Trees

Tree Donation Program

To support our Urban Forest, The Forestry Bylaw was amended to allow residents to plant trees on City property. Please view the documents below to learn more about planting trees on City property.

Planting trees on City property is subject to the application process and by approval of the City. Please email a completed application to PRCSAdmin@regina.ca. The applicant will be contacted with the final decision on the request.

• Tree Donation Application
• Tree Donation Program Policy
• Tree Planting Standards
• Recommended Tree Species
• Planting Specifications

Tree Banding

Tree banding keeps fall and spring cankerworms from laying their eggs in the crown of the tree. Band your elms, Manitoba maples and fruit trees each spring and fall to reduce the amount of cankerworms. To band your tree:

• Purchase fibreglass insulation (15 to 20 cm wide), plastic wrap or black garbage bags, duct tape and some type of sticky substance (axle grease, Tanglefoot, Stick-em)
• Wrap a strip of fibreglass insulation around the trunk about 1 to 2 metres above the ground.
• Cover the insulation with plastic and secure with duct tape.
• Cover the plastic with your sticking agent.
• Regularly re-apply your sticking agent and remove debris to ensure effectiveness.
• Remove your band after mid-May and again in mid-November to keep your tree bark in good shape.
• Save the insulation for the next banding season.

Pruning Your Trees

Trees, when mature, should have a strong straight trunk and a full crown with well-spaced branches. Pruning helps achieve this growth pattern.

Pruning depends on the age of your tree:

• Newly planted tree: Only prune dead or broken branches since the tree needs all of its branches and leaves to grow in its new location.
• Year 2: Prune branches to develop a strong central leader. If present, prune and remove co-dominant leader.
• Years 3-4: Begin regular pruning.
• Years 5-7: By this time, your tree should be healthy and shaped properly from previous pruning. To stay healthy, regularly remove dead or damaged limbs. Keep the tree’s outline tidy by pruning back long branches. If you wish, you can remove bottom limbs if you want to walk underneath the tree.

Special pruning considerations for certain tree species:

• Prune deciduous ornamental trees every three to four years. Prune in the late winter or early spring, when wounds from pruning cuts will close quickly.
• Prune maple and birch trees in June or July to prevent cuts from ‘bleeding’.
• Prune elm trees from September 1 to March 31 to reduce the spread of Dutch elm disease.
• Prune apple trees every spring. Light annual pruning balances growth and flower buds.
• Only prune dead, damaged and diseased branches from evergreen trees. In the spring, you can create a denser pine or spruce trees by cutting its candles in half before the needles have elongated. Remember to add a wide circle of mulch around the evergreen’s trunk if you remove its lower branches. The mulch will keep the soil cool around the tree’s feeder roots.

Watering Trees

A tree’s root system extends out at least as far as the tree is tall. Most of the tree's feeder roots are in the top 15 cm of soil. Therefore you will likely water and fertilize over a large area of your yard to provide proper nutrients to your urban tree.

If you placed mulch in a large circle around your trees, you may only need to water if there’s a drought. However if you haven’t mulched, you will need to thoroughly water your tree two or three times a season (e.g. beginning of June, July and August). 

Near the end of August, stop watering until the trees have dropped their leaves. This allows the trees to harden for winter. Once the tree’s leaves have fallen, give both trees and shrubs a good soak each week until the ground freezes. This practice helps plants withstand Regina’s dry winter conditions.

City-Owned Trees

Follow the Forestry Bylaw to learn more about caring for a City-owned tree. The bylaw lists many things that you cannot do to a City-owned tree including:

• The City follows a rotating pruning schedule to care for its trees throughout Regina. Do not prune a City-owned tree. If the tree’s branches are interfering with power lines, call SaskPower at 1-888-757-6937 and they will arrange to prune offending branches from either private or City-owned trees.
• Make sure you do not remove a City-owned tree or remove/interfere with any protective barrier or device on or around a City-owned tree
• Do not attach any notice, bill, poster, sign, wire, rope, cord, nail or other object to or around a City-owned tree.
• Do not commence or continue construction/activities that damage or interfere with the tree’s root system, trunk, or upper structure. Make sure you receive approval before you begin construction around a City-owned tree.

Removal

Trees on City property are “living” assets owned and maintained as a legacy for residents by the City of Regina. The City aims to protect, preserve and perpetuate the health, beauty and safety of the urban forest for the enjoyment of its citizens, past, present and future.

In an effort to ensure that all trees on City property are adequately protected from unnecessary destruction, loss and damage, a policy has been established that outlines the standards and requirements. Please review the policy for eligibility before applying for tree removal services.

Note: All other tree related requests (i.e. pruning, change in tree species) require a Service Request.

Removal of City owned trees is subject to the application process and approval of the City. Please email a completed application to PRCSAdmin@regina.ca. The applicant will be contacted with the final decision of the request. Tree removals can only be performed by City staff or City designate.