Tree FAQ [Frequently Asked Questions]

Contact the Department of Public Works at requestatree@ci.berwyn.il.us, or submit their online parkway tree request form. They plant trees twice a year, in spring and in fall. Be sure to get your request in early, because the planting list fills up quickly.

The parkway is owned by the City of Berwyn, but the Department of Public Works has told us they will gladly allow property owners to plant trees in the parkway. Owners must call JULIE before they dig (to mark utility lines to avoid), and the trees must meet the standards set forth in the Berwyn Urban Forestry Management Plan: no invasive species (see page 80), no evergreens or fruit trees, not blocking traffic sightlines, and not too close to other trees, hydrants, or lamp posts. Contact the Department of Public Works at (708) 749-4700 or PublicWorks@ci.berwyn.il.us for more information and for approval before you plant.

You’ll want to choose a tree based on how much room it will have to grow, how much light it will get, and whether it is suitable to our region. The Morton Arboretum has an excellent tree selection handbook online at https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/tree-plant-care/plant-care-resources/selecting-and-planting-trees/#selecting-and-planting-trees-handbook

We are an independent community group, so we direct residents to the City of Berwyn – they will plant a tree in your parkway for FREE if you request one. Contact the Department of Public Works at requestatree@ci.berwyn.il.us, or submit their online parkway tree request form.

Also, we will plant a tree in your parkway if you live in the area where we are planting trees with our annual Openlands TreePlanters Grant. (Our current planting sign-up is closed.) Please e-mail us at BerwynTrees@gmail.com if you would like to learn more!

It is the City’s responsibility to prune trees in the parkway. We recommend you contact your Alderman and the Berwyn Department of Public Works, to let them know. The City Arborist will look at the tree to determine what tree care is needed.

You can find your alderman’s contact info on the Berwyn city website (includes link to a ward map). The Department of Public Works can be reached at Public.works@ci.berwyn.il.us or (708) 749-4700.

The City of Berwyn does not water parkway trees. Residents and businesses need to water the trees in front of their property.

This is especially important for new trees, which will die easily in their first year or two if they don’t get enough water – especially during the hot summer months.

For trees that were planted less than three years ago, water them with 5-10 gallons of water once a week during the growing season (April-October). For older, established trees, water them for 5 to 20 minutes with a hose if there has been little rain for a week or more. A small tree might need just 5 minutes of water from a hose, while a large tree should get a longer, 20 minute soaking if the weather has been hot and dry. All trees will do better through the winter if they have been watered – but not overwatered – through the fall until the first hard frost (usually in mid-October.

Remember that the City of Berwyn owns the parkway trees, and is responsible for pruning them. You should water your parkway trees regularly to ensure their health, especially when there hasn’t been much rain.

To learn more about tree care, we highly recommend the resource pages from the Morton Arboretum, as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Tree Owners Manual (pdf).

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