Trees and the Urban Forest

The care and maintenance of trees on City property is a service of the Parks and Solid Waste Division. The City of Prince George employs certified arborists to preserve, protect, and enhance our Urban Forest so that it can continue to flourish. If a tree is within 8 to 20 feet from the front of your property, it is most likely on City property and will be maintained or treated by the Parks and Solid Waste Division. If you are unsure if a tree is on City property, you can call 250-561-7600 to check, ask questions, or report a problem.

Residents are not allowed to prune, treat, or remove trees on the city-owned portion of the boulevard on your street.

Hazardous Trees

Trees considered as hazardous by a Certified Tree Assessor are removed to reduce hazards to people or property. The City does not remove healthy trees that drop branches, cones, or seeds onto private property.

Pruning

City trees are often pruned in the winter months, when trees are dormant. This avoids unnecessary stress and damage to them. Trees are pruned for a variety of reasons. Trees located on City-owned boulevards, for example, are pruned to not impede pedestrians, vehicles, and City utilities, including garbage and snow removal services. Other City trees may be pruned for safety, health, disease, or aesthetic reasons. Trees on City-owned boulevards can only be pruned by City staff. If you have concerns about a tree located on your street boulevard, please call the Service Centre at (250) 561-7600. If you are unsure if a tree is City property, you can call 250-561-7600 to check, ask questions, or report a problem.

Pests and disease of City trees are managed with an Integrated Pest Management strategy. Identification, Life Cycle Awareness, Prevention, Cultural, Mechanical, Biological and Chemical controls are all part of an IPM strategy.

Insect pests on ornamental trees are usually more troubling to the resident than to the tree. Most trees and shrubs can survive infestation by pests. Begin a careful examination as soon as you notice any abnormality in your tree’s appearance. Most pest and disease problems in an urban environment are the result of stress: too much or too little water, light, or fertilizer are all examples.

There is more information in a brochure that contains information about common tree problems in Prince George.

Some tips:

• Accurately identify the plant. Many insects and diseases are plant-specific. This information can quickly limit the number of suspected diseases and disorders.
• Compare the affected plant with other plants on the site. If damage is restricted to a single specimen it may indicate insect, disease, or mechanical damage. Damage to several trees or plants, especially of different types, is an indication of environmental damage such as drought, flood, heat damage, gaseous fumes, opening of the tree canopy, or a toxic spill.
• Examine the roots. Brown roots usually indicate dry soil conditions or the presence of toxic chemicals. Black roots reflect overly wet soil or the presence of root rotting organisms.
• Examine the trunk for wounds. Wounds can be caused by weather, fire, lawn mowers, and rodents, as well as a variety of other mechanical factors.
• Note the position and appearance of affected leaves. Dead leaves at the top of the tree are usually the result of root stress. Twisted or curled leaves may indicate viral infection, insect feeding, or exposure to herbicides.

It is important to remember that most insects are beneficial rather than destructive. Insects help with pollination or act as predators of more harmful species. In the unlikely event that the City needs to use chemical controls on City-owned trees, the softest control method possible, such as insecticidal soap, is used.

Most declining tree health begins with drought-related stress. Frequent deep watering will often significantly improve a tree’s health. Disease and insect agents often attack drought-stressed trees, and are usually only a secondary cause of declining tree health.

Did you know that herbicides can damage or kill trees? Trees are just a larger version of broad-leaved weeds. Never use herbicides in hot weather or apply under the canopy of your trees.

Keep your tree healthy by keeping grass away from the base of trees. It reduces root compaction from mowers, eliminates the chance of damage from string trimmers, and reduces competition for water and nutrients.

A number of tree species are recommended for planting within the City of Prince George, given their ability to prosper under local conditions and to provide many environmental benefits.

The City has produced a guide with more information about trees that are recommended for planting in Prince George.The guide also identifies the appropriate use of trees in various locations.

Names of Common Tree Species 

• Balsam Fir
• White Fir
• Subalpine Fir
• Amur Maple
• Box Elder or Manitoba Maple
• Norway Maple
• Red Maple
• Sugar Maple
• Tatarian Maple
• Purple blow Maple
• Ohio Buckeye
• Horse Chestnut
• Serviceberry
• River Birch
• Paper Birch
• Weeping Birch
• Caragana
• Hackberry
• Pagoda Dogwood
• Morden Hawthorn
• Russian Olive
• White Ash
• Manchurian Ash
• Green Ash
• Butternut
• Elm
• Black Walnut
• Rocky Mt. Juniper
• Weeping Larch
• Siberian Larch
• Amur Maackia
• Flowering Crab Apple
• Ironwood
• Amur Cork Tree
• Norway Spruce
• White Spruce
• Colorado Spruce
• Eastern White Pine
• Scots Pine
• Swedish Columnar Aspen
• Amur Chokecherry
• Douglas Fir
• Northern Pin Oak
• Bur Oak
• Red Oak
• White Willow
• Laurel Leaf Willow
• Mountain Ash
• Japanese Tree Lilac
• Cedar
• Linden 

The City has produced a guide with more information about trees that are recommended for planting in Prince George. The guide also identifies the appropriate use of trees in various locations.