Frequently Asked Questions

The City maintains all trees in the boulevard. Only City crews can plant or prune these trees unless special permission is granted by the City Forester. If there is an issue or planned work related to a tree, notification will be given to the homeowner in the form of a door hanger prior to work commencing.

Call the City Forester’s office at 715-426-3467. Staff can check the City's maps to confirm tree ownership.

Residents may water trees during dry spells and remove sucker shoots. All other maintenance must be done by city staff.

The City aims to prune each boulevard tree every 4–6 years. For urgent concerns like broken branches, hazardous trees, or storm damage, call the City Forester at 715-426-3467.

Call the City Forester for a site assessment. The City Forester will help ensure proper and appropriate site and species selection. Tree planting typically takes place in early spring or fall (Mid-October). Contact the City Forester if you would like to have a tree planted by the city or plant a tree in the boulevard yourself.

We encourage residents to water their new trees regularly during spring and summer depending on conditions. The City will mulch new trees and keeping the mulch ring in place will help retain moisture, reduce weeds, and protect roots. 

To protect against pests and diseases like Emerald Ash Borer and Dutch Elm Disease, we plant a diverse mix of trees. This improves long-term forest health and helps create a more resilient urban forest. The City is working to improve species diversity. Tree selection and planning play a critical role in achieving this goal.

Yes—EAB was confirmed in 2019. The City monitors ash trees each spring and has begun removals and treatments. Check out the city’s Emerald Ash Borer page on the Urban Forestry website for more information. 

As of 2023, the City had about 1,400 Ash trees remaining on public land. Many have already been removed. The City will continue to remove these trees throughout 2025-2026 and will begin replanting. More information about the city’s EAB management plan can be found on the Urban Forestry webpage under the EAB tab.

Yes—with City approval. A certified arborist must apply the treatment, and you must submit documentation to the City stating when the tree was treated, what product was used, and who treated it. This is essential to prevent accidental removal of treated trees while the City removes infected ash trees. Treatments must be repeated annually or biennially for the life of the tree. 

Check the Urban forestry website to see if your question is addressed, then call or email the City Forester at 715-426-3467 or bostendorf@rfcity.org. We are happy to help address any tree problems or questions you might have!