Street Tree Maintenance

As trees grow, routine pruning helps maintain tree health and ensures trees can safely coexist within the urban environment. Arborists prune trees to improve structure, remove dead or hazardous limbs, and reduce conflicts with pedestrians, buildings, vehicles, sidewalks, and utilities. 

Tree pruning supports public safety and the long-term health of Wilmington’s urban forest. This work helps reduce the risk of falling limbs, improves clearance around streets, sidewalks, and utilities, and promotes strong, healthy tree structure. Pruning also enhances sunlight and air circulation within the canopy, improving overall tree vitality, visibility, and long-term resilience.

 

Over time, trees age and may decline due to disease, storm damage, or structural instability. When the risk of failure outweighs the environmental and community benefits the tree provides, removal may be necessary to protect public safety and surrounding property.

When trees are removed, the City strives to replace them whenever feasible. Staff evaluate each location to determine the most appropriate planting approach based on available space, infrastructure, environmental conditions, and long-term tree health. In many cases, a new tree is planted in the same area or a nearby suitable location.

Crews work closely with the Wilmington Tree Commission to support tree planting activities. New street tree locations (that did not previously have trees) are decided based on:

• Public requests and grant opportunities that allow new trees (conforming to grant requirements)
• Staff recommendations for shade or aesthetic improvements within city parks and properties

Species are chosen based on prior experience, suggestions from area nurseries, community recommendations, staff arborist’s knowledge and resident preference (when appropriate). 

To ensure the safety of residents, motorists, and work crews, tree maintenance operations may require temporary lane closures, road closures, or sidewalk detours. City crews work to complete maintenance activities as safely and efficiently as possible while minimizing disruptions to the public.

The City’s Landscape Maintenance Division includes multiple tree maintenance crews made up of trained arboriculture professionals. Crews use specialized equipment such as aerial lifts, wood chippers, stump grinders, loaders, trucks, and trailers to safely perform tree pruning, removals, and related maintenance activities throughout the community.

Each day, crews are assigned work orders generated through inspections and public service requests. Typical work includes tree pruning, tree removal, stump grinding, and debris management.

In most cases, tree debris is removed during the maintenance operation. Depending on the scope of work, weather conditions, or scheduling needs, debris removal may occasionally occur the following business day.

Maintenance requests are generally addressed in the order they are received, with priority given to hazardous or emergency situations that present an immediate safety concern. Due to the volume of requests and the complexity of some projects, it may take several weeks or months before scheduled work is completed. The City appreciates residents’ patience as crews work to respond safely and efficiently.