Trees

A healthy mix of trees and plants helps Guelph withstand and recover from severe weather caused by climate change. Our urban forest helps clean the air and keep us cool; it helps us save energy and prevent flooding. Spending time in natural spaces can also improve our physical and mental health.

Taking care of City trees

The City manages thousands of trees on streets, in parks and natural areas. We inspect, prune, plant, water and preserve trees, shrubs and plants to protect and enhance Guelph’s urban forest. Together with community organizations and volunteers, we plant about 6,000 trees and shrubs a year.

We respond to about 1,200 service calls a year. We remove hazardous trees near yards, parks, trails, roads, and sidewalks. An orange ‘X’ on a tree means the tree will be removed.

We use a combination of natural regeneration and replanting to replace the trees we remove.

If we have to cut hazardous trees in natural areas, we leave them in the forest to provide wildlife habitat and nourish the soil. This approach reduces the risk of damaging other plants and soil when using heavy equipment or moving large logs.

Controlling invasive plants

The City is working to control invasive plants and encourage biodiversity in parks and natural areas. We use machines and sometimes apply registered herbicides to control invasive plants.

The City does not use pesticides or herbicides for cosmetic purposes.

For more information

Parks
519-822-1260 extension 5626
[email protected]

Community stewardship
[email protected]