The City of St. Catharines maintains and plants new trees within the City to help improve air quality and add economic value, beauty and shade to a neighbourhood. Learn how we maintain boulevard trees, support tree and stump removals and prevent invasive species.
For any questions about tree planting, boulevard trees or stump removal, please call us at 905.688.5600.
For more information about the Tree Giveaway events, please visit here.
Concerned about City tree's health?
Property owners are not permitted to trim trees on ity property in front of or behind their homes. If you have any concerns about a tree's health or risk to public safety (i.e. low-lying limb over a sidewalk or rood), contact Citizens First at 905.688.5600.
Suggest a location for a new tree
Through our Help Us Green Our Streets initiative, you can suggest a street, boulevard or City property that would benefit from a new tree. This will help grow a tree canopy and make our community beautiful by filling out our Green Our Streets request form.
Application to Injure or Remove Trees on City Property
As we grow our City, there may be circumstances when a City tree needs to be removed or injured. These activities are only permitted by a third-party contractor and when the City has approved your application. Applications must meet bylaw no. 2017-326 requirements. Submitting an application does not guarantee that the proposed work will be approved.
Upon submission of the Application to Injure or Remove Trees, the City will source a quote from a contractor to complete the requested work and additional fees will apply. Additional fees may include, but are not limited to, the scope of work determined by the approved contractor, limb and/or root pruning, tree removal(s), stump removal(s), boulevard reinstatement(s) and/or tree replacement(s).
Cleaning leaves and fruit from trees
Resident owners are responsible for collecting leaves and fruit in a yard waste bag for collection by the Niagara Region. This is not completed by the City. To learn more about leaves, composting and recycling, visit the Niagara Region.
Instructional videos on tree planting
For more support, watch our instructional videos to learn how to plant and water your new trees:
Tree maintenance
The City's Forestry Services department helps to nurture a healthier urban forest and protect the public's safety by:
- Maintaining and pruning trees to support growth and good health
- Monitoring the health of its trees
- Removing trees when required
All tree maintenance complies with the International Society of Arboriculture (I.S.A.) standards and is conducted by specialized tree personnel, called arborists.
Tree root maintenance
Find information on tree root maintenance if you have cracks in your foundation, broken drain or water pipe or other issues that can lead to unwanted root growth.
What is an arborist? |
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An arborist is a trained professional, who is knowledgeable about tree physiology and biology. Arborists are trained and equipped to provide proper care to trees and the urban forest. They practice arboriculture, which is the cultivation, art and science, and management of individual trees. |
What is the urban forest? |
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An urban forest is the collection of trees and shrubs that are growing within a city. It may contain any kind of woody plant vegetation growing in or around our homes. To sustain an urban forest, we must constantly management the vegetation and trees. |
Tree benefits
Trees within our urban forest have many benefits which make it important that we maintain them with care. Trees help to:
- Reduce stormwater runoff
- Clean the air
- Provide shade
- Decrease heating and cooling costs
Urban forest benefits
Some of the major benefits of an urban forest are:
- Economic benefits
- Air pollution reduction
- Recreational benefits
- Social benefits
- Wildlife benefits
- Communal benefits
Urban Forestry Management Plan
View our Urban Forestry Management Plan to learn how we are taking care of our trees in the community for now and in the future.