Contact 311 to report a tree that needs pruning. Trees, unlike shrubs, only need to be pruned every five to seven years. Topping is very unhealthy for a tree. Pruning of city trees is usually done in order to elevate it high enough so that people can walk on the sidewalk. It is elevated so that trucks will not damage them. We also prune away from lights and stop signs. It’s a benefit to the homeowner when trees grow over their house because it will contribute to lower utility bills.

Contact 311 and request that the Footways Division come out and repair the sidewalk. We will NOT remove a tree because it conflicts with a sidewalk. The city of Baltimore has invested much time and energy into allowing a tree to grow to full maturity. Large trees provide many benefits to the citizens of Baltimore. Some examples of these benefits are absorbing storm water, cleaning the air of pollutants, shading the streets, providing a buffer to cars, increasing real estate values and lowering utility bills. There are many new approaches to incorporating large trees with pedestrian walkways and they still provide a safe experience.