Picture this! The recycling truck is here to pick up your recycling, when all of a sudden, the tree branches hanging a little too low in your front yard scrapes the truck and leaves go everywhere. Your Saturday morning spent picking up all the fallen leaves is wasted. What. A. Nightmare! Luckily it was just a dream. Did you know the City of Sugar Land has tree trimming requirements to ensure public safety in rights-of-ways and to prevent this nightmare from becoming a reality?
A right-of-way is a public space that is maintained to clear any obstructions. For example, a street! The City’s tree trimming ordinance improves visibility of stop signs, traffic signals, street name signs and other items related to public safety.
To be in compliance with the City’s tree trimming ordinance, it’s best to hire an arborist or a professional tree trimming service IF 1. your tree limbs are large or cannot be safely reached, 2. your pruning involves the use of power equipment, or 3. your limbs are near power lines. When looking for the right professional service, consider one who has proof of insurance, references, or is a member of a professional organization.
Branches that are growing over a Right of Way, must have a “clear space under the tree that is 12 feet above the street and 8 fee above the sidewalk surface.” “Where the tree overhangs a nonresidential street, there must be a clear space under the tree that is 14 feet above the street surface and 8 feet above the sidewalk surface.” Find out more about your maintenance responsibilities by contacting your HOA or call the City’s Public Works Department at 311 or 281-275-2450. Email us at 311@sugarlandtx.gov
Many property owners can safely trim lower branches. Here are some Tree Pruning Tips for your next DIY pruning activity. *Remember, for large limbs (limbs about 2 to 4 inches in diameter) and limbs that cannot be reached safely, please hire a professional arborist*
- Use the proper tools and keep them clean and sharp.
- Remove any branches that interfere with streets, sidewalks or routine maintenance such as mowing.
- Try to maintain a trunk without branches for the first 10 to 15 feet off the ground. Trim competing ones for greater control of the tree.
- Prune any broken, diseased or dead branches.
- When making your final cut on a branch, cut on the outside edge of the branch collar so that the natural defense chemicals that protect the tree are not removed.
- Remove any branch sprouts or suckers that are growing from the base of the tree in the late summer.
- Prune in late winter when trees are dormant. With spring growth following soon after, fresh wounds are exposed for the shortest time.
- Dressing the tree wound is not recommended, except in the months of April, May and June to prevent oak wilt infection.
The City of Sugar Land picks up green waste once a week. To find out what day your green waste is getting picked up click this link https://www.sugarlandtx.gov/313/Solid-Waste-Recycling-Service
Here are some guidelines for leaving your green waste on the curb to be picked up
- Set your green waste out by 7 am on your collection day but no earlier than 6 pm the evening before
- No more than 10 cubic yards will be collected
- Loose materials such as grass clippings and leaves should be placed in a reusable container or tied clear translucent bags
- If a reusable container is used, it needs to be removed from the curb no later than 8 am on the morning following the day of collection.
- Brush and tree limbs must be less than 4 inches in diameter and less than 4 feet in length; or between 4 and 6 inches and less than 2 feet in length.
- Brush and tree limbs must be stacked in small piles (3 feet high and 3 feet wide). Bundling of tree limbs is not required but recommended.
- Green waste should be set out at the curb at least four feet from other objects.
- Do not place green waste in your city issued garbage or recycle cart.
- If you have a lawn care professional tending your yard, please request that they service your yard the day prior to your collection day.
If a resident or property owner does not achieve compliance by the requested date, Code Enforcement will take over the ordinance violation which could result in a municipal court citation. Tree trimming is essential to keeping our sweet community safe. To find more information on all things tree trimming click here https://www.sugarlandtx.gov/1079/Trees-and-Tree-Trimming