The City cares for 21,000 trees within the public rights-of-way, trimming and shaping healthy trees and removing diseased ones. Removed trees are replaced each spring through a cost share program with the affected residents. The City also provides leaf and branch collection services to residents. 

Please report emergency situations and hazardous conditions, like tree limbs in the road to 911 or Public Works at 847-391-5464. Phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For non-emergencies, you may submit a customer service request to using our online service request system. 

Woodchip Waivers

Woodchip Waivers are now being accepted for the 2024 season, for delivery when time permits. The wood chip waivers can be emailed to us at publicworks@desplaines.org, faxed to 847-297-6801, mailed or dropped off. For more information please call 847-391-5464.

Tree Replacement Program

Contact Public Works at 847-391-5464 to schedule an assessment of your property to determine if you can participate in the Tree Replacement Program.

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Water Bags for Newly Planted Trees

Throughout the year, our Forestry team will plant 600 trees across Des Plaines to enhance our canopy and meet our goals as a certified member of "Tree City USA." If your parkway was the recipient of one of these new plantings, please help keep our community beautiful by monitoring the water bags around the new trees.

To learn how to properly use the watering bags, please click here.

Treesaregood.org provides tree owners with reliable information on how to properly care for trees in an urban environment.

Tree City USA

The Forestry division is also involved in maintaining Tree City USA certification. For more information regarding Tree City USA program, visit arborday.org.

Emerald Ash Borer

What's happening to my ash tree?

Currently, the City Des Plaines has 200 ash trees in the public rights-of-way. The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a relatively new infestation, but has been spotted in several locations around Des Plaines. The insect is small, green and metallic and infests only ash trees. The larva does the major damage to the tree by destroying the innermost bark layer of the tree. To date, there has been no confirmed method of eradication other than tree removal.

Here are some of the symptoms of an infestation:

• Small, "D-shaped" exit holes from the trunk
• Serpentine feeding pattern galleries in areas of the trunk with bark removed
• Increased activity of woodpeckers
• Sprouting at base of trunk
• Canopy die back

Find out more about EAB.

Gypsy Moths

Gypsy moths are voracious eaters that can strip trees of their foliage in a matter of days. They go through four stages of development: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, and adult and have one generation a year. Gypsy moth eggs are contained in an egg mass, which can contain up to 1,000 eggs. Hatching generally begins around mid-May, and the caterpillars that emerge can be identified by the pairs of red and blue dots on their backs. The gypsy moth larvae generally feed during the night, and prefer the leaves of oak trees. Feeding continues until early July, when the caterpillar undergoes metamorphosis and emerges as a winged adult. Female moths produce egg masses from July to September, whereupon moths of both sexes die.

The most effective means of eliminating gypsy moths is the application of highly selective bacteria that paralyze the moth upon ingestion. In early May, affected oak trees should be sprayed with this specialized biological insecticide. The spray will not harm the trees, nor will it adversely affect beneficial insects such as honeybees. Because the insecticide only affects leaf feeding insects, it is considered safe for people and pets.

Residents concerned about gypsy moth infestations should check their local yellow pages under "arborists" or "tree service" to contract a private company to spray for gypsy moths.

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