Street Tree Master Plan

What is the street tree specie that has been assigned to my block?
The City Council adopted the most recent version of the Street Tree Master Plan in 2002. For the criteria, policies and implementation plan, click here (pdf). Or, to find your street and its assigned tree species, click here.

Tree Trimming Schedule

The Tree Maintenance Division maintains tree wells, plants new and removes decaying/diseased trees, removes tree hazards such as fallen branches, trims branches that have overgrown street signs and traffic signals, removes storm debris, and conducts weed abatement and pest control services for City facilities.

Tree trimming is conducted throughout the year. Each City tree is trimmed approximately once every three to four years. Click here for a list of the streets where tree-trimming activities are anticipated during July through June. To obtain your specific neighborhoods tree-trimming schedule, contact the Tree Maintenance Division at 310-253-6420.

Tree Maintenance FAQ's

Am I allowed to trim the City tree in front of my property?
Trees owned by the City may not to be trimmed by anyone other than City staff unless a permit is obtained first. To obtain a permit to have your City tree trimmed by a qualified and insured arborist contact the Tree Maintenance Division at 310-253-6420.

The City is not responsible for maintaining trees located on private property. Trees located on private property whose branches interfere with electrical transmission lines or whose roots interfere with water metering devices may be altered by Southern California Edison or the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power or the Southern California Water Company to remove that portion of the tree that is creating the obstacle.

Is it okay to place ground cover, mulch or plants over tree roots?
Mulching or planting within the drip line of any shallow rooted tree should be done with care. Suffocation may result if roots are unnaturally buried. Mulching should be done lightly and kept from coming in contact with the bark. Any ground cover planted around tree roots should be drought tolerant. Trees growing within a lawn area will be forced to grow shallow roots because of the way they are watered.

The City's parkway area must be safe for pedestrians to cross over to the sidewalk. Residents may plant within the City's parkway area, however, the plant material must allow for safe pedestrian access. Ivy is not an acceptable planting material.

When is the best time of year to prune/trim trees?
Pruning may be done any time of the year, but some times of year are better than others. Deciduous trees that flower before the end of May should be pruned right after blooming. Deciduous trees that flower after May should be pruned between January and March. Prune flowering Cherry trees in late summer, flowering Evergreens in May, and Conifers in Autumn. Remove dead, damaged, or diseased wood as soon as it is discovered.

How do I get a new tree planted on my street?
The City plants new trees every year, replacing dead or diseased trees and planting new ones in areas that do not currently have trees as the budget allows. To request a new tree planting, contact the Tree Maintenance Division at 310-253-6420.

How do I care for the City trees along my property?
City staff waters newly planted trees for the first year of their life. Afterwards, property owners are expected to water City trees. In the summer months, a single 30-gallon watering per week is recommended to seep below the surface level to reach the deeper roots. In the winter months, a single 15-gallon watering per week will be sufficient.

Exercise caution when using string trimmers near root and bark areas to avoid nicking them. Repeated wounding of the bark and roots by string trimmers may severely damage the trees health.

How tall will my tree grow?
Many of the City's nearly 16,000 trees are Ficus, Palm, Elm, Cedar and Pine. Ficus and Elm trees grow as high as 60' and Palm, Cedar and Pine trees grow to 100'. Click here for more information.

How do I care for the trees on my private property?
For information regarding industry standards used by professional Arborists for tree care and related information, see http://www.isa-arbor.com and http://www.natlarb.com/.