A city that knows what wind can do

Tree Removal in Crest Hill, IL

Taking down weak and dead trees before the next big storm, and cleaning up after it.

We price jobs standing in your yard, anywhere in Joliet and Will County
A written quote that itemizes every tree
Brush, logs and chips handled the way you ask

Hazard Trees Come First in Crest Hill

Tree Removal in Crest Hill is often about risk more than looks. People here have a long memory for storms. On August 28, 1990, the F5 Plainfield tornado crossed Crest Hill on its way into Joliet; at the Crest Hill Lakes Apartments it did F3 damage, destroying one building and half of another, and eight people died there. Nobody can tornado-proof a yard. What a homeowner can do is take out the trees that are most likely to fail in an ordinary strong thunderstorm: dead trees, split trunks, hollow bases and big limbs leaning over the house. That is most of the removal work we do in Crest Hill.

How to spot a tree that should come down

You don't need to be an arborist to notice the warning signs. Walk around the tree and look for:

Dead wood in the crown: bare branches in summer, bark falling off, no buds in spring
Cracks: a vertical split in the trunk, or a seam where two main stems meet in a tight V
Decay at the base: mushrooms or conks on the trunk or roots, soft or hollow-sounding wood
A new or worsening lean: soil heaving or cracking on the side away from the lean
Root damage: a driveway, trench or addition built over a big part of the root zone

One of these does not always mean removal. Two or three together, on a tree that can reach the house, usually do. We will look at it with you and say plainly whether we would keep it, prune it or take it down.

A city that grew fast after 2000

Crest Hill incorporated on January 22, 1960, largely to avoid being annexed by Joliet. It has grown a great deal since: the 2000 Census counted 4,808 housing units and the 2020 Census counted 7,842, so a large share of homes are less than 25 years old. Their trees are younger, but young does not mean safe. Fast-growing species planted in new subdivisions often develop weak, crowded branch unions, and storm damage in those neighborhoods is frequently split limbs rather than uprooted trunks. Older blocks have the opposite problem: fewer trees, but bigger ones, with decades of wear.

After a storm

If a tree has come down or a limb is hanging: 1. Keep everyone away from it, especially if any wires are involved. Treat every downed line as live and call the utility. 2. Take photos for your insurance company before anything is moved. 3. Call (779) 324-4241 with what happened and where the tree is resting. 4. We will come out, tell you what is safe to do right away and what can wait, and write up the price.

Crest Hill covers about 9.2 square miles in Lockport Township, with 20,459 residents in the 2020 Census. We work all over it, from the blocks near Stateville to the newer streets on the west side. Get a free estimate

Crest Hill Context

1990 tornado damage. The F5 tornado of August 28, 1990 did F3 damage at the Crest Hill Lakes Apartments, destroying one building and half of another; eight people died there. The storm killed 29 people in total.
Incorporated to stay independent. Crest Hill incorporated on January 22, 1960, largely to avoid annexation by Joliet. It lies in Lockport Township and covers about 9.19 square miles.
Housing growth since 2000. Crest Hill had 4,808 housing units in 2000 and 7,842 in 2020, so a large part of the city's housing, and its yard trees, dates from the last two decades.
Stateville. Stateville Correctional Center opened in 1925, when the area was still unincorporated Will County, and is now within Crest Hill's limits.

Our Services in Crest Hill, IL

Crest Hill Questions

Can I get a tree looked at before storm season instead of after?

Yes, and spring is a good time to do it. With leaves coming in you can see which branches are dead. We will walk the yard with you and mark anything that should come down or be cut back, and write it up so you can decide.

Will my insurance pay for removing a tree that fell in a storm?

That depends on your policy. Many homeowner policies cover removal when a fallen tree damages a covered structure, and often less or nothing when it just lands in the yard. Take photos before anything is moved and ask your insurer; we can give you an itemized written estimate to submit.

My tree has mushrooms growing at the base. Is it dangerous?

It can be a sign of root or butt rot, which weakens the tree where it matters most. Some fungi are harmless, so it is worth having someone look at it. If decay has hollowed out much of the base, removal is usually the safe choice.

Free Estimates in Crest Hill, IL

Hazard and storm tree removal across Crest Hill, with the price in writing first.

Call (779) 324-4241 Free Estimate