Forestry Division of the Public Works Department

 Indian Head Park is a Tree City USA, and as such, takes great pride in the quality of our urban forest. The Forestry Division of the Public Works Department in conjunction with the homeowners work together to preserve and protect the trees throughout our Village.

Foresty Division Responsibilities

The Forestry Division is responsible for the care and maintenance of all trees, bushes and turf on public property throughout the Village.
  • Public Works personnel plant, trim, and supervise the removal of all parkway trees.
  • Public Works personnel spray and fertilize the trees and bushes on public property around the Village.
  • Public Works personnel mow and maintain the Village parks, Village grounds, parkway turf, and common areas.
  • Public Works personnel install all the flags in town, according to the event or season.

Homeowner Responsibilities

Homeowners are responsible for the care of trees and bushes on their property as well as the trees planted in the parkway adjacent to their property.  
  • Homeowners should exercise proper care in watering, mulching and pruning the trees around their property and in the parkway.
  • When it comes time to prune the trees it is important to hire only licensed and reputable contractors that know when and how to prune your trees.

Tree Preservation Ordinance

The Tree Preservation Ordinance serves to further the Forestry Division's mission in the following ways:
  • To maintain and preserve mature trees within the Village on both public and private property.
  • To preserve the natural and wooded characteristics of the Village.
  • To promote public health, safety and general welfare including, but not limited to, the reduction of noise, air pollution and the preservation of natural resources.
  • To promote the quality of life environmentally and aesthetically.
  • To recognize trees as one of the primary distinctive factors that cause Indian Head Park to be a desirable place to live and work.
  1. Caring for Parkway Trees
  2. Caring for Parkway Turf

Please help the Village of Indian Head Park to nurture and promote the growth of new parkway trees in our urban forest by following these care instructions:
  • Watering is the key to a new tree's survival. Too much water will drown a tree and too little water will dry it up. During a normal season, a tree should receive 1 inch of water per week. Watering need only be done during the months of May through September and only if adequate rainfall does not occur. It is especially important to keep your tree watered for the first year after planting. NOTE: Extra water may be required during periods of drought and high heat. This is especially true if the tree is planted in the summer.
  • To see if your tree needs watering, check the soil by digging a small hole 3 inches deep.  If the soil is dry and crumbly, the tree needs additional water. If the soil is moist and sticks together, no water is needed. If water drips from the soil, there is too much water. If this occurs, remove the mulch layer from around the base of the tree to allow the soil to dry.
  • Keeping the base of the tree mulched with a 2 inch layer of wood chips is very important. Mulch helps retain moisture in the soil, it reduces weed and grass intrusion, and it protects the trunk from lawn mower damage. Mulch should not be more than 3 inches deep and should not make contact with the bark of the tree, which can cause the bark to rot from being constantly wet. Occasionally check for matting of the mulch and mix it up if needed.

If you have any questions regarding your new parkway tree, please contact the Public Works Department.