Washington County Big Tree Registry was created by a group of nature enthusiasts that wanted to acknowledge our areas diverse landscape as well as our communities. This site offers people a place to record some of the old growth tree species that reside on their or other's properties.
Contact us at washingtoncountybigtrees@gmail.com for any questions or comments, we'd love to hear from you!
General Information:
The highest scoring trees of each species will be crowned Washington County Big Tree Champions.
Please register any tree you think is eligible, even if you are not sure if it will be the biggest.
Please be respectful and courteous to private property. ALWAYS gain permission before entering private property to view or score a tree.
Frequently asked questions:
How do I nominate a tree? Simply fill out the nomination form in the link above. From there we will determine which trees will be crowned Washington County's biggest.
What is a considered a tree? A tree is any woody perennial plant that has a circumference of at least 9.5 inches when measured 4.5 feet off the ground and must be at least 13 feet tall.
What trees are included on the registry? As of right now, only trees native to Illinois are being included in the registry.
How do you "score" a tree? A tree's "score" is determined by adding three separate measurements:
Tree Height (in feet)
Tree Circumference (in inches)
1/4 of Tree's Average Crown (in feet)
How do I measure the height of a tree? There are multiple ways to measure the height of a tree. Perhaps the easiest way to estimate the height of a tree is the yardstick method (or any stick for that matter). Here is a video that explains how to use this method. You can also use a drop-line, an extendable pole, or various other methods.
How do I measure the circumference of a tree? The circumference of a tree is the distance around the trunk of the tree at 4.5 feet above the ground. You can use a measure tape or a string to determine this. If the has multiple trunks that begin near the ground, these are considered separate trees and should be measured accordingly. If the tree spilts directly at 4.5 feet, measure just below 4.5 feet.
How do I measure the average crown of a tree? You will need to find and measure the widest part of the crown and then take another measurement 90 degrees from the original measurement. Take these two numbers and add them together and divide by 2. It is often easiest to mark the widest spread on the ground and then measure it.
This website from the University of Illinois Extension is a great resource on how to score your tree.
Additional Resources:
The Illinois Big Tree Register-This site is the state-wide registry with information about the biggest trees in Illinois. Let's see if we can add a few more representatives from Washington County!
Champion Trees National Register-This site is the nation-wide registry for big trees. Illinois has 2 National Champions.
This guide shows and in-depth look at how to correctly measure a tree.
This guide is provided by the University of Illinois Extension-Illinois Forestry.