Landscaping
Village Sustainable Landscaping Incentives
- Private Property Cost Share Drainage Program: In an effort to encourage sustainable solutions for stormwater, residents that qualify for the Village's cost-sharing stormwater improvement program may have the costs for the installation of a rain garden offset. If eligible, up to 70% or $5,000 of the cost of acquiring and installing your rain garden will be covered by the Village. If interested in having the Village partially subsidize your rain garden, please contact the Public Works Department at 847-272-4711.
- The Parkway Tree Planting Program: Residents interested in planting trees on their property may be eligible for the Village to cover up to 50% of associated expenses. The Village may cover up to $175 in cost of acquiring and planting a tree. Residents wanting more information can contact the Public Works Department via the GO Northbrook Service Request Page.
Email Sustainability Coordinator at sustainability@northbrook.il.us for updates on upcoming plant and tree giveaways.
What is Slow Mow May?
Don’t spring into mowing too fast! For pollinators’ sakes, the Village wants you to take it slow for Slow Mow May by mowing less frequently (once every 2-3 weeks) this springtime.
In our area, pollinators start to emerge in early May. They rely on flower nectar and pollen for food, but floral blooms are scarce at this time. With reduced lawn-cutting, you are creating habitat and forage for the beneficial insects that desperately need our help due to the concerning trend of pollinator decline.
In 2025 from May 1 to June 1, the Village of Northbrook is suspending enforcement of the Municipal Code for excessive grass height and is encouraging all community members to participate in our "Slow Mow" initiative to voluntarily decrease mowing in support of wildlife. This may result in ground-cover exceeding the established ordinance height restrictions of eight inches, which is why enforcement is suspended for May for registered participants.
How Can I Participate?
This year, community members are required to register to participate in Slow Mow May. There are two ways to register:
- Email sustainability@northbrook.il.us with your property address.
- Starting May 1, register in-person with the Development and Planning Services Department (second floor of Village Hall, 1225 Cedar Lane). To receive a “Slow Mow May” yard sign, you must register in-person.
In previous years, the Village participated in No Mow May, which is an international movement that discourages mowing for the entire month. Following review of the public comments received and further study of the research regarding pollinators and lawncare, the Sustainability Commission made the alternative recommendation in support of Slow Mow May.
To support pollinators, cutting your lawn once every 2-3 weeks is recommended. This is thought to be a middle ground where spring flowers can bloom, but grass is short enough that it is still navigable for insects to locate the flowers for food.
Registration will be required to participate. Enforcement of the grass height ordinance is waived until June 1 only for those who register.
When May lawn-cutting is delayed in Northbrook, you may find clover or common blue violets flowering in your yard. Our native bees rely on spring blooms for food and energy to start their colonies for the season. As scientists urge that the decline in insect populations is a concern for biodiversity, your yard can make a difference to help the survival of endangered species like the rusty-patch bumblebee!
Scientists project that the world loses 2.5% of insect mass per year. Pollinator decline refers to the reduction in populations of pollinating animals such as bees, butterflies, and birds, which are responsible for transferring pollen thereby facilitating reproduction of plants. This decline has been observed globally over the past few decades, and is alarming because pollinators play a critical role in maintaining the diversity and productivity of ecosystems, as well as the production of many crops that are important for food security.
Mowing your lawn less frequently allows pollinators to safely emerge and early-flowering plants to grow. The opportunity to establish beneficial insect populations (like our native bumblebees) is drastically reduced with early spring leaf litter removal and weekly grass mowing. However, a mere reduction in lawn-mowing is not the end-all be-all of supporting our local ecology.
The typical suburban landscape is considered a monoculture dominated by a single species or a few species of non-native plants, such as Kentucky bluegrass or Bermuda grass. Our native wildlife rely on plant species they co-evolved with for successful nutrition and habitat, so planting native supports the overall ecosystem. (Note: Northbrook’s grass height ordinance only applies to non-native grasses. Native grasses like bluestem, sedges, and ryes may grow to any height unless they are planted in an area that could interfere with visibility of motorists).
Beyond reduced mowing, much can be done in support of pollinators on all or a portion of your yard:
- Incorporate a range of native plants with a succession of bloom times to provide floral resources spring through fall. Some great choices are bee balm, foxglove, and goldenrod.
- Commit to low or no use of pesticides, which can kill or weaken pollinators’ ability to reproduce.
- Leave fallen tree leaves and dried-up vegetation for birds and nesting insects like dragonflies and butterfly chrysalises.
Invasive Species
Invasive plant species are non-native weeds that are known to spread aggressively and have the potential to create monocultures when they are not removed.
These invasive species crowd out many native wildflowers and gain an ecological edge that impacts natural landscapes. Wildlife can be harmed by invasive plants when greenspaces lack species diversity and the native plants in which they depend upon for survival.
There are many volunteer opportunities to get involved in Northbrook with ecological restoration to remove invasive plants in our natural areas, like the Somme Preserves. But when invasive plants are allowed to thrive on private properties, the valiant efforts of natural restoration champions become less effective.
Invasive Plant Management and Control
Community members can help defeat invasive plants by recognizing and removing them. The following plant species are specified in Northbrook’s municipal code as invasive. Controlling these aggressive invasive plant species can take multiple methods of action and several attempts. Herbicides should only be used when absolutely necessary and by carefully following instructions on the label. Use the links below to find best practices for each of these species.
- Purple Loosestrife
- Multiflora Rose
- Jimsonweed
- Common Burdock
- Teasels (Common & Cutleaf)
- Ragweed (Common & Giant)
- Thistles (Canada, Bull, Musk and Sowthistle)
Buckthorn
Buckthorn is classified as an invasive species in Illinois under the Illinois Exotic Weed Act (525 ILCS 10/1). These non-native plants are known for their aggressive spread, which can degrade natural ecosystems, reduce wildlife habitat, and threaten endangered or threatened species in the state. The Act prohibits the sale, distribution, and planting of these species.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources lists six varieties of buckthorn as invasive, including Common Buckthorn and Glossy Buckthorn—the most prevalent species in Northbrook. Through prolific self-seeding and other mechanisms, these invasive shrubs and trees have rapidly colonized the Chicagoland area. According to the 2020 Morton Arboretum Tree Canopy Survey, buckthorn accounts for 34% of the tree cover in suburban Cook County and 53% in neighboring Lake County.
The Village of Northbrook strongly encourages property owners and land managers to remove buckthorn from their properties. No permit is required to remove buckthorn if the tree has a diameter of less than six inches at four and a half feet above grade or if it has multiple trunks with a combined diameter of less than twelve inches. To assist with removal efforts, the Village offers free curbside collection of cut buckthorn branches when removed by the resident. Residents can submit a pick-up request through the GoNorthbrook platform.
Completely eradicating buckthorn can be challenging and often requires applying herbicide to the cut stump to prevent regrowth. For more information on removing buckthorn and its impact, the Village provides this detailed pamphlet.
Identification Guide
Use the chart below to identify these species, or download the pdf version here.