About 920 homes surrounded by prairie, cemetery and industry

Tree Removal in Elwood, IL

A small village where the nearest big neighbor is often open land, and trees take the wind straight on.

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

Tree Work in a Village of 2,200

Tree Removal in Elwood is a small-town job in an unusual setting. The village had 2,229 residents and 920 housing units in the 2020 Census, but its limits cover more than 13 square miles, and much of what surrounds it is federal land. To one side is Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, established in 1996 on the former Joliet Army Ammunition Plant and now about 20,000 acres managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Nearby is the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, dedicated in 1999 on 982 acres. Add the large intermodal and warehouse developments that drove Elwood's recent growth, and you have a village where homes often sit with open ground on at least one side.

What that means for your trees

Open land on one side means wind on one side. A tree that grew up with shelter from neighboring trees and buildings can suddenly stand exposed when a nearby lot is cleared or a field is left open, and it may not have the root system or trunk taper to handle it. We see three common problems in Elwood:

Older yard trees in the village that have lost limbs or developed decay with age
Trees left exposed by clearing on a neighboring parcel, now leaning or dropping branches
Dead and dying ash, which emerald ash borer has been killing across northern Illinois

A village that has seen big change

Elwood was founded in 1854 and incorporated in 1869. In the late 1930s the federal government acquired land nearby for the Joliet Arsenal, which began operating in 1940; a 1942 explosion there killed 42 workers. After the arsenal closed, its land became Midewin and the national cemetery, and construction of the CenterPoint intermodal center brought new growth. Through all of that, the village itself stayed small. Many of the homes are older, and so are the trees around them.

How we handle a job here

On a small village lot, a removal is usually straightforward: one tree, a clear drop zone or a few sections lowered by rope, chipping at the curb, stump ground if you want it. On a larger rural property near the village, it may be several trees, a long haul to the road and soft ground to work around. Either way, the steps are the same: 1. You tell us about the tree by phone at (779) 324-4241 or through the form. 2. We come out, look at the tree, the ground and the access. 3. You get a written estimate, with removal, stump grinding and cleanup listed separately. 4. We do the work as written and leave the site raked and cleared.

Storms out in the open

Elwood's own history includes a tornado that touched down about three miles north of the village on May 8, 1988. Most years bring nothing like that, but strong summer thunderstorms with straight-line wind are common across this open country. If a storm leaves a tree split, leaning or hung up in another tree, keep clear of it and call. If any lines are involved, call the utility first. Get a free estimate

Elwood at a Glance

Small village, large area. Elwood had 2,229 residents, 920 housing units and 891 households in the 2020 Census, within about 13.8 square miles of village limits.
Federal land next door. Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie was established in 1996 on the former Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, and Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery was dedicated in 1999 on 982 acres.
Approval needed for street trees. Elwood's code (Section 93.03) makes it unlawful to remove or cut down any tree or shrub planted near a public street or sidewalk without first getting approval from the Village Administrator or the Director of Public Works. Trees deeper in a private lot are not covered by that section.
Long-settled village. Elwood was founded in 1854 and incorporated in 1869. A tornado touched down about three miles north of the village on May 8, 1988.

Our Services in Elwood, IL

Elwood Questions

The lot next to mine was cleared, and now my tree is dropping branches. Why?

Trees that grew up sheltered by others are not built for full wind exposure. Suddenly exposed trees often lose limbs or start to lean in the first few years. Have it looked at; sometimes a reduction prune is enough, and sometimes removal is the safer choice.

Do you work on rural properties outside Elwood's village center?

Yes. We work on homes in the village and on rural lots nearby. On larger properties we can price several trees in one visit.

Can you leave the wood for me to split?

Yes. Tell us before the job and we will cut the trunk into rounds and leave them where you want them. Many rural owners keep the hardwood for firewood.

Can I take down the tree along the street in front of my Elwood home?

Not without asking first. Elwood's code requires approval from the Village Administrator or the Director of Public Works before anyone removes or cuts down a tree planted near a public street or sidewalk. Get that approval in hand, and we can quote the work.

Free Estimates in Elwood, IL

Free written estimates in Elwood and the rural lots around it.

Call (779) 324-4241 Free Estimate