Street Tree Pruning Cycle

The street tree pruning cycle is the length of time between tree pruning based upon the number of trees that will be pruned in the current fiscal year. Over the past fifteen years the cycle has varied from as low as five years to as high as thirty-two years.

Urban forestry profession best management practices show that a pruning cycle between three and five years is appropriate for street trees. The range is due to the differing rate of species growth and also species characteristics.

For fiscal year 2005/2006, UFD was funded to prune approximately 73,000 trees. Since the street tree population is approximately 700,000, the current tree pruning cycle is just under ten years. It must be remembered that this cycle is dependent upon the fiscal year funding levels and can, and most likely will, change annually.

UFD hopes this webpage supplies you with all of the information needed to understand the tree pruning cycle. If you need further information please contact the Division at (213) 847-3077.