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Financial Assistance
Several municipalities in Lake County and Northern Cook County offer cost-share grants to help residents offset the cost of buckthorn removal. If you live in one of the communities below, you may qualify for funding before you spend a dollar.
The programs below are offered directly by each municipality. Requirements, eligibility, and funding amounts can change from year to year. Always verify current details with your village before starting any work. If you have questions, contact us and we will help where we can.
Riverwoods offers a cost-share program for residents who hire a Village-Registered Contractor to remove invasive species from their property. The program is administered by the Village Ecologist, who conducts a site visit before and after the project.
Funding Amount
50% cost-share, up to $4,000
Program Details
Riverwoods supports residents who restore cleared areas with native seed mixes and plant plugs through a cost-share reimbursement program. Species must be pre-approved by the Village Ecologist, and work must be coordinated with the Village in advance.
Funding Amount
50% cost-share, up to $2,000
Program Details
Prescribed burns are one of the most effective tools for restoring woodland understories after invasive removal. Riverwoods offers a cost-share program for residents who work with a licensed burn contractor and coordinate the burn with the Village Ecologist.
Funding Amount
50% cost-share, up to $2,000
Program Details
After invasive shrubs are removed, thinning overcrowded canopy and sub-canopy trees helps restore light and allow native plants to thrive. Riverwoods offers a cost-share reimbursement for qualifying tree thinning work performed by a Village-approved contractor.
Funding Amount
50% cost-share, up to $4,000
Program Details
Long Grove offers a 50% cost-share grant for removing invasive species including buckthorn. Residents must apply through the Village and provide documentation of existing conditions before work begins. The program gives priority to licensed herbicide contractors.
Funding Amount
50% cost-share, up to $2,000 (minimum project total of $1,000)
Program Details
Glenview offers a reimbursement incentive for residents who fully remove buckthorn from their property. Complete removal across the entire property is required — partial clearing does not qualify. Stumps must be properly treated or ground, with documentation.
Funding Amount
50% cost-share, up to $600
Program Details
Glenview also offers a separate incentive for planting new trees on private property. Trees must be from a Village-approved species list and meet specific spacing requirements.
Funding Amount
50% cost-share, up to $300
Program Details
These programs do not provide direct reimbursement to individual homeowners, but they offer support for HOA boards, large landowners, and residents looking for free guidance.
Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC)
The Lake County SMC provides large-scale 50/50 cost-share grants to HOAs, nonprofits, and municipalities for drainage and water quality projects, including buckthorn removal. Individual homeowners cannot apply directly, but residents of HOAs with common areas may benefit if their board applies.
Lake County Forest Preserves (LCFPD)
The Lake County Forest Preserves offers a free yard consultation and a "Buckthorn Stops Here" garden flag for residential property owners committed to removal. This is an educational and recognition program rather than a cash reimbursement, but the free site visit can be a useful starting point for understanding the scope of your problem.
Programs change from year to year. We are happy to help you think through your situation and point you in the right direction.
Program availability, eligibility requirements, and funding amounts are subject to change. Always verify current program details directly with your municipality before beginning work. Beyond Buckthorn is not affiliated with any of the grant programs listed above.