Low Hanging Branches
Mulching
Tree Trimming
Wood Chips

Low Hanging Branches
Bushes, shrubs and trees oftentimes block the sidewalk forcing pedestrians to walk on the parkway or in the street. If parkway tree branches are hanging over the sidewalk and interfering with pedestrian traffic, report the location to the Public Works Department. Homeowners should properly trim back any excessive landscape growth abutting public sidewalks on their property. The trimmings should be disposed of properly through composting or through the Village's yard waste disposal program.

Mulching
Placing mulch around trees can help them thrive and maintain a healthy condition throughout the growing season. Mulching slows evaporation of soil moisture thus increasing the availability of this moisture as well as nutrients in the soil for the tree's root system. While mulching benefits trees in a number of ways, improper installation of this material can be harmful to the tree. Excessive mulch depth inhibits the flow of needed oxygen to the trees' root zone and can cause root system decay and smothering. Piling mulch against the trunk attracts insects and rodents which may feed on the trunk and subject the tree to decay.

Proper installation practices involve placing mulch to a depth of no more than 4 inches over the root zone of the tree in a saucer-like fashion so as to keep the material away from the tree's trunk and open to the air. This permits moisture to be maintained for the root zone but allows the trunk to stay dry preventing decay and insect and/or rodent damage.

Proper Saucer Mulching	Improper Volcano Mulching

Tree Trimming
Parkway trees are the responsibility of the Village. Parkway trees are trimmed on a four to seven-year cycle. Trees are trimmed to remove dead, diseased or rubbing branches. A majority of the trimming is performed during the dormant season (late fall through the winter months) to remove hanging branches and correct deficiencies that occur throughout the year. If your parkway tree has broken or hanging branches, or if it has been damaged from a storm, please contact Public Works.

Wood Chips
Woodchips make excellent mulch for trees, shrubs, and planting beds. Free woodchips can be picked up at the Public Works Fleet Maintenance Facility at 2405 Pembroke Ave., please contact Public Works at (847) 490-6800 in advance to ensure availability. Deliveries of one-half or a full truckload can be requested. A half load is approximately four cubic yards -- producing a woodchip pile that will cover a typical (double car width) driveway apron approximately three feet high.

 
Public Works Department - (847) 490-6800 - PublicWorks@vohe.org