Our online utility bill pay system is currently down. The software vendor is looking into the issue. In the meantime, we will not proceed with shut-offs as scheduled for 2/28/23 and will update the timeline when the system returns. You can still pay by credit card, check or cash at City Hall.

Tree Care

Street Tree Root Barrier Installation

What Not to Do

Topping or severely pruning street trees is not allowed without prior permission. These images all show examples in Sumner of what not to do. Why? Our street trees are a major investment for the City.

Topping like this actually weakens trees.
Severe pruning is harmful to the tree as well.

What To Do

Street Trees

You can and should do routine care, which is watering, fertilizing, applying pesticides and pruning of limbs up to one inch in diameter. Our Parks crew will circle through the city and take care of further pruning. If you want to remove, add or further prune a street tree yourself, that may still be possible; just fill out a permit first.

Personal Trees

We realize not everyone knows how to care for trees. The high winds of this past year have reminded us that proper care and pruning are not just about aesthetics; it’s also a safety factor. We’re working on some educational videos with our own certified arborist that will come to this site in late spring 2021 about pruning. In the meantime, these infographics help offer some tips for planting, siting and caring for trees. Thank you to City of Tacoma for letting us share these graphics.

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