Urban Forestry

The Urban Forestry program is managed by City Forester Rob Davis, 720-887-2446.

"As representatives of the people of Westminster, our management practices focus on providing an urban forest that is safe, healthy, diverse, and able to provide the greatest benefit to the people, wildlife and environment of our city."

To achieve our vision we aim to employ the most effective arboricultural techniques, utilize equipment and technology that results in timely and efficient work and to work closely with the citizens and commercial partners who are part of Westminster's urban forest.

Currently Westminster Forestry actively maintains over 14,000 trees in parks, greenbelts, facilities and rights-of-way. Our staff strives to complete the pruning cycle of these trees once every four years.

There are also thousands of trees found within the 2,500-plus acres of open space across the city. Management of open space trees focuses on hazard mitigation and protection from wildlife damage. Dead trees, broken branches and downed woody debris commonly are left in our natural areas as they play an important role in the ecosystem.

Westminster Forestry coordinates several programs and offers various services available to residents:

• Limb recycling program
• Plant a Street Tree rebate program
• Living Legacy memorial tree planting program
• Christmas tree recycling
• Tree donations

The Forestry Section is available to help citizens with the care of their trees, and we are happy to address concerns related to our urban forest.

What is "Green Matters"?  Westminster's Green Team has began a deliberate education campaign under the "Green Matters" logo to help identify quickly environmental issues in which website visitors might be interested.  Questions about the Green Team can be answered by Environmental and Administrative Services Officer Rachel Harlow-Schalk at rharlow@cityofwestminster.us.

Learn more about proper tree care - download a copy of Westminster’s “Growing Healthy Trees” (PDF, 1.1 MB)

We commonly address questions and concerns related to the topics listed below:

Pruning

Arbor Day Foundation 

Dr. Ed Gilman's website      

Planting

Westminster's planting specifications (PDF, 130 kb)

Westminster nursery stock acceptance specifications (PDF, 71 kb)

Guide to tree care in dry climates  (Denver Water and the Community Tree Alliance)

Tips for water conservation

Tree maintenance

International Society of Arboriculture 

Don't top trees (PDF, 71 kb)

Insect and disease diagnosis

CSU Cooperative Extension 

Hiring tree contractors

Westminster Forestry tips for hiring an arborist (PDF, 63 kb)

Review a current list of Denver’s licensed tree contractors 

Plant selection

Westminster residents play a major part in growing a healthy urban forest, and selecting the right tree for the right place is crucial. Take a look at suggested shade, ornamental and conifer trees commonly found at local nurseries.

If you’re interested in further info on any particular species, check out the image gallery in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's PLANTS database  to get a better visual.