City Advises Caution with Tree Damage from Potential Heavy Snowfall Forecast

In response to heavy snow forecasts predicted to begin the evening of Tuesday, May 5, the city advises extreme caution with downed trees and branches and encourages community members to avoid being under or in close proximity to larger trees with snow accumulation. City staff will assess damage to public tree areas.

As a reminder, the city does not conduct tree limb cleanup on private property – that is the responsibility of community members. If limbs from private trees have fallen in streets or other public Rights of Way, community members should carefully remove them from these areas. For branch disposal information, check out the Western Disposal Services webpage.

Due to current dry conditions, tree branches are more likely to break when weighed down by snow. Once weather conditions clear, community members should follow the guidelines below when dealing with damaged trees:

• Check for hazards. Before approaching a tree, examine your surroundings to avoid contact with downed utility lines or broken, hanging branches. Contact your utility company if a tree is affecting power or other utility lines.
• Contact the city, if necessary. The city takes care of damaged public trees in the Right of Way, which are typically areas such as sidewalks and medians. The city will pick up limbs from public property trees that are 10 inches in diameter and larger. If a limb from a public tree is less than 10 inches in diameter, community members should compost or appropriately dispose of these limbs Let the city know about large limbs or downed trees via Inquire Boulder.
• Don’t try to do it all yourself. If your private property tree has broken or hanging branches, or if you need assistance hauling larger downed branches, the city recommends using an arborist licensed with the city.

For more information, check out the city’s Downed Tree Limbs after Storms webpage.