The City maintains an expansive inventory of all boulevard and open space trees on City-owned property.
To learn more about a specific tree in your neighbourhood, please visit the Open Data Tree Map.
The City of Edmonton is responsible for over 380,000 boulevard and open space trees that make up a large portion of our urban forest. Crews work behind the scenes to keep Edmonton’s tree canopy healthy, safe and sustainable.
Tree Replacement Program
To help maintain the size of Edmonton’s urban forest, the City replants boulevard and open space trees through the Tree Replacement Program. In even-numbered years, such as 2024, the west side of the city will be the primary focus for tree replacement and in odd-numbered years, the east side of the city will be the primary focus for tree replacement.
Tree Pruning
City-owned trees are pruned on a regular, cyclical schedule. Pruning promotes long-term tree health and structure and helps to eliminate potential hazards. Pruning operations follow the best management practices in terms of pruning techniques and cycles.
- Most boulevard and open space trees are pruned on a five year cycle, with the exception of conifers and trees prone to specific diseases.
- Trees that are prone to specific diseases, such as black knot, Dothiorella elm wilt and fire blight, are pruned every four years.
- Conifers are not pruned by the City, unless there are explicit safety concerns as identified by an Urban Forester.
- Approximately 57,000 City-owned trees are scheduled for pruning annually, as per the operational work plan.
- Urban Forestry does not provide clearance pruning for non-safety related signage and/or businesses, as this is considered cosmetic.
- If a City-owned tree is blocking a traffic light or traffic sign, please contact 311.
Urban Forestry does not prune privately-owned trees for clearance purposes within rear alleyways. If the tree in the alleyway is City-owned and of concern, please call 311 for an evaluation.
The Federal Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (MBCA) and Alberta Wildlife Act and their regulations protect migratory and resident birds. To comply with these regulations, pruning may be delayed if a nest is identified within a tree. Conducting work outside the breeding bird season is the best way to avoid disturbing or damaging nests; therefore, this work may be completed in the fall or winter.
As per the Community Standards Bylaw, the pruning and removal of elm trees is only permitted between October 1 and March 31. If there is an immediate concern or request for elm tree pruning outside the regulated season, please contact Pest Management to be considered for an exemption permit.
Tree Watering
The City hires a crew of contracted water trucks to water newly planted and transplanted City-owned trees for approximately three years to ensure growth and establishment.
Tree Lighting
As part of its beautification initiatives, the City of Edmonton strings over 1,400 trees with sparkling lights. These trees are primarily located in the Business Improvement Areas of the City, with other installations at locations such as City Hall, Giovanni Caboto and Ezio Faraone Parks. Learn more at Tree Lighting.
Trees and Storms
Storms and heavy winds can sometimes have a negative impact on our urban forest canopy, especially by breaking large branches of mature trees. The City quickly responds by organizing crews to work on impacted areas for a safe and efficient cleanup.
If a privately-owned tree falls onto City property, Urban Forestry will remove any debris and hazards from City property. Any brush or debris from the privately-owned tree will be left for the private property owner to remove from site.
Old Man Creek Nursery
The City of Edmonton has operated Old Man Creek Nursery since 1910. Currently, the nursery grows, receives, and cares for the trees, shrubs, and wildflowers that are planted by the City Operations department. This effort supports the growth and health of our urban forest canopy by providing high-quality, disease-free plant material. Annually, the nursery receives,cares for and ships approximately 3,500 caliper trees, and 25,000 native plants.
At any given time there are approximately 7,000 trees being grown in the nursery fields, some of which are trial species being tested for their suitability for Edmonton’s climate to increase the diversity of the urban forest and create a healthy and sustainable urban forest.
Tree Assessment
City of Edmonton trees that have died are assessed by the Urban Forestry Inventory & Assessment team and are then marked and scheduled for removal. Every year, trees in one-half of the city are assessed by this team. If a tree has been marked for removal, it will be replaced through the Tree Replacement Program, generally within two years.
Report Tree/Branch Damage (If this is a safety hazard, contact 311 by phone.)
A map of inventoried City trees is available from our open data catalogue.
