Community Tree Care Series
Properly caring for trees fosters healthy and resilient communities.
Tree care isn't always led just by certified arborists, so Illinois Extension is ensuring that everyone has access to research-backed information on practicing proper tree care.
Understanding and providing proper and routine maintenance is important to ensure their best life and a healthier urban forest. Communities with healthy, viable trees are more likely to benefit from improved air quality, reduced stress, and increased personal comfort for many.
The program is of special interest to arborists, public and private tree care professionals, municipal or county staff, community volunteers, and anyone interested in developing their tree care knowledge.
About the Community Tree Care Series
Illinois Extension’s Community Tree Care Series webinars return with new topics and presenters to help individuals learn how to support tree health in their local landscapes. This training provides information and resources to those seeking additional insights for keeping trees healthy and minimizing risks.
Registration is required and includes access to six webinar sessions and recordings. The live sessions are from 9 to 11 a.m. Each webinar covers two main topics per date. The cost is $10 for general access to all sessions and $50 for those seeking Continuing Education Units for access to all sessions.
Two hours of CEUs are available per session to Illinois Arborist Association certified arborists who qualify. During registration, please specify that you are attending as a certified professional and enter your ISA certification number. Arborists must attend the live sessions to receive CEUs.
For questions or if you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, contact Sarah Vogel and team at uie-CommunityTrees@illinois.edu or 217-877-6042. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
2026 Tree Care Webinar Schedule
The live sessions are from 9 to 11 a.m. Each webinar covers two main topics per date.
Jan. 13: Trees for Pollinators and Evergreen ID
People, Pollinators, and Trees: The Power of the Urban Forest
Trees are keystone species in a healthy ecosystem, particularly in urban settings. This program highlights the essential role trees play in supporting wildlife, especially pollinators, while enhancing the character of neighborhoods and public spaces. Participants will learn how to select tree species that provide critical habitat for birds, insects, and other wildlife, and develop a basic understanding of the benefits trees provide to the people who inhabitant communities.
Presenter: Emily Swihart, Illinois Extension horticulture educator
Needle Little Help? Evergreen Identification and Functions in the Landscape
Explore evergreen identification and physiology in urban environments. This session equips participants with species-level ID skills, insights into stress tolerance, and management strategies for common problems for evergreens in Illinois landscapes, including emerging pests, site incompatibility, and abiotic stress. Learn how evergreen traits can inform decisions for planting, pruning, and diagnosing decline.
Presenter: Sarah Vogel, Illinois Extension horticulture educator
Jan. 20: Forest Health Updates and Fungal Mutualists
Forest Pest Update: Who’s Here, Who’s Coming, and What You Can Do
Do you know what’s in your forest? Get an update on forest pests - who’s here, who’s on the way, and how to identify and manage pests. Early detection is the best defense against invasive species. In this session, participants will learn how to recognize the signs of trouble, report findings, and take practical steps to protect trees and community forests.
Presenter: Tricia Bethke, forest pest outreach coordinator, Illinois, The Morton Arboretum
Fungal Mutualists: The Good Guys of Fungal Infections
Not all plant fungal infections are bad. In fact, some are very necessary for a healthy and resilient plant ecosystem. This presentation will focus on plant fungal partners that do more good than bad.
Presenter: Karla Griesbaum, Illinois Extension environmental and energy stewardship educator
Jan. 27: Construction and Urban Soils
Protecting Trees During Construction
Explore strategies for minimizing tree damage before, during, and after construction projects. Discuss the importance of planning ahead to protect trees and preserve their health. Learn about common construction injuries that trees sustain, practical strategies to reduce harm, and best practices for post-construction tree care. Whether working with urban trees, managing landscapes, or overseeing building projects, this webinar will equip participants with the knowledge to safeguard valuable trees through every stage of development.
Presenter: Jenny Lee, Illinois Extension horticulture program coordinator
Addressing Urban Soils for Healthier Trees
Urban soils can be hostile environments for tree roots that are often compacted, low in nutrients, and poorly structured. In this session, dig into what causes these conditions and how they impact tree health. Then, explore a range of soil modification strategies, comparing short-term fixes with long-term solutions that promote sustainable root development and canopy growth.
Presenter: Chris Enroth, Illinois Extension horticulture educator
Feb. 3: Chainsaw Safety and Pruning Young Trees
Chainsaw Safety: Practices, Equipment, and Behaviors
Get an overview of chainsaw safety practices, equipment, and behaviors aligned with OSHA and ANSI Z133 industry standards. This session will emphasize the importance of personal protective equipment, situational awareness, and safe practices before and during operations with visual examples of safe felling cuts, kickback zones, and field procedures to promote both safety and efficiency in chainsaw use.
Presenter: Kevin Rohling, Illinois Extension specialist, forest management and ecology
Pruning Young Shade Trees
Young shade trees face a variety of challenges in the landscape, resulting in surprisingly low survival rates for many of these plants. While planting practices and follow-up care are major factors in the mortality of younger trees, canopy failure from poor branch structure is a bigger risk for trees that make it beyond establishment. Learn how proper pruning early in a tree’s life can drastically reduce the risk of canopy failure or hazard development from structurally unsound limbs later.
Presenter: Ryan Pankau, Illinois Extension horticulture educator
Feb. 10: Changing Climate and Historic Pests
Urban Forest Trees in a Changing Climate: Impacts and Strategies
Climate change is intensifying biotic and abiotic stressors on urban forest trees, from extreme temperature fluctuations to increased pest pressures. This session will explore how these evolving conditions impact tree health, species performance, and urban canopy resilience. Additionally, learn to examine adaptive strategies to mitigate climate-related risks and maintain healthy urban forests.
Presenter: Justin Vozzo, Illinois Extension specialist, forestry
Historic Forest Pest Outbreaks in North America
North America has a history of exotic pests that have extirpated individual tree species, with emerald ash borer as a modern example. In the current, ever-globalizing society, there is a significant risk for future outbreaks that may impact all trees, from the urban forest to woodlands. This presentation examines past outbreaks to compare what has been learned about historic pests with the current pests threatening native trees.
Presenter: Ryan Pankau, Illinois Extension horticulture educator
Feb. 17: After Planting and Tree Responses
Rooted in Success: Tree Care After Planting
Planting a tree is just the beginning of a long-term investment in community health, environmental resilience, and landscape beauty. This program covers best practices for tree care following planting, ensuring that newly planted trees thrive and that clients are satisfied. Participants will gain an understanding of best practices during the critical establishment and learn how to recognize signs of stress or disease. The program also connects participants with trusted resources, such as Extension services, arborists, and tree care guides, to support long-term success.
Presenter: Emily Swihart, Illinois Extension horticulture educator
Branch Management: Tree Responses to Cultural Practices
Trees react to pruning, planting, and environmental stress in ways that aren’t always visible. Explore how common tree care practices influence growth, healing, and decline through internal processes, like hormone signaling. Attendees will learn how tree biology can lead to better decisions and healthier trees.
Presenter: Sarah Vogel, Illinois Extension horticulture educator