We offer a full range of residential services to improve and maintain the health of your trees and shrubs. The corner stone to all tree & plant health is a healthy root system. While many organizations offer services which treat surface issues, at Urban Arborist we will work with you to treat, maintain and improve your total tree and plant health. We employ proven horticultural techniques to improve the health and vigor of your trees.

Click on each section to learn more about our variety of services

Disease and Insect Control

GYPSY MOTH CONTROL: Gypsy moths are a problem that’s here to stay. It will not be eradicated from this country. Infestations have risen high enough in Lake County, that it has been quarantined. Lake and Cook Counties contain too many gypsy moths for meaningful eradication. Overwintering egg masses have been found in Winnebago, DuPage and McHenry Counties. The Illinois Department of Agriculture predicts that by 2005 most of Chicago, as well as other surrounding countries, will be quarantined. However, there is no need to panic.

A new, non-chemical control system introduced by Envirometrics Systems Inc. called BugBarrier Tree Band is now being used by Urban Arborist. Tested by the USDA, Forestry Canada, universities, municipalities and plant health professionals, the band has proved to be effective against gypsy moth and other climbing insects. Once installed the band needs no maintenance, is attractive and harmless to touch, doesn’t stain bark and uses no pesticides. The BugBarrier Tree Band does not crack, break or slip, even in extreme weather conditions. You can read more and see photos on the website: www.environmetrics.ca.

Please contact Urban Arborist to have your property inspected for gypsy moths free of charge and for an estimate to install the BugBarrier Tree Band. Don’t delay, do it today!

Pruning

Pruning is the most common maintenance procedure performed on trees and each cut has the potential to change the tree. Our tree climbing personnel are trained to prune in accordance with ANSI standards using proper techniques and tools. Arborists can assess how best to handle your pruning needs.

Fertilization

Trees growing in urban landscapes here in northeast Illinois are growing in soils which are much different than they were only 50 years ago. A mature tree, which has been growing for 150 to 200 years, is now living in an environment vastly different from the conditions in it's younger days. Fertilization programs can be very beneficial in maintaining plant health. Our certified arborists can help determine if fertilization would be of benefit to your trees.

Mulching

Mulching is an important cultural tool that is underutilized. Mulching can reduce mechanical injury to trees by creating a buffer zone to keep machinery away from the stem and base of the tree. When properly done, mulching will improve the rooting environment by equalizing temperatures, retaining moisture and decomposing over time enriching the soil. See the Learning Center

Removal

Although our business is caring for trees, circumstances sometime necessitate their removal. When this is the case we can remove trees and shrubs safely, protecting the intricate root systems of surrounding plant life and protecting your home and property from possible damage.

Planting & Large Transplant Aftercare

See the Learning Center

Cabling and Bracing

Methods used to strengthen the architectural structure of a tree. Often used to preserve trees of high value, to extend the life of older desirable trees, and to minimize risk for large trees which are growing in close proximity to living and play areas.

Lightning protection

Protection systems installed to prevent damage to larger prized trees.

Construction Tree Preservation

Without proper protection construction machinery can wreak havoc on tree root systems and kill even the largest trees. Before building - get an arborist involved in the construction planning phase.

Tree Risk and Hazard Assessment
Living among trees involves some degree of risk. Minimizing that risk is important to all of us. Our arborists have years of expert field knowledge and highly recommend tree risk assessment and hazard evaluation every few years.

Planting

See the Learning Center

We know lawns

Natural lawn care---At Urban Arborist, we now offer natural lawn care. Why? As arborists we have been concerned for years as to the effects lawn care products were having on trees. Through our research we have learned of the harmful consequences that chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers have on human health (especially children), our pets and our environment.

Because of what we have learned, we decided to be pro-active and offer natural lawn care. Natural lawn care means no pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. We build healthy soils through the addition of beneficial organisms, organic matter and a balanced diet of nutrients. We also promote the use of proper cultural practices such as watering, mowing core-aeration and overseeding.

All lawns are not the same. Because of this fact, we don't do anything on your lawn before we take samples of the soil which we send to a laboratory for analysis. We also inspect your property to see what kind of conditions your turf has to deal with. This determines exactly what we put down on your lawn, unlike traditional lawn care services that give you the same thing they do for your neighbor.

Please contact Chris Mest at 847-562-6215 or chris@urbanarborist-phc.com . He can answer your questions and give you further information on the dangers of traditional lawn care.