Urban Forestry Professionals Since 1999
Graf Tree Care was founded in 1999 by arborist Phil Graf. From humble beginnings as a two-man tree trimming operation, Phil quickly began to expand the client base by adhering to his core values: a relentless work ethic and friendly attitude. By late 2003, we began seeing our clients’ needs for plant health care and began expanding into this sector. In spring 2004, the first Graf spray rig rolled out of the shop, and we had officially started the Plant Health Care Division of the company. Over the next few years, we became experts in tree diagnostics, disease and pest control, tree and shrub fertilizer, and root feeding.
Pictured is Phil Graf and Chris Scott in the early years. Phil and Chris have been friends since the early 90’s and were co-workers at another tree company. Chris, a long time Certified Arborist, joined our team in 2007 as a skilled tree climber. In 2018, in his 28th season in the tree care industry, Chris runs the day-to-day tree crew operations and manages our residential client base. Also having an incredible work ethic and passion for trees, Chris has played a key role in advancing the company.
In 2006, when The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was discovered in Illinois, we began to convey to our client base just how important Ash trees were in Illinois. We were the first to discover EAB in several surrounding communities including the City of West Chicago, City of Wheaton, and the Village of Roselle.
These videos can be seen on our YouTube channel. Phil later went on to write the EAB Management Plans for each of these three communities.
By 2009, we quickly developed our treatment strategy and began treating Ash trees. Needless to say, EAB treatments have and continue to be a large part of our Plant Health Care Division. One of our most incredible success stories can be seen at Reed Keppler Park in West Chicago. Around the ball fields, you will find one of the most stunning collections of Green and White Ash trees anywhere left in the Chicago area, standing as a testament to Graf’s proactive Ash tree treatment program.
In 2010, we realized how powerful a tool that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) could be in mapping and monitoring the EAB and other forestry related care and diseases in terms of asset management. After working with several Municipal and Park District in areas such as EAB Management, we began realizing how necessary it was to have full tree inventory data to manage the urban forest effectively.
In 2013, Zac King joined our team and took over as Plant Health Care Coordinator. Zac’s vast experience and knowledge in insect and disease identification and control is unmatched in Chicagoland. Zac became our Company’s first and only Board Certified Master Arborist in 2016 and continues to educate our clients and his co-workers making us better all the time.
In 2016, we moved into our new state of the art 5,200 square foot facility in Batavia, IL and continued to grow. By 2026, we had outgrown our Batavia location and moved to a 27-acre site in Maple Park.
We have and always will consider Graf Tree Care to be a “total tree care” company. Our knowledge and experience allows us to serve as a true asset to our clients whether their trees need health care, pruning, or removal.
We are very excited about the future. The industry seems to have led us to where we are today, and we will continue to do our best to lead the industry in return.