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Street Trees

A street tree is a tree planted along sidewalks and other public rights-of-way.

Street trees are an important part of making our city cleaner and greener. Planted in sidewalks and other public rights-of-way, street trees beautify neighborhoods, reduce energy costs, and clean our air. TreePhilly does not coordinate street trees, but PPR’s Street Tree Management Division offers a full-service planting operation, from inspection and species selection to concrete cuts and tree planting – all for free!

If you are looking for a tree for private property, learn about getting a yard tree.


Learn about Street Trees

How to Get a Street Tree

There are three ways to get a street tree planted in front of your home, business, or other property. Get more information below about the three ways to get a single tree planted on the sidewalk!

1

Request a free tree from Philadelphia Parks & Rec

Property owners, including both residential and commercial properties, can request free street trees from the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Street Tree Management Division. For updates on the status of your request or any other tree tree questions, please contact our Street Tree Contractor Management Division at [email protected]. Printable Request Form

Request a Street
Tree Online

2

Hire a Certified Arborist approved by Philadelphia Parks & Rec

Property owners may plant a street tree at their own expense. All street tree plantings must be done by a certified arborist with a permit obtained from Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. Property owners must plant a tree species from the approved tree list. For more information, contact our Street Tree Contractor Management Division at [email protected].

Request Qualified
Contractors List

3

Receive Free Volunteer Planted Trees from PHS

Twice a year, volunteers at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Tree Tenders Program organize street tree plantings across the city. If you would like to request a free tree be planted by PHS Tree Tender volunteers Click the button below for info:

Request a Street
Tree from PHS


How to Care for Your Street Tree
Urban trees are not growing in their natural environment, so they do best when they get a little extra love and care. We will water and mulch your tree for the first year after planting. After the first year, we encourage you to continue watering your young tree 20 gallons every week from March through December and to reapply organic, composted mulch regularly.

Learn what you can do to care for your tree


Street Tree Pruning, Removal, and Replacement

If a street tree planted by PPR dies within one year of planting, we will remove and replace it during the next planting season. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation also prunes and removes hazard trees on sidewalks and in the public right-of-way.
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation does not remove living, healthy trees.

Request Street Tree
Maintenance Here
Printable
Request Form



Get More Information

Contact Philadelphia Parks & Recreation’s Street Tree Management Division

Phone: (215)685-4363 and (215)685-4362
Email:
[email protected].

Business Hours for the Street Tree Management Division are Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 3:30 pm.