the trees grow and mature, they are grafted together, becoming one, and can often be seen near the entrance of the homes where they were planted. Other times, they are grown side by side and left to grow freely of their own accord.

In Tokyo, Japan, there are a couple of trees growing side by side at the Meiji Jingu Shrine. The trees are known as Meoto Kusu. Meoto translates to married couple. The Husband & Wife Camphor Trees are joined together by a sacred rope, called a shimenawa. The connection by the rope represents the sanctity of marriage, symbolizes the hope for a happy, long-lasting marriage, and a healthy family.

Buffalo Rock State Park's Wedding Trees

Similarly, Wedding Trees, seen sometimes as a single tree or two trees, represent eternal love, and the union of two becoming one in marriage. Once mature, they often become a destination where wedding celebrations occur, offering not only a beautiful backdrop for photos but a reminder of the bride and groom's familial roots now becoming one, the hope for their lasting love to grow and flourish, and the story that their love and family tree will tell for generations to come.

Back in the fall of 2025, the iTrees.com crew teamed up with Spring Grove Nursery and IL DNR to plant a beautiful grove of trees at Buffalo Rock State Park! These trees are set to thrive, bringing joy to visitors and wildlife for years to come!

One of the special things we did was plant Wedding Trees! Our crew planted two healthy White Oak trees side by side, showcasing their brilliant, deep red fall colors. The State Park's vision is to create a serene gathering spot for weddings and memorable photo opportunities for couples! These trees come after the loss of a beloved singular Wedding Tree. An old oak tree that became a landmark known for its majestic, wide-spreading branches. It was a popular place for newlywed couples to take wedding pictures. Sadly, the tree was damaged in a 2017 tornado and has since been removed.

As these freshly planted White Oak trees mature, they will not only provide shade, but also soon will symbolize the steadfast love and loyalty between two people coming together to create a lasting union. Together, the trees will tell a keepsake story for generations to come, left imprinted on hearts and on photographs. What an honor it was to be part of this project! These trees will be cherished for a long time!

Be sure to head over to Buffalo Rock State Park and check out these incredible trees for yourself, and show them a little love!

📸 2025 by Becky Thomas of SGN Trees

References:

Delaware Today | The History of the Bride and Groom Cypress Trees in Lewes

JTA Sightseeing Database | Meoto Kusu, Camphor Tree Couple

Shaw Local | Wedding Tree at Buffalo Rock Taken Down

First Editions® Collection Drop

Brittany Johnson — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:20:00 -0600

These trees are a reliable choice for homeowners wanting a tree with rock star qualities!

What makes this collection stand out?

This diverse collection of trees has proven to be more dependable, making them a first choice among homeowners and landscapers alike. The trees on this list offer simple solutions to common landscaping concerns. These trees are high-performers that require less maintenance. First Editions® trees have been bred with exceptional genetics, making them an exciting new addition to our line-up!

The First Editions® Picks Collection on iTrees.com features a beautiful range of flowering trees, reliable fall color trees with strong branching, and upright narrow trees that can fit in just about anywhere.

Whether you have an expansive landscape to fill or a small city lot in need of a little pizazz, the trees in this collection have you covered.

Without further ado, here they are →

These First Editions® trees are high-performing trees that will bring life and vibrancy to your landscape!

Snowdance™ Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata 'Bailnce' PP20,458)

It's common for Japanese Tree Lilacs to bloom only biennially. However, that's not true for this exciting, reliable bloomer! Snowdance is known to bloom annually, and from an early age.

Matador™ Maple (Acer x freemanii 'Bailston')

This striking tree holds out for the finale, showing off its fall color a little later than other maples, and it will hold onto its leaves longer as well. This maple is a phenomenal choice for landscapes in need of a commanding shade tree that provides shade and fabulous color!

Parkland Pillar® Birch (Betula platyphylla 'Jefpark' PP25,468)

This exciting new birch variety does it all! It tolerates heat and drought and does well in a variety of soil conditions, including urban sites that would otherwise be left bare. This tree's impressive, upright, narrow form and vibrant colors make it a compelling accent tree. When planted in groups, the trees create a more naturalized feel within the landscape while also providing screening to areas where privacy is needed.

Gladiator™ Crabapple (Malus x adstringens 'Durleo' PP20,167)

Isn't she lovely!? You're thinking, "But it's just another crabapple!" To that we say, "...correct, but wait until you see it in bloom!" This tree grows to be about 9 feet wide once fully mature. Its slender form, when adorned with profuse pink blooms and dark purplish-green leaves, makes a BIG statement in the landscape for a small tree. Not only that, it's highly disease-resistant and will fit in small areas, adding accents to gardens, landscape beds, and can provide additional screening for areas where you need a little more coverage, such as near patios and decks.

Discover a world of stunning tree varieties at iTrees.com! Visit our website today and dive into our incredible selection of trees just waiting to enhance your landscape. Whether you're ready to transform your outdoor space or simply want to explore your options, there's no better time than now to get started. Don’t miss out on the chance to elevate your landscape with these rock star First Editions® trees! Place your order today and watch your landscape come to life!

Shop the First Editions® Tree Collection

Help Your City Become a Tree City USA City

Brittany Johnson — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 08:30:00 -0500

Would you like to help your city build a stronger community, improve community pride, boost local property values, cut energy consumption, and increase sustainability efforts?

If so, then Tree City USA may be the right program for you and your city.

Explore Tree City USA's History

Application Portal

Tree City USA Standards

Becoming a Tree City USA city has many benefits, economically, socially, and environmentally!

We can help you get started with the Tree City USA process today. No community can be excluded due to population, and they must meet the standards as established by The Arbor Day Foundation™.

See the full list of Tree City USA cities here.

Four essential standards must be met to achieve Tree City USA recognition:

1.) Have a tree board or department

2.) Implement a tree care ordinance

3.) Annual budget of $2 per capita on community tree care & planting

4.) The best one yet, host an annual Arbor Day observance and proclamation

There are many benefits to becoming a Tree City USA city. Aside from the beauty the trees bring, being a Tree City USA city makes your community eligible for many federal and state grants, crime rates are proven to be significantly lower, and businesses flourish in Tree City USA communities.

See the Impact → Oak Forest, Illinois

Rich Rinchich, director of Public Works for Oak Forest, knew his community was facing a huge setback from sudden urban deforestation caused by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). The invasive beetle destroyed a total of 1,777 trees that had to be removed. Rich knew he had the funds for removal but needed aid for replanting. He found out that funding was available through the U.S. Forest Service, made possible by The Morton Arboretum & the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, to help communities impacted by the EAB restore their urban canopies.

The community was able to replant a total of 838 new trees, diversifying with 18 different tree species.

"When we got the grant, it was like a shot of espresso after being up for 30 hours! It took our hope from a dream to an 'Oh my gosh, we can actually do this!' I had one of the residents come up to me and thank me for her tree and give me a hug." - Rich Rinchich

This brought the community a much-needed message of hope.

If you are interested in starting the process of making your city a Tree City USA, please let us know, and we will be glad to start the process with you.

Other Resources:

Arbor Day Foundation™ | Tree City USA City

Where to See Cherry Blossoms in the Chicagoland Area

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:50:00 -0500

Where to See Cherry Blossoms in the Chicagoland Area

You may not need to travel as far as you’d think to see those glorious spring cherry blossoms everyone’s raving about!

While Japan is a popular spot for world travelers to see the stunning cherry blossoms each spring, and Washington D.C., stateside, has its annual festival celebrating the blooming trees, you might be pleasantly surprised to find these beauties closer to home than you realize!

Bloom Time

Remember, all things are weather-dependent. These breathtaking blossoms can be seen in bloom anywhere from early April to May.

Best Spots to View Cherry Blossoms

Here are some must-visit locations in Chicagoland where you can soak in the beauty of cherry blossom trees.

Map of Chicagoland’s Cherry Blossoms

Click to view larger.

Parks and Gardens →

🌳 Jackson Park, Chicago

Best display Garden of the Phoenix

Plan Your Visit https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/cherry-blossoms

🌿 North Park Village Nature Center

A less popular option for viewing. This small collection of Cherry Blossoms is a quieter & more serene spot to enjoy nature and blossoms.

🌺 Chicago Botanic Garden

Check their website for bloom times and events!

Don’t miss The Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden for a stunning cherry blossom experience.

Plan Your Visit https://www.chicagobotanic.org/visit

🌼 Morton Arboretum

Look for their cherry blossom updates and maps!

Head To The Asia Collection for a display of white and pink flowering cherry blossoms.

Plan Your Visit https://mortonarb.org/visit-the-arboretum/

🎡 Navy Pier

A few cherry blossoms can be spotted at the Polk Bros entrance.

Plan Your Visit https://navypier.org/location/polk-bros-park/

🚗 Japan House, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

If you’re up for a drive, this is a lovely destination!

Stay in the loop & plan accordingly with the Japan House’s Sakura Watch: https://japanhouse.illinois.edu/visit/sakura

So, consider this your invitation to plan a blossoming adventure! Pack a picnic, bring a cozy blanket, and don’t forget that camera! This is sure to be an Instagrammable time!

The Best Chicagoland Parkway Trees

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:05:00 -0500

Looking for a tree tough enough for your city parkway? Look no further!

Are you searching the internet for the best, most affordable, yet high-performing, high-quality parkway tree, AND one that will be professionally delivered and installed for you, hassle-free? Then look no further! We have a list of the best trees for Chicagoland parkways. The selections on this list are large, locally grown trees that will offer shade in the summer months, put on a show in the fall, and can withstand our harsh Northern Illinois winters.

Consider diversifying your trees on the parkway to help stop the spread of diseases and pests. This is a widely recognized practice in forestry, urban planning, and landscape design. Diversifying tree species can help reduce the risks associated with diseases and pests. A good example of this is the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), which was a destructive pest that specifically affected Ash Trees. These trees were once overplanted and are now nearly wiped out, significantly reducing community tree canopy coverage and having a large impact on urban forests and neighborhood canopies. The impact of something like this happening has broad implications, affecting everything from local ecology to property values.

Give yourself and your community peace of mind by choosing a tree that's not the same as your neighbor's next door!

Red Oak

Consider planting Red Oak along your parkway for a native feel, and as a bonus, you'll get to enjoy its stunning fall color! Red Oak is an absolute head-turner come fall. Its round canopy of dark green leaves changes to a rich, deep red. Red Oak is one of the fastest-growing oak trees available. It's tolerant of urban pollution and is a proven performer in a variety of landscape settings, including parkways.

State Street™ Maple

This tree was bred for urban tolerance; State Street™ Maple makes a spectacular street tree. State Street™ Maple has thick, rough-textured bark. In contrast, its branches are covered in smooth, satin green leaves, providing dense, solid shade. In fall, it will give that classic autumn vibe when its round canopy turns a vibrant yellow. Plant one of these beauties and you'll rest easy knowing you've got a top-notch tree growing in your parkway.

New Horizon Elm

New Horizon Elm is a cold-tolerant hybrid elm that was developed in a disease resistance program at the University of Wisconsin. This tree is particularly well-suited for parkways because of its durability and high ground clearance. One of the things we love most about it is the fact that they have good height in the 2.0" to 4.0" Caliper range, making an immediate impact. As an added bonus, these rapid-growing trees will light up your parkway in the fall when their leaves transform into a bright yellow-gold!

Swamp White Oak

Swamp White Oak is a native beauty that adds lasting charm and beauty wherever it grows. This commanding tree is one of the faster-growing oaks that we have available. Unique features include dark green leaves with a soft silvery underside, rusty-yellow fall color that adds warmth and beauty to the autumn landscape, and at a young age, it has interesting peeling bark that reveals an orangy inner bark. This tough tree is versatile and can be planted along the parkway or anywhere in the open areas of your yard.

Princeton Sentry® Ginkgo

Ginkgo provides a sense of wonder and elegance to landscapes that is almost unmatched. Princeton Sentry® is even more compelling due to its slender, pyramidal canopy. Its narrow size means it is a good fit for city parkways, or really anywhere you need shade, color, and texture in a tight space. Princeton Sentry® Ginkgo has a unique fanlike leaf that will turn a glowing yellow-gold in the fall. This is a seedless non-fruiting variety of ginkgo, which is appealing to homeowners and nursery growers alike! This adaptable tree has proven to be a beautiful pest-resistant urban tree!

Native Hackberry

Native Hackberry is tough as nails! These durable trees are fast-growing and native to the Chicagoland area. They support local ecology all while providing excellent shade and beauty. Its rough, corky bark adds a layer of interest, and its green leathery leaves turn a soft, buttery yellow in fall. Native Hackberry is a safe bet for city parkways, wide medians, community parks, and areas that present tough growing conditions.

Skyline® Honeylocust

This thornless (and mostly podless) beauty is a top choice for Chicagoland homeowners who want a low-maintenance tree. Skyline® Honeylocust is built for urban areas. It's tough & pretty, all in one. This tree has beautiful upright arching branches that provide good clearance below. Its round canopy of green leaves turns a sunny yellow in fall. One of the things homeowners love the most is its small leaf size! Smaller leaves provide more of a dappled shade below, which allows the grass to grow beneath. Also, the smaller leaf size means less fall cleanup because you can't really rake the small leaves; they kind of just blow away. This rapid-growing tough tree is ideal for the parkway and does well anywhere in the open landscape.

Triumph™ Elm

Triumph™ Elm is a top performer on urban parkways. Elms are often known for having massive, vase-shaped canopies. This elm, however, has a slightly narrower canopy with tighter, more upright branching, making it a practical choice for parkways, boulevards, and wide medians. Its green, serrated leaves turn a happy yellow in the fall. Triumph™ Elm will give you peace of mind, too. It's highly disease-resistant, and as a bonus, it is a rapid-grower, which means you won't have to wait an eternity for it to take off!

Autumn Fantasy® Maple

Autumn Fantasy® Maple is a fast-growing red and silver maple hybrid that gets its fast growth rate from the silver maple side and its beautiful fall color from the red maple side. This dependable and fast-growing tree will be the envy of your block every autumn when its dark green leaves turn a deep, rich red. Autumn Fantasy® Maple has strong, sturdy branching that withstands our cold Northern Illinois winters, and it provides great shade. This beauty is considered nearly seedless. Which is really just a long way of saying, less yard cleanup for you!

Kentucky Coffee Tree

Kentucky Coffee Tree is a reliable option for city parkways, boulevards, large medians, and anywhere a large beautiful shade tree is needed. This native beauty is known for its adaptability to a wide range of growing conditions, including various soils, tolerance of heat, drought, cold winters, and road salts, making it an ideal urban parkway tree. This tree brings a tropical feel to Chicago landscapes due to its unique branching habit and dark green leaves that reach out and up, providing a light, more refined shade below. Over time, this tree will grow to have a commanding presence, adding beauty and stature to your parkway.

Redmond American Linden

Talk about an American classic! Redmond American Linden is a trusted grower, adding a formal touch to Chicagoland parkways with its strong pyramidal form and its sturdy trunk. Its canopy is adorned with large dark green leaves that turn a soft yellow in the fall. In spring, it attracts friendly pollinators when its tiny flowers bloom, adding a soft fragrance to the air. This tree will elevate your property's aesthetics and its value. Redmond American Linden works hard to look pretty, provide shade, and add value to homes and neighborhoods!

Musashino Japanese Zelkova

Musashino Japanese Zelkova is a smart pick for tight spaces. This tree's slender form makes it the perfect choice for narrow parkways. Its upright sweeping branches allow for good clearance for nearby foot traffic and for parked cars. This tree is an absolute urban baddie. It performs exceptionally well in tough, urban conditions, especially on city parkways. This beautiful columnar tree has slim, medium green leaves in the summer, while autumn brings an array of warmth when it shows off its fall colors ranging from yellow to rusty red-orange.

Final thoughts,

The importance of urban canopies cannot be overstated. These trees are the workhorses of cities, helping to mitigate the urban heat island effect, stormwater runoff, and urban pollution. They boost property values, help reduce crime, benefit local ecology, and look beautiful while doing it. They're our superheroes in disguise!

Planting a parkway tree is something you can feel good about, and you'll sleep well knowing you made the best possible choice for your home and community!

Other Resources→

Do you reside in The City of Chicago? Chicago has their own list of recommendations. It can be viewed here. Please keep in mind, it's not an all-inclusive list of trees that they'll allow on the parkway, but instead another good starting point for recommendations.

10 Tough Trees for Tricky Areas

Brittany Johnson — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:55:00 -0500

We've got the toughest trees for tricky situations!

What makes a tree tough enough for a tricky area?

The tree that you select for a tricky spot needs to have at least one of these qualities:

✅ Urban tolerance: tolerates confined planting spaces & urban pollution

✅ Storm-resistance: strong branching to withstand unpredictable Chicagoland weather

✅ Disease-resistance

✅ Pest-resistance

✅ Adaptable to various soil conditions: clay, poor drainage, etc.

Some properties have a tricky spot that could have most of its problems solved simply by planting a tree.

Do you have a tricky spot that needs a tree but you're not sure what will grow best there? Think of a narrow parkway, the one random area of your yard that allows your neighbors to peer directly into your house, or an odd spot near a business, such as a parking lot island. Not to worry! The trees on this list are bred to be tough enough for the trickiest of site conditions. Each of these trees has proven their worth time and time again, demonstrating exceptional adaptability, disease resistance, heat and drought tolerance, and more!

There are a slew of trees that can work well in tricky spots. We see many used over and over as go-to solutions for privacy, areas with slightly saturated soils, and the need for shade. Those top contenders include Autumn Blaze® Maple, Heritage® River Birch, and Emerald Green Arborvitae, among others. All of which come highly recommended by the iTrees.com staff and our customers! These trees are 100% worth looking into for your tree needs.

For a little bit of a deeper dive, we've included a few other trees that you may not have stumbled upon just yet.

So, let's dive in!

10 Tough Trees for Tricky Areas →

1. Autumn Blaze® Maple

Coming in at numero uno is none other than Autumn Blaze® Maple. Yes, it's mentioned above, making an unsurprising cameo as a commonly selected tree. Well, it's unavoidable. It makes this list, too! This tree is by far our most popular choice, and for good reason. It works hard to reduce energy costs while providing cooling shade and upping property value. This beautiful tree, known for its brilliant fall colors, reliable shade, and low-maintenance characteristics, can grow just about anywhere you put it. It's a rapid grower once established, and tolerates everything from heat, drought, and slightly saturated soils to other Chicagoland growing conditions. There's a reason this tree has been consistently ranked #1 by iTrees.com customers!

2. Streetspire® Oak

Columnar Oaks sure do come in handy, especially for planting in tight spaces. Oaks are known for their majestic, commanding presence. Columnar Oaks are a much narrower version of the traditional oak, offering the same whimsy and presence but on a much narrower scale. Streetspire® Oak is a cold-hardy, tightly branched tree, featuring dark green, mildew-resistant leaves that turn a comforting warm rusty-red in fall.

3. Regal Prince® Oak

Regal Prince® Oak is one of our go-to recommendations for homeowners who need a tree planted in a tight area. This tree grows to be about 45 feet tall and 18-25 feet wide. Its branches grow tightly upward and can easily be pruned and manicured as needed, as it grows and matures. This tree's dark green glossy leaves turn a soft yellow in the fall. They are noted for being clean and mildew-resistant. This tree is super useful along fence lines, providing good, solid screening. It's safe to say the main benefit of this tree is its columnar form, which is perfect for tight spots!

4. Espresso™ Kentucky Coffee Tree

Espresso™ Kentucky Coffee Tree is a podless variety, making it lower-maintenance. Also, as expected, it's bred to be a tough urban-adapted shade tree. Its canopy is covered in oval dark green leaves with tinges of "blue". As the tree matures, it takes on a more open, elm-like shape, giving it a lovely tropical feel. This tree is as cool as it seems, providing great filtered shade, and it can grow just dandy in heat, drought, and alkaline soils.

5. Ivory Silk® Japanese Tree Lilac

We don't often think of flowering trees as being tough, but this one sure is. Ivory Silk® Lilac has some pretty impressive stats. This high-performing ornamental shade tree is suitable for growing in tricky areas. It readily handles urban stress, air pollution, and various soil conditions. Also, its smaller mature height means it can squeeze right in under those looming overhead utility lines. The benefits don't end there; this exotic beauty will add flair to your landscape, showing off in late spring with large plumes of frothy white flowers!

6. Exclamation!® London Planetree

We can't recommend this tree enough for challenging growing areas. We might get a little *too* excited telling you about the benefits and beauty this tree will provide. For one, you won't have to stress about whether or not it will survive where you plant it, as it establishes quickly. It is a powerhouse of a tree, adding many benefits wherever it gets planted. You will enjoy its large size that provides dense shade once mature. It gets its charm from its large green leaves with a velvety underside that turn yellow-gold in fall, and the tree's interesting exfoliating bark. Exclamation!® London Planetree is adaptable to various soil conditions, including alkaline and clay soils, and tolerates road salt and saturated soils.

7. Swamp White Oak

Swamp White Oak is a tough and beautiful Illinois native tree. This adaptable oak thrives in both wet soils and poorly drained compacted sites. Not only that, despite its name, it's known for tolerating drought! As it matures, its branches form a rounded canopy covered with thick dark green leaves. As autumn approaches, its leaves change from dark green to a range of buttery yellow to rusty reds. It's a favorite among wildlife and will add movement, texture, and shade to wherever it's planted.

8. American Dream® Oak

Take Swamp White Oak and amp it up a few notches! American Dream® is a strong, faster-growing oak variety that exceeds expectations in all categories. It can thrive in both drought and poorly drained clay soils. This tough tree has a good reputation for resistance to mildew and anthracnose. American Dream® Oak provides substantial shade with its striking uniform, pyramidal canopy and adds beauty throughout the seasons, too. Its dark green leaves turn a soft yellow in the fall. This tree is a top choice by urban planners, landscape designers, and homeowners alike!

9. State Street™ Maple

State Street™ Maple has an interesting, rough corky bark that lichen loves to grow on. As this tree matures, its canopy takes on a classic oval/round shape and will provide fantastic shade. Thick satin green leaves turn a vibrant yellow in fall, lighting up landscapes every autumn! One of the best things about this tree, aside from its vigorous growth rate, is its outstanding tolerance to drought, cold Chicago winters, and alkaline soils. In addition, its leaves are clean and pest-free!

10. Skyline® Honeylocust

This dependable tree is a customer favorite! It is capable of thriving in compacted soils, enduring drought, and our cold Northern Illinois winters. It is pedestrian-friendly, thornless, and mostly podless. One of homeowners' favorite things about this tree is its small leaf size. Each autumn, as the tree's green leaves turn a stunning yellow-gold, you can kick back with no worries. As your neighbors begin to rake their fallen leaves, you will not have to worry about that at all! The small leaves on Skyline® Honeylocust mean less fall cleanup, which is a huge benefit when you take into consideration the time and effort it takes to rake and bag up leaves each year. Plus, the smaller leaves provide dappled shade, allowing the grass to grow beneath.

Final thoughts,

Selecting the right tree is an important decision. We're here to help. Don't hesitate to reach out to us with questions.

For further reading, head to our knowledge base where you'll find helpful Expert Advice articles on tree selection, placement, and more!

Summer Tree Care Tips

Brittany Johnson — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 14:15:00 -0500

Summertime means lots of sunshine and higher temps! Not to worry— we've got you covered with our top summer tree care tips!

Watering

First and foremost, the most important thing to remember is to water! Be sure to follow our tree care instructions. This is especially true in the summertime when the weather can be hot and dry. Missing a week of watering when there's been no rain can be detrimental to the health of your tree.

Consistent watering of a newly planted tree for the first few growing seasons will ensure a healthy tree for many years to come. The growing season in Chicagoland typically spans from mid-April to the end of November (note that watering will still be necessary throughout the fall).

iTrees.com recommends watering your tree immediately after it is planted and throughout summer and into fall.

How to Water →

Water your tree for 1 hr 1x a week. Yep. That's it! You don't want to underwater your tree but overwatering can be just as bad or worse.

Watering Methods We Recommend →

• How to Water with a Slow-Release Watering Bag: Watering bags only need to be filled 1x each week. If it rains 1" or more in a week, you can let up and resume watering the following week.

We believe that a slow-release watering bag is hands down the easiest and most efficient way to water your tree. The bag looks a bit like a donut and sits flat on top of the mulch around your tree. The slow-release watering system works wonders for newly planted trees. The watering donut will slowly and evenly disperse a high volume of water directly to the root system of a newly planted tree or shrub with no run-off or evaporation. We can't recommend this method enough!

They can be left on spring, summer, and fall. In late fall, they can be removed and placed in storage for winter. Once everything thaws out in spring, they can be placed back on around the tree.

• How to Water with a Hose: Place your hose at the base of your tree's trunk. Turn the hose on a very slow trickle and let it run for 1 hour. If it rains 1" or more in a week, you can let up and resume watering the following week.

When it comes to hoses, quality hoses are best because they will last the longest and hold up when left outside.

• How to Water with a Soaker Hose: If you have a row of trees planted near each other, try a soaker hose. Simply take the soaker hose and wrap it in an "S" around the trunks of the trees. This way, you can water them all at the same time! Let it run for 1 hr 1x each week. If it rains 1" or more in a week, you can let up and resume watering the following week.

💡Helpful Tips →

• Check the Soil: A good way to check if your tree needs to be watered is by checking the soil. An easy way to do this is by taking your hand or a small garden trowel and dig down about 6 inches and feel the soil. You should be able to roll the soil into a ball. The soil should not be so dry that it crumbles or so overly saturated that the soil runs through your fingers

• Schedule Your Watering: Use a regular calendar or put it in your phone, and that way, you can set a reminder that will alert you ahead of time. Whatever option works best for you. If you use the hose or soaker hose method, please be sure to set a hose timer so you won’t forget to turn the hose off!

• Mulching: Another important part of tree care is mulching. When we plant your tree, we will mulch around the tree. We take pride in our mulching method.

Our crew will focus on exposing the root flare (the base of the trunk) and will create a moat around the tree as opposed to the volcano style, which is a very common mistake. You can see exactly what we are talking about in the comparison pictures below.

It’s a good idea to keep your mulch replenished even as your trees age. Mulch will keep the moisture in and the weeds and pests out!

All in all, if you stick to these simple steps, you'll be set and your tree should thrive 🌳😀💦!

For more information on tree care, check out these posts →

• Tree Care Made Easy

• How to Prepare My Tree for Winter

• Is My Tree Dying?

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Coal City Green 2018

* CHOOSE TREES

* PLANT TREES

* FREE TREES

* ENJOY YOUR TREES

Associations Involvement

CommuniTrees Active Partners

Giving Back is Important to Us

Grundy-Three Rivers Habitat for Humanity

Girl Scouts of Illinois

Lions Club International

The YMCA

Annual Arbor Day Projects

"He Plants Trees to Benefits Another Generation"- Caecilius Statius

Local Community School Arbor Day Plantings

Waubonsee Community College Arbor Day Planting

Partnering With ComEd to Replant Coal City

Tree Campus USA and Tree City USA

Tree Campus USA

Tree City USA

Call before you Dig!!!

Increase your property value. Plant trees!

Arbor Day 2018 - Coal City

For more info or to get started, visit the Village Hall or call 815-634-8608 to reserve your tree & get GREEN!

Tree Digging at the Nursery- The most wonderful time of the year!

It is that time of year -The most wonderful time of year!

Tree digging at the nursery!

What are you doing on Arbor Day?

What will you do this Arbor Day?

APRIL 27th, 2018

NOW GO OUT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Grower Talk- Digging and Planting Update

Becky Thomas, of Spring Grove Nursery, has an update on the tree digging happening throughout the nursery.

-GROWER TALKS!-

Blooming Brief- April 20th

April 20th- Blooming Brief...

Grower Talk- New Trees added to the line up.

New Trees!

Blooming Brief- April 26th

Spring on the Farm

Grower Talk- Grower's Picks

"Tried & True Selections From your Growers at Spring Grove Nursery"

Blooming Brief- May 3rd

Grower Talk- Soybean Cover Crop

Blooming Report- May 16th

Grower talk- View From Above

Blooming Brief- June 5th

H.O.P.E. Program Comes to iTrees.com and Spring Grove Nursery!

The takeaway, both iTrees.com, and Spring Grove Nursery are full of great “HOPE” for the future of the Illinois Green Industry!

2018 Fall Color Recap

Fall Planting Brief

iTrees.com Joins the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce

5 Best Trees for Creating a Windbreak

Here we’ve listed our top 5 picks:

1. Black Hills Spruce:

2. Norway Spruce:

3. Vanderwolf's Pyramid Pine:

4. Green Giant Arborvitae:

5. Colorado Blue Spruce:

***Bonus Tree Suggestions & Tips***

iTrees.com's Year in Review

Below are our favorite moments from 2018:

5 Best Tree Types for Adding Curb Appeal and Increasing Your Property Value

1. Parkway & Shade Trees

2. Privacy Trees

3. Windbreak Trees

4. Ornamental & Flowering Trees

5. Long Living Trees

*Bonus Video*

Tree Tour with iTrees.com owner, Chris Harford!

"Jazz is about being in the moment."-Herbie Hancock

Fruit Trees, we got 'em!

Top 10 Trees for Tight Spaces

Here are Our Top 10 Countdown→

Grower Talk: What's New for 2019

Blooming Brief is back— Yippee!

Grower Talk: Anticipation

Blooming Brief: Redbud, Serviceberry, Ornamental Pear & More!

Best Trees to Plant to Attract Birds & Butterflies

Bonus Tree Suggestions & Tips

Bonus Video

**Be sure to check out the VIDEO below!**

Check out this VIDEO slideshow of American Hornbeam in the nursery!

**Why we love this BRILLIANT tree →**