Tree Trimming

Why do trees need trimming? 

• Not all trees need trimming to the same degree, but all trees require some amount of regular pruning. In the forest, trees shed their branches naturally due to shading. When trees are "open grown" in parks and on streets we must carry out the trimming process.
• In City parks, trees are trimmed to remove deadwood, to allow parks equipment to maneuver under them, to reduce the severity of insect and disease attack and to keep branches above the hands of vandals.
• Street trees, on the other hand, must be trimmed to clear wires, and to allow a 14-foot height over roadways so that delivery vans and other vehicles can move easily. We must also remove deadwood, suckers and crossover branches to allow the free flow of air through the tree to reduce insect and disease attack.
• For efficiency, trees are usually trimmed along an entire street. This keeps costs down and allows the maximum number of trees to be trimmed in the available time.

What would happen if the tree were never trimmed?

Over time, if the tree wasn't trimmed, it would mature and limbs would break off in an irregular fashion, creating decay and eventual death. These broken and decayed branches could become hazards.

For a in-depth overview on tree pruning, please see the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) website.

Parks and Facility Operations
2450 McDougall Street
Windsor, Ontario, Canada N8X 3N6

Telephone: For general information, call 311.

Email: forestry@citywindsor.ca