Tree Division Services

Stockton’s urban forest: In our front yards

Tree-lined avenues shade us during our hot summers, raise property values and clean our air. That’s why the City of Stockton remains committed to our urban forest, planting nearly 1,000 new trees each year at new subdivision sites, in parks and along Stockton streetscapes. And that’s why the tree in the front of your yard is probably a City of Stockton tree.

Trees planted in park strips, the planting area between the curb and sidewalk, or trees planted in tree wells are in the city right-of-way and are city-maintained. With a few exceptions trees planted six feet back from the sidewalk (8-10 feet in some newer subdivisions) are also within the city easement. 

Stockton’s urban forestry commitment is huge, and continues to be successful with the continuing support and partnership with residents throughout the community.  Thousands of property owners help by recruiting the assistance of licensed tree care operators to prune and care for city trees in between the maintenance that the city is able to provide.

Property owners may receive permission to remove trees or stumps due to:

• Obstruction to a driveway or entrance (prior to being granted permission for removal of trees or stumps for driveway widening, owner must obtain an encroachment permit from Public Works Department);

• To permit house moving;

• New construction.

To trim or remove a tree planted in the City of Stockton right-of-way/easement, a property owner should take the following steps:

• Complete the Application for Tree Services and return to Stockton Parks and Recreation Department, 6 East Lindsay Street, Stockton, CA 95202.
• Upon receipt of the Application for Tree Services, an inspector will inspect the tree.
• Permission to trim or remove the tree is determined by the inspector.
• An approval/denial letter is mailed to the property owner.
• If trimming or removal is approved, contract with vendor. Trimming trees properly is important to the health and continued life of the tree. Many of our trees are very mature and require maintenance by experts with the appropriate equipment and training (use only those vendors with a valid Classification C-64 Limited Specialty/D-49 Tree Services License and a City of Stockton business license). Vendors approved for this type of work with the City of Stockton are:

     Tree Technology, Inc.                     (916) 386-1780

     West Coast Arborists, Inc.             (209) 547-0297

     Fallen Leaf Tree Services, Inc.        (916) 447-8733

• If a tree is removed, property owners must provide a replacement tree as specified under “Tree Removal” of application (size and variety to be determined by City Arborist).

The Stockton Parks and Recreation Tree Division is responsible for the care and maintenance of about 100,000 trees in Stockton. Learn more about what the Tree Division does (pdf).

If you have questions or comments about City trees, or the Tree Division, visit Ask Stockton! You may also call the Tree Division at (209) 937-8317.

Click here for information on the Adopt-a-Tree program.

Treat trees to avoid sticky problem caused by Woolly Aphids

or other insects

Are your trees oozing sticky goo?  Don’t panic, there’s a solution! Stockton urban forestry officials remind residents that Stockton typically experiences a seasonal infestation of woolly aphids in many of the City’s nearly 12,000 hackberry trees during the warmer months and into the fall.  The messy sap that the insects produce will dissipate as temperatures fall, but if the sap and insects are bothersome, a safe and easy treatment is available.

Bayer Advanced Garden Tree & Shrub Insect Control Concentrate, available at most local hardware and variety stores, will fend off aphids for up to a year if applied per manufacturer instructions.  The systemic treatment is poured on the ground around the base of infested trees.  It should be applied prior to insect appearance (March or April) to avoid heavy infestations. If that is not possible then apply insecticide as soon as aphids appear. It is very important to water deeply before and after the treatment. It takes about three weeks for the insecticide to become effective.

The Parks and Recreation Department has responded to a number of concerns about the sticky residue that these insects leave under hackberry trees.  The substance is honeydew, or sugar water, that is produced by sap-sucking woolly aphids.  The aphids become dominant on outside, lower new growth on the trees during warmer weather.  The honeydew is non-toxic and can be washed off with water. Washing off the honeydew will not get rid of the infestation.  The Bayer treatment is recommended because it provides a long-lasting solution.

No other solution for the aphid problem in Hackberry trees is known.  These particular aphids are native to Asia and, other than ladybugs, have no known predators.  A high-pressure water rinse will only temporarily alleviate the aphid problem if it knocks the insects off of the trees. 

The suggested Bayer treatment may also be used on a variety of other trees and shrubs for aphids, beetles, mealy bugs and scales. Treatment and product information is available from Bayer Advanced Garden Tree & Shrub Insect Center.

The City of Stockton's Municipal Code offers guidelines pertaining to the following:

• Trees, weeds, bushes, hedges, etc.
• Regulations pertaining to the Planting, Care and Removal  of Trees in Street Rights-of-Way, Public Utility Easements Adjacent to Street Rights-of-Way, Parks and Other Public Places
• Heritage Trees
• Approved Tree List for city right-of-way planting (pdf)

All trees are not appropriate for planting in the city right-of-way. If you plan on planting a tree in the city right-of-way, please be sure to plant a tree from the approved list.

A new tree may be planted in the city's right-of-way, free of charge, to those residing within the city limits. Approximately 500 trees this season are scheduled for planting from October through March. All the trees for the 2006-07 planting season have been committed to previous requests. Requests for the 2007-08 planting season are invited. Send your request via Ask Stockton, or call (209) 937-8317.