Frequently Asked Forestry Questions

 

General

Who in the City is responsible for street and park trees?

Are there any regulations governing street trees?

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Planting

Why and where does NYC Parks plant trees?

How does Parks choose which neighborhoods to plant in? 

What tree species does Parks plant, and can I choose which species is planted in front of my home?

How can I plant a sidewalk tree myself?

Does Parks plant trees on private property?

Related Links

Request a Street Tree using our tree service request system.

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Maintenance

How do you manage and care for trees in New York City?

What are tree gator bags and how are they used?

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Permits and Work on/Near Trees

May I work on a tree myself?

If I want to conduct work around a City tree, do I need a special permit?

Why does Parks require a permit for tree work?

What happens if I don't get a permit?

How can I get work done on a tree?

What if my tree needs routine rather than emergency pruning?

May I arrange for a private tree service to work on a City tree?

Why aren't tree limbs picked up by the pruning crew?

Can I plant annuals or perennials in my street tree bed?

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Sidewalks

Will a repair made by the Trees & Sidewalks program clear an outstanding DOT violation?

Why was a part of the sidewalk cut away from the tree pit?

Can I get reimbursed if the new sidewalk I put in was removed when a tree was planted?

Am I responsible to repair the sidewalk in front of my house if the tree damages it?

The roots of the tree in front of my property are causing my sidewalk to heave. How do I go about making the necessary repairs?

Related Links

Report undesirable sidewalk conditions using our tree service request system.

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Tree Health

How can I protect the tree in front of my house from getting damaged?

What is a tree pit guard or grate?

What do I do if I see someone harming a tree?

How do I report a problem with a street tree?

The tree in front of my house just looks unhealthy. What should I do?

What do I do if I find insects in a tree (e.g. beetles, caterpillars, bees)?

How do I know if my tree has Asian longhorned beetle?

How do I know if I'm in the quarantine zone for the Asian longhorned beetle?

What do I do with my wood debris if I'm in the quarantine zone?

Related Links

Submit a service request using our tree service request system.

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Trees and Existing Infrastructure

What can I do if I know there's a utility line in the way of a new tree pit?

If you damage my sprinkler/electric line/water main/cable, what recourse do I have?

My sewer is clogged, and I suspect that roots from the street tree in front of my house are the cause. Can I have the tree removed?

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