Tree Planting and Maintenance Program

The City Department of Public Works (DPW) Buildings and Grounds Crew performs the work for the annual planting project, tree pruning, maintenance and removal of trees.

The City also teams up with the Watertown Noon Rotary Club for its annual tree planting program in which approximately 50 bare root trees are planted per year. The Rotary Club has been planting trees in the community since 1976 and partnered with the City on this project in 1994. The DPW crew prepares planting holes for the Rotary, whose members volunteer to plant the trees at various locations. Costs for the trees are paid for by the City and through a grant from the Rotary Club.

Tree Planting

As part of the annual tree planting project, the City’s DPW crews plants 80 – 100 trees each year at various sites throughout the City.  These locations include along recently reconstructed streets, within parks and in front of individual property owner’s homes.  Trees can be planted within the City right-of-way if space allows or just behind the sidewalk.

Why Plant Trees?

• Trees will reduce energy costs in the summer by providing shade, and will reduce heating costs by blocking cold winter winds
• Trees help to clean the air by filtering pollution and they produce oxygen that we breathe
• Trees can also increase property values, attract wildlife, and reduce noise from traffic
• Planting trees throughout our community will make our neighborhoods better places to live in, both today and tomorrow

Property owners can contact us for more information on the City’s tree planting program or to request that a tree be planted in front of their property

The Details:

• Trees selected for planting are chosen based upon the available growing space and soil conditions typically found within the City
• Underground utilities like water and sewer lines will be located prior to the planting and will be avoided during the planting process
• Some trees will be planted underneath power lines. These trees will be small maturing trees that will not interfere with the power lines when they are full-grown
• Tree planting will be completed by the City of Watertown Department of Public Works
• There will be no cost to the property owner for the new tree.  The City just asks for assistance with watering during the spring and summer. Water is key to the survival of the tree in the first few years after planting
• A street tree care sheet is sent out to the property owner after the planting, which will explain everything needed to help the tree survive

Tree Maintenance and Removal

The City's DPW crew participates in tree pruning courses which teaches proper pruning techniques and tree pruning concepts.  Each spring, the City conducts a small tree pruning program aimed at training recently planted trees for proper form and structure. During February, March and early April, DPW employees prune 750 – 1000 small to medium sized trees within a targeted location in the City.   For the purposes of the pruning program, the City is broken down into three sections:  North, West and East sides of the City. One section of the City is pruned each year, meaning that all trees are pruned on a three year rotating basis.

In addition, the DPW crew also prunes and removes trees throughout the year on an as needed basis. If you have a concern about broken tree limbs, tree limbs interfering with the sidewalk, road, signs, etc. or have general questions about the program, please contact us. For safety reasons and to ensure that proper pruning cuts are made, please do not attempt to prune City owned street trees on your own. Please contact us for specific concerns or for more information on the City’s tree pruning program.