All you need to know about tree maintenance in Vaughan

Trees make Vaughan a healthier, greener and more vibrant place to live. Home to more than 135,000 trees, the city’s urban forest provides shade, supports wildlife and pollinators, improves air quality and enhances quality of life. 

The City of Vaughan is committed to environmental sustainability and growing its tree canopy – key priorities in our Urban Forest Management Plan (PDF). From pruning and inspections to tree removals, we’re answering your top questions about the City maintains and protects its urban forest. 

How long does it take to respond to a service request?

Requests are managed in priority sequence, following an inspection. Non-emergency requests are addressed according to our pruning schedule, and those posing a danger to the public are handled as soon as possible. If you submit a request, a forestry inspector will contact you (by phone or a notice on your door) with the status. Due to a high volume of service requests, it can take up to eight months for a tree to be pruned or removed.

The City completes stump removal and tree planting using separate large-scale contracts to deliver the best value to Vaughan taxpayers. As these services are completed in large groupings, stump removal can take up to 12 months and tree replacement can take an additional 12 months.

How often does the City prune trees?

City-owned street trees are pruned every seven years. The City’s Tree Maintenance Strategy (PDF) outlines a more cost-effective approach to tree maintenance, including increased tree inspections. 

How are trees pruned?

Our team prunes trees according to species, age and sometimes location. Together, these factors determine the type of pruning method used. After pruning, a tree might look bare – but don’t worry! It will start to look normal during the next growing season, with a healthier and more attractive form.

How do I report a fallen branch or tree?

To report a municipal emergency or problem requiring immediate attention, call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or email service@vaughan.ca. Municipal emergency tree maintenance requests include fallen limbs, fallen trees, hanging broken branches, leaning or uprooted trees, and split or cracked trees.

Why does the City remove trees?

We remove trees that pose a risk to our community. They may have a terminal disease, safety hazards, or obstruct vehicle and pedestrian clearances, streetlights, buildings and utilities. 

How does the City remove trees?

Our Forestry team removes trees in a justified and safe way, with minimal environmental impact. We conduct routine inspections to assess tree health, and if a tree requires removal, a work order is created and addressed in priority sequence. When it's time to remove the tree, staff set up a boundary to safely complete the work. Crews make every effort to keep the work area secure so pedestrians and nearby landscaping are safe. Property owners will be notified if a City tree near their property requires removal. Larger trees can take several days to remove. Stump removal is handled separately, as it requires different machinery. Timing depends on the season, as stump removal is paused over the winter. After removing the stump, crews will fill the hole with soil and apply grass seed. 

Learn more about our forestry operations at vaughan.ca/trees and vaughan.ca/UrbanForest.

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