By Andi Anderson
The Illinois Tree Care Series is back to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to care for trees effectively.
Trees play a vital role in improving air quality, reducing stress, and enhancing comfort. Proper care and maintenance are key to ensuring their longevity and healthier urban forests.
This hybrid training program caters to certified arborists, tree care professionals, community volunteers, and anyone interested in supporting tree health.
It covers essential topics such as tree identification, health assessment, pruning, and combating stressors. By expanding tree care knowledge, communities can promote healthier forests and minimize risks associated with hazardous trees.
The series offers two training formats. The first includes six online webinars held from January to March. Each webinar session, lasting 1.5 hours, covers two critical topics, such as planting techniques, tree diversity, and pruning methods.
A unique feature of the webinars is a discussion on real-life tree health issues, where participants learn from attendee-submitted photos. The cost is $10 for general access or $50 for those seeking Continued Education Units (CEUs).
Key webinar topics include:
Site and Species Selection and Construction Damage
Tree Identification and Health Assessment
Pruning Methods and Benefits of Trees
The second format includes in-person workshops in fall 2025, with details provided after the webinars.
Led by Illinois Extension horticulture experts, the series equips participants with practical tools to support local landscapes and enhance community forests.
For registration and more details, visit go.illinois.edu/TreeCareSeries. Early accommodation requests are encouraged to ensure accessibility.
The Illinois Extension continues to serve communities through educational programs, building partnerships, and enhancing the environment, making it a leader in outreach and public education across the state.
Photo Credit: istock-dusanpetkovic
Categories: Illinois, Energy