Frequently Asked Questions

A “street tree” is any tree planted by or on behalf of the city in the street right-of-way. Typically trees are planted in the “park strip” which is the area between the sidewalk and the street.
Sometimes, when the sidewalk is adjacent to the curb, (known as a “monolithic sidewalk”) the tree is planted next to the sidewalk. If a tree is not within the public right-of-way, it is not a street tree. The species of street trees vary but include trees like Crape Myrtle, Chinese Pistache, and Chitalpa, just to name a few.

They are owned by the city.

The public right-of-way is the area that includes the street, sidewalk, and some property along the street. Typically, the city has an easement over this area. The width varies from street to street, but typically the ROW extends approximately 10’ from the back of curb towards the adjacent property. Most of the trees planted in the park strip between the sidewalk and street are street trees. If there is no park strip, trees planted in the property owners front yard or setback, near the sidewalk may be street trees.

We have a 2-person crew and one seasonal employee that provide certain maintenance services such as pruning and spraying for street trees. The city also contracts out several services including the planting, stump grinding, and some pruning.

We maintain trees growing on city property. That includes trees growing on street rights-of-way, in parks, and on other city properties. When a request for work on a street tree is made, staff will inspect the tree, determine if it is a city street tree, and what work is needed. If the tree is not on the right-of-way, or is not a City street tree, staff will advise you. We can't perform tree work on private property, so you would need to hire an arborist.

As the adjacent owner, you are expected to maintain everything between the street and your property line (the right-of-way line), including the sidewalk and street trees. Maintenance includes watering, and removing fallen leaves, branches, and fruit debris. However, residents SHALL NOT trim, prune, spray, or remove city trees without a permit from the city.
Trees should be "deep watered," that is, watered slowly for an extended period of time. This helps promote deep root growth, which is better for the tree. It can also help reduce damage caused by shallow roots. Residents are also responsible for leaf raking and removal, removal of ivy, and removal of routine tree debris such as small twigs and branches that might drop or be knocked off by passing trucks.

Generally, swarming bees do not need to be removed. A Honeybee colony contains only a single Queen, but in order to ensure new colonies can begin and the populations can grow, new Queen bees are produced each year. All the Queens except one will leave their parent colony, to fly off and establish their own colonies somewhere else. As they leave they take a large "entourage" of worker bees with them, and you may have seen this exciting dispersal flight as what is called a swarm", often in the warm days of early spring. This can be a pretty frightening thing to be in the middle of, as hundreds or thousands of bees suddenly are flying around and past you as you are walking down the street.
However, at this time there is less chance of being stung, for the workers at this time are not defending anything in particular, and have no instinct to attack you, unless one gets trapped in your clothes and feels personally threatened. The swarms stop each day to rest, usually as a huge ball of bees with the Queen somewhere in the midst of all the workers, and from this blob workers will venture off in different directions looking for an appropriate cavity to offer their Queen as a potential new home.
The best course of action, should you one day discover a football-sized clump of bees in a tree in your front yard, or perhaps on the fence, is.....nothing, for in a day or so the bees will leave again. The tree limb and fence are not good nest sites, so all they are doing is hanging out while the workers look for a better place. Basically, Honey Bees are defensive and will attack only something that is threatening their colony. Swarms first move to a temporary site such as a tree branch.
The swarm will usually remain here for about 24 to 48 hours until permanent quarters are located, and then move on. Permanent quarters may consist of a bee hive, hollow tree, hollow wall, attics, etc., typically some place which is sheltered from the weather.

Mistletoe will not harm the tree and can be left in place. Ivy growing up a tree trunk can literally suffocate a tree. It is the property owners responsibility to remove ivy.

There are a number of diseases and infestations that can attack street trees such as powdery mildew and aphids. Most street trees are selected from species or varieties with the greatest resistance to disease, however diseases and infestations can still occur. In most cases, these diseases are left to run their course and the tree is healthy enough to resist the disease or infestation, spraying is done only when absolutely essential. If you have a tree that appears diseased or infested please call community services at 846-0444 to have staff inspect the tree.

Routine maintenance including raking leaves is the responsibility of the property owner. Generally, you should put them out for disposal along with your other green waste or compost them in your yard.
During the leaf fall season, in areas with the heaviest leaf fall, such as Miller, 6th St. and 5th St., our staff will use the tractor to scrape leaves into a pile, and then load the leaves into a dump truck and haul them away. If you live in one of these areas, and rake your leaves into a pile, please be sure that the pile is placed away from the curb and gutter. This reduces the leaves being washed down the gutter and clogging storm drains, and makes it easier for the crews to pick up the leaves.

Street trees are a vital asset to the urban environment. Without street trees, the city is a sterile landscape of concrete, brick, steel, and asphalt. Picture the City of Gilroy without any trees and you see a pretty grim picture. Trees add beauty and create an environment beneficial to our mental health. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases and, in turn, replenish the atmosphere with oxygen for people to breathe. Trees have other benefits that people take for granted. They help cool the streets with shade, lessen glare off buildings and sidewalks, absorb noise, and bring beauty to our community.