Progressive Tree Service

A leaning tree in summer is not the same risk as a leaning tree in winter. Two factors compound in July that don't exist during dormancy:

1. Full canopy = wind sail. The same lean that's relatively low-risk in March with no leaves becomes dramatically higher risk in July with 60 feet of leaf surface catching wind. Wind load on a full summer canopy is many times greater than on a dormant crown.

2. Saturated soil. Summer rain events and summer watering can reduce soil bearing strength around root systems. A root plate that anchors adequately in dry spring soil may have less resistance when the soil around it is saturated.

Not every lean is a problem. Trees with established historic lean, trunk curvature from hillside growth, or wind-shaped form in open terrain can be structurally sound. The assessment question is whether the lean is new, increasing, or accompanied by other signals:

— Soil heaving at the base on the compression side
— Roots pulling up on the tension side
— Radial soil cracks around the root flare
— Visible lean progression since spring

Any of these changes the situation from "lean to monitor" to "lean to assess now."

Summer storms are when a compromised root system fails. The assessment window is before the storm, not after. Call (847) 530-1533 for urgent situations.

Lot clearing for new construction on the North Shore is more involved than residential tree removal — and the piece that most people underestimate is the regulatory side.

Most municipalities in this area have tree preservation ordinances that apply to construction sites. Before a single tree is removed, a permit is typically required: a survey of the site's trees, identification of protected species or caliper sizes, and a mitigation plan if significant trees are coming down. Skipping this creates permit violations that can affect the construction timeline, not just result in fines.

The practical scope of a lot clearing project:

— Selective clearing. Trees designated for removal come out. Trees designated for preservation stay, and they're actively protected — not just left and hoped for.

— Stump grinding to grade. Not surface cutting. Construction grading requires clean ground, not stumps at 6 inches.

— Debris removal timed to keep the site accessible for construction equipment sequencing.

— Root zone protection for preserved trees. This is the piece most often missed. Heavy equipment driven over root zones compacts soil and destroys feeder roots. The trees look fine during construction and die 2–3 years later. Drip-line fencing before any site equipment access prevents this.

Arborist oversight during lot clearing isn't just about the trees coming down. It's about the trees staying up surviving the process.

We work with general contractors and owners throughout Evanston, Wilmette, and the North Shore.