Request for tree work
The City is responsible for the trimming of public trees only. This includes all trees located on public streets and City parks and open space. If the tree is located on private property, the owner of the property is responsible for its maintenance.

If your request is of a routine nature, contact the DPW Operations Center at (617) 349-4846 or email us. Your request will be entered into our database, and staff will prioritize and schedule the work. We receive literally dozens of requests each day during peak season, so the response to non-emergency tasks is not necessarily immediate. If you wish to follow up on a timetable for the work, leave a message for the Forestry Supervisor at (617) 349-4886. If you think a tree may need an evaluation by a certified arborist, you may contact the City Arborist at (617) 349-6433 (or by email). If you have a tree emergency, please contact the Public Works main switchboard, 24 hours a day, at (617) 349-4800.

Street tree planting
If you have an empty City tree well in front of your house and you want a replacement tree, we will plant one during the next planting season at no cost to you, as long as we determine that a tree is sustainable at that location. (There may be a legitimate reason why the previous tree did not survive.) If you wish to have a tree planted where no tree well currently exists, the City will share the cost with you under its Client Tree Program. For $140 we will prepare a tree well and plant a tree, in exchange for your pledge to keep the tree well watered. On average, your contribution covers about one-half to one-third the cost of planting. In either case, our City Arborist will consult with you about the type of tree that is appropriate for your location. You may contact the City Arborist at (617) 349-6433 or via email.

Removal of tree limbs
The City is responsible for the removal of limbs from public trees only. Please call the Operations Center at (617) 349-4800, (617) 349-4846 (or email), or the Parks & Forestry Division at (617) 349-4886 and leave your name, phone number and location of downed limb. If the tree is located on private property, the owner of the property is responsible for its removal.

Disposal of shrubs, twigs and branches
Shrub prunings and twigs, thinner than your thumb and shorter than your arm are accepted in yard waste collection. Check [here] for a detailed description of what is and is not accepted in yard waste collection. For large tree limbs we suggest you check your local telephone directory under “landscape contractors” or “tree services” to arrange pick up with a private hauler.

Tree removal
We do not remove City trees without good reason. We do not remove trees because they drop leaves or acorns, because it has grown too large or shades your lawn, or because it is not conveniently located. We will remove trees that are hazardous. In the context of state law, a hazard tree poses a threat to persons and/or property. As defined by the International Society of Arboriculture, a hazard tree must meet three criteria:
· The tree is sufficiently large enough to cause damage should it fall;
· The tree has a target (that would be damaged should it fall);
· The tree has a condition that would make it likely to fall.
We will promptly inspect requests for removal. In many cases, a tree may be developing a condition that would ultimately make it a hazard, but not imminently. The removal of such trees requires a public hearing as prescribed by state law. In some cases, the entire tree may not be hazardous, but some maintenance work is required.

Tree roots in sewer or water line
While tree roots do not cause cracks in an otherwise undamaged sewer or water line, they will find their way into cracks or failures in the lines. We do not remove trees solely because of roots in the lines. The best defense is to make sure that your service lines are in good condition and that they are not cracked. If you find that roots have exploited a fault in the line, the best remedy is to replace that section of pipe. Alternatively, the pipe can be rodded with a pruning head.

Tree roots pushing up the sidewalk
Tree roots can certainly contribute to sidewalk failure, but generally do not cause the heaving initially. We do not remove trees solely because of sidewalk failure. You may contact the DPW Operations Center at (617) 349-4846 or email us to have the sidewalk inspected. We will repair the sidewalk without compromising the health of the tree.