Tree Maintenance & Inspections
Maintenance of City-owned trees located on boulevards, center medians and in parks is the responsibility of the Urban Forestry Section.
Maintenance
Boulevard trees are generally maintained on a 7-year cycle. If your neighborhood is up for scheduled pruning, a notice will be left in your mailbox.
Park trees are generally maintained on a 13-year cycle.
Young trees are pruned to improve structure, reduce costly maintenance in the future and increase longevity. Mature trees are pruned to eliminate hazards, provide clearance and maintain health.
Inspections
If you are concerned about the health of a City-owned tree or you believe it may pose a hazard, make an online request for a Tree Inspection.
A Certified Arborist will inspect the tree within 10 business days. An inspection notice will be left at your home once the tree has been inspected. Work will be scheduled based on the results and the future requirements of the tree.
To confirm the location of City-owned trees near your home, access the Saskatoon Tree Map. Zoom in and click on the tree icons for more information.
Back Lane Trees
Urban Forestry does not maintain trees in back lanes. The City of Saskatoon asks residents to keep the lane adjacent to their property free from overgrown trees and weeds. If you have a concern about a back lane tree interfering with lane access, please call the Bylaw Compliance Hotline at 306-657-8766 to report the location of the obstruction. A Bylaw Inspector from the Community Standards Division will follow up with the property owner directly and request that they trim the tree.
Damage to Private Property
If you believe your property has been damaged because of a City-owned tree or as the result of work performed by City staff, please file a legal claim with City Solicitors to determine liability.
Storm Response and Electrical Hazards
To report storm damaged trees, please contact the Service Saskatoon 24/7 Customer Care Centre at 306-975-2476. All calls are prioritized, with the top priorities being:
- Trees that are blocking main arterial roadways
- Trees that have fallen on buildings
Electircal hazards such as trees on electrical wires should be reported to either Saskatoon Light and Power at 306-975-2414 or SaskPower at 306-310-2220, depending on the area of the city. Please consult the Service Area Map to see which power company is responsible for the affected area. Once the hazard has been addressed, the utility company will contact Urban Forestry to complete the pruning process.
Tree & Stump Removals
Tree removal and stump grinding are separate operations. Trees are removed on a priority based schedule and we strive to complete all removals within one year.
Our stumping program is a seasonal operation that runs between May and October, therefore stump removal may take up to two seasons. Once stumping is completed we will backfill with topsoil and spread grass seed.
For the safety of operators and bystanders, the following must be completed before stump grinding operations can proceed:
- Relocate vehicles and other equipment
- Move large rocks a minimum of 1 metre away from the stump
- Shovel small rocks, shale or pea gravel 2 metres away from the stump
- Relocate shrubs and other landscaping
Tree Replacements
After we remove the stump you may submit your online Tree Request.