City trimming about 10,000 trees a year in maintenance program

Stressed out tree. (Bob Bellacicco/CTV News Windsor)

The City of Windsor is releasing results of its proactive tree maintenance program to maintain a healthy and safe urban forest.

With about 70,000 street trees across the city, the Forestry and Natural Areas team, led by city forester and manager Dr. Yemi Adeyeye, is working diligently to ensure the long-term health and safety of Windsor’s tree canopy.

“To keep trees in good condition and reduce the risk of falling limbs, we’ve created a preventative tree maintenance program,” says Dr. Adeyeye. “Under this program, we have a seven-year trimming cycle that means we’re proactively trimming back about 10,000 trees each year.”

In addition to city crews, four certified tree care contractors are engaged to carry out this work, all adhering to rigorous arboriculture (tree care) standards.

These standards include removal of deadwoods, crossing limbs (up to four inches in diameter, which may be exceeded when necessary to improve tree shape or meet clearance requirements) and the promotion of healthy branching structure in each tree’s canopy.

Specific clearance guidelines are also followed over roads, sidewalks, driveways and homes, as follows:

• Clearance over curb: 450 centimetres (14 to 15 feet)
• Clearance over lawn: 240 centimetres (8 feet)
• Clearance over roofs: 300 centimetres (10 feet)
• Clearance over driveway: 300 centimetres (10 feet)
• Clearance around traffic signs: 60 centimetres (2 feet)
• Clearance around streetlight cables: 60 centimetres (2 feet)
• Clearance of streetlights for 45-degree-angle light pattern

The seven-year tree trimming program started in 2021. The city also continues to respond to emergency and urgent requests for tree services as required.

Residents with questions regarding the tree maintenance program or other forestry-related matters are encouraged to contact 311 or contact the forestry department at [e-mail] by email.