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Urban Forestry

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1. Are property owners required to maintain trees on the public right-of-way?

Property owners in the City of Cheyenne are required to maintain their private trees and right-of-way trees abutting their property, for the safe use of city streets, alleys, and sidewalks. Trees and shrubs overhanging the street and alley need to be pruned to allow a 14-foot clearance above the entire surface of the street or alley. Trees and shrubs overhanging the sidewalk need to be pruned to allow an 8-foot clearance above the entire sidewalk surface.

2. Where do I dispose of my yard waste?

Yard waste may be disposed of at the City of Cheyenne Public Compost Facility located at 3714 Windmill Rd.
(Across from Prairie View Golf Course). For more information call (307) 637-6440 or go to their website link below.
Compost Facility Web Page

3. Are Cottonwood Trees good for planting in Cheyenne?

See link below.
Cottonwood Tree Facts and Information

4. How often should I be watering my trees?

See link below.
General Information for Watering Trees

5. What is Xeriscape?

Xeriscape is a landscape that flourishes with less water. For more information see the link below. Xeriscape

6. Are property owners required to maintain intersection visibility?

Corner property owners need to provide a "sight clearance triangle" for vehicles at street intersections. Please see City Code Link below for more detailed information.
City Code Chapter 17.116.180(B)

7. Can I plant conifer trees along the street or what is known as a tree lawn?

City Code prohibits the planting of conifer trees in the tree lawn area. (See link below) When planted along the street they eventually overgrow the width of the planting strip known as a tree lawn, the area of landscape between the street and sidewalk. Due to height and width of these trees, required street clearance, weather elements, and obstruction of the vision of drivers, conifers cannot be planted in the tree lawn area.
City Code Section 12.60.020

8. Do you have information on pruning trees?

Please see the link below.
Pruning Trees

9. Do you recommend licensed arborists?

The Urban Forestry Division suggests that consumers obtain several estimates, check references, and enter into a written contract before tree work begins. See more information at the link below.
Licensed Arborists

10. What is the best way to plant trees?

See link below.
Tree Planting Method

11. How close should I plant trees in the public right-of-way?

See link below.
Tree Spacing in Right-of-Way

12. What are conifer trees?

A conifer is a cone-bearing tree, typically an evergreen with needle shaped leaves. Examples of conifers are pine, spruce, juniper, and fir trees.

13. Why do I have browning foliage on my deciduous trees?

Several conditions can cause browning leaves:
1. Drought conditions can cause leaves to turn color and/or dry up. Drought or lack of water causes the outer edge of the leaf to brown progressing to the main leaf vein.
2. Herbicides can cause leaves to change color and/or turn brown. Frequently, herbicide damaged leaves will distort in shape and then turn brown or fade in color very rapidly.
3. Various insects such as aphids, leaf hoppers, and other sap feeding insects will cause leaf discoloration.
4. Spider mites and microscopic eriophyid mites cause leaf discoloration.
5. Leaf fungal or bacterial diseases cause discoloration and browning.
Aspen and Poplar Leaf Diseases

14. Will herbicides damage my trees?

Most herbicides are used in lawns to kill broadleaf plants. Trees and shrubs are broadleaf plants. Minimal herbicide use near trees and shrubs will help promote healthier trees and shrubs. Lawn grass is more detrimental to tree and shrub growth than broadleaf weeds. Some herbicides used in lawn care can stay in the soil and build up in concentration during frequent and heavy applications of weed killer chemicals, thereby slowly or quickly, depending on tree health, causing damage to tree roots. Whatever calamity befalls roots, so too will it affect the limbs and leaves. If spray drift from herbicides used for lawn care gets on tree or shrub leaves it will cause the leaves to die, deform, or discolor.

15. Is it safe to spray insecticides on my trees?

Insecticides should be used as a last resort. Many common insecticides are extremely toxic to birds, fish, pets, and humans -- especially children. Frequent pesticide use actually promotes the target insect pest to develop resistance. A few insects may survive a specific insecticide treatment. These survivors then go on to have progeny that have a higher chance of also resisting future specific insecticide treatments. Many insecticides will also kill beneficial insects, which can lead to a spider mite problem.

Safe and effective pesticide use requires that the label is read and followed. Temperature, wind, and precipitation, as well as the right pesticide application for the problems are critical factors in successful and safe pesticide application.

Decrease the need for insecticides by planting trees and shrubs that are suitable to our climate. Keep the trees and shrubs healthy with sufficient water, and fertilizer as needed. Be careful not to underwater or over-water the trees and shrubs. Avoid any kind of damage to the trunk and root system. Use a mulch around the base of the tree, in as large of an area as possible, to eliminate lawn grass competition and the need to use mowers and string trimmers right next to the bark.

16. What causes brown spots on Aspen and Apple Tree Leaves?

Aspen trees and some of the apple tree varieties have brown/black spots on their leaves. This is various leaf spot fungus. Trees with leaf fungus problems are best treated when the leaves are not on the trees. In the fall after leaf drop, thoroughly rake up and throw away the leaves. Overwintering leaves are a source of infection the following spring.

If your trees have leaf fungus problems every year, spraying with a fungicide in the spring as the leaves are emerging from the buds and one or two more times during the summer, will reduce the leaf fungus problems.
Tree Diseases

17. What are the best trees and shrubs for Cheyenne?

See link below.
Trees and Shrubs

18. How does the environment in Cheyenne effect the types of trees that are planted?

See below
Weather elements that effect planting trees

19. What did the Street and Park Tree Evaluation for Cheyenne determine?

See link below.
Street and Park Tree Inventory