Parks & Forestry Division

The City of Sheboygan Forestry Division is responsible for maintaining trees located within the city right-of-way throughout the City of Sheboygan.

If you notice large dead limbs or branches obstructing sidewalks, roadways, driveways, or traffic signs, please contact City Forester Tim Bull at 920-459-3395 or Timothy.Bull@sheboyganwi.gov.

The City Forester will assess the situation, determine the appropriate action, and advise the adjacent property owner regarding any maintenance or corrective measures to be taken.

The City of Sheboygan Forestry Division maintains the trees located on the city right of way within the City of Sheboygan city limits. Contact the City Forester, Tim Bull, at 920-459-3395 or Timothy.Bull@sheboyganwi.gov if you notice large dead limbs, limbs obstructing sidewalks, roadways, your driveway, or traffic signs. The City Forester will assess the situation, make a determination and advise the adjacent property owner of anything that can or will be done.

If you notice a tree or tree branch down, blocking a street or sidewalk, or a hanging branch that may be hazardous, please follow the appropriate contact procedure:

• During regular business hours (Monday–Friday, 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM):
  Contact the Department of Public Works Office at 920-459-3440, option 7.

• Outside of regular business hours:
  Contact Sheboygan County Communications Center at 920-459-3111.

A properly maintained tree can provide years of benefits, including shade, aesthetic beauty, habitat, reduced stormwater runoff, and carbon sequestration. You can help your tree thrive by providing adequate water during prolonged dry periods.

• Newly planted trees require heavy, infrequent watering. For a small tree, 5–10 gallons per week is a good general guideline.

• Mulch added after planting provides nutrients and improves moisture retention. Apply mulch to a depth of 3–4 inches, but avoid piling it against the trunk.

Important: Weed whips, mowers, and other equipment can severely injure tree trunks. Please avoid contact with the trunk.

If you would like to help a new tree become established, consider taking the Tree Watering Pledge! City staff will remove pledged trees from their watering list, allowing them to water the remaining trees more frequently.

If you feel your tree requires any maintenance, please contact City Forester Tim Bull at 920-459-3395 or Timothy.Bull@sheboyganwi.gov.

City Ordinance prohibits residents from pruning or cutting street trees. This ordinance helps prevent improper pruning and protects residents from the hazards associated with doing tree work themselves.

However, residents can assist the Forestry crew with certain maintenance tasks, such as sucker pruning.

What is Sucker Pruning?
Sucker pruning involves removing suckers, which are small branches or sprouts that grow either:

• From the ground around the tree’s base, or
• Directly out of the tree’s main stem.

Suckers often regrow each year and can interfere with roads and sidewalks, so pruning them helps keep trees healthy and public spaces safe.

The property owner adjacent to a removed tree has the option to keep the wood. Wood from removed trees is left in its original form and will not be cut to firewood length.

Important: Be sure to check state and local ordinances before moving firewood.

Tree roots are often blamed for damaging or blocking sewer pipes. In reality, roots only grow into a sewer pipe after the pipe has already been damaged by factors such as soil compaction or aging sewer laterals. Cracks or eroded grout create an environment rich in nutrients, oxygen, and warmth, which encourages rapid root growth and can interfere with sewage flow. Because the roots themselves are not at fault, the Forestry Division will not remove healthy trees whose roots are growing into defective or damaged sewer laterals. Property owners are responsible for addressing any issues with damaged sewer lines and should contact a plumber to evaluate repair options.

The street trees in the City of Sheboygan are an important part of our Urban Forest, which provides a wide range of aesthetic, economic, and environmental benefits for residents, businesses, and visitors. The overall monetary value of the Urban Forest exceeds one million dollars, and the City values every individual tree.

The Forestry Division’s mission is to protect and care for trees. Trees are removed only when they pose a safety hazard.

When a street tree damages a sidewalk, it creates a safety concern. The City works with residents through its Sidewalk Program to inspect and address damaged sidewalks. For more information, please visit the City of Sheboygan’s Sidewalk Program.

The street trees in the City of Sheboygan are an important part of the Urban Forest. The Urban Forest provides a multitude of aesthetic, economic, and environmental benefits to citizens, businesses, and visitors. The overall monetary value of the Urban Forest is over a million dollars. The City of Sheboygan values every individual tree. The Forestry Divison's mission is to protect trees. Trees are only removed when they pose a safety hazard.

When a street tree is damaging a sidewalk this also creates a safety hazard. The City has a sidewalk program where it works with the residents to inspect damaged sidewalks. View the City of Sheboygan’s Sidewalk Program for more information.

If a tree is placed on the removal list, it may be removed by either the City tree crew or a private contractor. Please note that removal may not occur immediately, as trees are typically removed in groups to ensure the most efficient use of personnel and equipment.

The entire tree will be removed, and the stump will be addressed at a later date.

No parking signs will be posted the day before tree removals are scheduled. Vehicles that violate these parking restrictions may be ticketed and/or towed at the owner’s expense.

If a tree is placed on the removal list, our tree crew or a private contractor may be performing the removal. Please understand the tree may not be removed immediately. Typically, trees are removed in groups, as this is the most efficient use of personnel and equipment groupings. The entire tree will be removed and the stump will be removed at a later date. No parking signs will be posted the day before where tree removals are scheduled for the following day. Vehicles will be ticketed and/or towed at the owner’s expense for violating these parking signs. 

Stump grinding may be performed by either Public Works staff or a private contractor, similar to tree removal. While every effort is made to complete stump grinding in a timely manner, stumps are a lower priority in the work schedule.

The stump grinding process requires contacting utility companies to mark underground utilities before work can begin. Like tree removal, stump grinding is typically done in groups, as this is the most efficient use of personnel and equipment.

As with tree removal, stump grinding may be done by Public Works staff or by a private contractor. Public Works will make every effort to grind stumps in a timely manner, however, stumps are a low priority in our work schedule. The stump grinding is a process that involves contacting the utility companies to mark the underground utilities prior to work. As with tree removal, this work is done in groups, as this is the most efficient use of personnel and equipment.

The City does not allow individuals to cut or remove street trees or tree branches themselves. All tree work within the public right-of-way must be performed by authorized City personnel or contractors.

The Forestry Division typically schedules tree planting in the spring and fall. Trees for these seasons are ordered during the preceding winter.

Planting start and end dates depend on weather conditions and tree delivery schedules from our suppliers.

If you would like a tree planted in the city terrace adjacent to your property, please submit your request online using the “Request a Tree” button, or contact City Forester Tim Bull at 920-459-3395 or Timothy.Bull@sheboyganwi.gov.

The Forestry Division typically schedules tree planting in the spring and fall. Trees for the spring and fall planting seasons are ordered during the preceding winter.

Please note that planting start and end dates depend on weather conditions and tree delivery schedules from our suppliers.

If you would like a tree planted in the city terrace adjacent to your property, please submit your request online using the “REQUEST A TREE” button, or contact City Forester Tim Bull at 920-459-3395 or Timothy.Bull@sheboyganwi.gov.

The Forestry Division typically plans tree planting in the spring and fall. Trees planted in the spring and fall are ordered during the preceding winter. The start and end times of planting are weather dependent and also depend on when our suppliers are able to deliver trees. If you would like a tree planted in the city terrace adjacent to your property please submit your request online using the "REQUEST A TREE" button, or contact the City Forester, Tim Bull, at 920-459-3395 or Timothy.Bull@sheboyganwi.gov.

Tree selection is handled exclusively by the City Forester. Many factors influence which species can be planted, including site conditions, soil type, and space constraints.