Street Tree Maintenance Guidelines

Caring for Street Trees

If you have a street tree by your property, it’s your job to keep it healthy and make sure it doesn’t block the sidewalk. Here’s how you can help:

Watering and Weeding

New Trees: Water new trees regularly for the first 2-3 years, especially in the dry season (May to October). Use deep watering—start with 15 gallons of water per week per tree.
Mature Trees: Healthy, older trees don’t usually need watering. No watering is needed during rainy months.
How to Water: Water slowly to let the water soak into the soil. Use a hose and the watering tubes if present, or water watering can, or a bucket with small holes near the tree trunk. If the water runs off, slow down or loosen the soil.
Why Deep Watering Helps: Deep watering once a week helps roots grow deep and strong, which can prevent sidewalk or other utility damage later.
Weeding: After watering, pull out weeds around the tree. You can also add mulch to keep weeds away, but don’t let the mulch touch the tree trunk.

Pruning

Keep tree branches clear for safety:
- At least 8 feet above sidewalks
- At least 13 feet above local streets
- At least 15 feet above collector streets
- At least 18 feet above arterial streets

Replacing a Tree