Parkway Tree Pruning
Fall 2011/Winter 2012 Cycle Pruning Program Area
Beginning the first week of November 2011, the Village will finish pruning larger parkway trees on Locust Rd. From there, the program will be making its way west towards Edens Freeway. Residents in the affected area will receive advanced notification of pruning operations in their doorway or mailbox.
The Village currently manages approximately 17,500 trees located within the public right-of-way. Regular tree maintenance is an integral part of urban forest management and is an important facet of hazard mitigation. Parkway trees are pruned on a cycle to promote their health and growth, while improving appearance, and providing adequate clearance for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The spacing and thinning of branches improves crown shape and branch structure, allows more light into the center of the tree and permits wind to pass freely through the canopy. Appropriate canopy density helps to minimize the incidence of foliar diseases, and decreases the amount of storm damage sustained during severe weather events. Systematic pruning also helps to correct foreseeable growth problems including excessively dense canopy formation and crossing branches. Another crucial benefit of scheduled pruning is the removal of dead and hazardous limbs.
Tree pruning operations are conducted by the Village’s private contractor for trees 7 inches diameter and greater from late October through the first of April. Village crews are responsible for pruning trees that are less than 7 inches in diameter. Residents may submit pruning requests to the Forestry Division for parkway trees that do not fall within the upcoming scheduled areas. Each request will be evaluated by the Village Forester(s) on a case by case basis. All pruning operations follow best management practices established by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and ANSI A300 standards for tree care operations.