Forestry
Managing the care and growth of a thriving urban forest is crucial to the quality-of-life in Greeley and the health of its parks, neighborhoods and open spaces.
Share the Shade
Greeley’s residential planting program to promote healthy urban tree reforestation
Tree Care
Greeley supports property owners and residents in understanding and planting and caring for trees
Memorial Trees and Donations
The City of Greeley accepts select tree donations from residents and offers a memorial tree program to honor someone special
Grow Greeley's Urban Forest
Trees are amazing creations that enhance daily life. They provide the aesthetic qualities of beauty, color, and form; especially in our urbanized landscapes. Greeley loves trees and has been a Tree City USA for over 30 years!
In order to keep Greeley green, the forestry program does the following:
- Maintains trees and shrubs in parks and public grounds
- Monitors for damaging insect and disease issues
- Tests, licenses and monitors shade tree contractors
- Enforces City codes for tree maintenance and planting
- Manage Greeley’s Memorial Tree and Tree Donation Programs
- Plans, implements, and maintains public floral displays
Share the Shade
An average of 250 trees a year are removed from Greeley’s urban forest due to age, insects, diseases, environmental events, and lack of proper care. In one generation, that amounts to more than 6,000 trees removed, and unfortunately, the trend of replanting trees in our community is relatively low. To promote and increase tree-planting efforts in our neighborhoods, the City of Greeley has implemented a residential planting program called Share the Shade.
This program helps residents of Greeley purchase and plant trees on their property with an annual goal to plant a minimum of 100 trees throughout the community. Residential property owners can apply to receive up to two trees per year. The City of Greeley covers the expenses that include the tree, supplies, delivery and professional installation by City staff with the help of volunteers.
Greeley's urban forest consists of trees in parks, neighborhoods, and along streets. These trees are vital to the community's health, environment, and quality of life. Since 2009, Greeley's tree canopy has expanded to 8.2%, an increase of less than 2% of the city over a 14-year period. While this small expansion is good news, the Urban Forest Strategic Plan will guide our trees' planting, care, and sustainable growth over the next 20 years.
Trees improve air quality, reduce heat, support wildlife, and enhance our neighborhoods. This plan will help:
- Identify community priorities
- Address challenges like aging trees and development pressures
- Ensure objective tree cover across all of Greeley.
Quick Links
Urban Forest Strategic Plan
Share feedback to help inform the Greeley Urban Forest strategic plan, which will serve as a roadmap for the city’s urban forest for the next 20 years.
Memorial Trees
The Memorial Tree Program allows individuals, families or businesses may commemorate people or events with special tree plantings. Commemorative tree plantings are recognized in the Explore Greeley map. The map includes the location of the planting and a photograph of the tree or event.
A small brass leaf is engraved with the name and is attached to the Commemorative Tree Plaque located at the Family FunPlex. Participants can choose the type of tree and the park where they wish to have the tree(s) planted.
The Forestry team plants the tree(s), and participation in the actual planting is welcomed and encouraged. Commemorative trees receive yearly inspections and extra, individual attention in care and maintenance.
Please contact the Forestry program team to learn more about purchasing a memorial tree.
Donations
Plants offered as a donation to the City are inspected for suitability (variety, condition, location, size) before being accepted. Types generally accepted include most deciduous trees, conifers, some shrubs (not junipers), perennials, and bulbs.
Transplanting is done during the appropriate seasons and as workload allows.
A certificate is sent to the donor recording the name of the donor, variety and size of the plant(s), and location to which it was moved. The approximate wholesale value of each plant is listed on the back of the certificate along with a photograph of the plant in its new location. The certificate is signed by the Mayor, City Manager, Public Works Director, and the Forestry Manager. Information about the donation is entered into city records.
Tree Services
Learn more about planting in shared parkway space, hiring a tree service and common tree issues for trees in the region.
Emerald Ash Borer
Learn more about the Emerald Ash Borer, an emerging species threatening Ash trees across the region.