Urban Forestry.
The City of Hamilton's Urban Forestry Division is dedicated to maintaining the health and beauty of our urban trees while ensuring safe and reliable service to the community. As part of the Department of Infrastructure, we manage a rigorous tree trimming program to maintain proper line clearance throughout our city. Through proper management we are able to provide safe and reliable service to our city.
Public Tree Pruning & Removal
The Municipal Arborist reviews trees in the power lines by appointment.
Frequent Q & A
Don’t see your questions answered? Please feel free to reach out to our department.
Municipal Arborist
David S. Bienemann
The mission of the City of Hamilton Municipal Arborist is to provide a high quality urban forestry program to the community, in conjunction with expert advice on private tree care. The Arborist cares for city trees and manages a regular line clearance tree trimming program to ensure safe and reliable electric service.
Office: (513) 785-7556
The City of Hamilton urban forest includes more than 13,000 trees in public parks, green spaces, and rights-of-way. A healthy and safe urban forest provides wildlife diversity, higher property values, improved air and water quality, storm water management, energy savings from summer and winter extremes, and quality human health.
Why We Care for our Trees
Tree City USA
The City of Hamilton has been recognized as a Tree City USA community every year since 2005. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. More information on the program is available here.
Educational Events
In partnership with the Ohio State University Extension Office and Hamilton's Tree Advisory Board to host quarterly educational seminars free to the public. These engaging presentations focus on useful tree information and topics, from planting and tree species to diseases and pests. Educational events for Hamilton elementary students are also hosted throughout the summer months. As events are confirmed for the fall and spring seminars, that information is posted to the City of Hamilton's Urban Forestry website.
Stay up to date with our upcoming events by following our Instagram!
@hamiltonohforestry
OSU BUG Mobile
Tuesday, July 9: 10am - 1pm @ Joyce Park Nature Center
RSVP: (513) 785-7556 or Dave.Bienemann@hamilton-oh.gov
Soils, Prairies & Trees Program
Tuesday, July 16: 6pm - 8pm
Edible Plants & Trees Program
Tuesday, August 13: 6pm - 8pm
“Drop in & Dye” Program
Tuesday, September 17: 1pm - 5pm
Dawni Gladish, Instructor: Experience the dying of Shibori using natural plant dyes.
Tree Selection, Planting, & Maintenance
A healthy community forest begins with careful planning. Trees provide many benefits such as wildlife diversity, higher property values, improved air and water quality, storm water management, energy savings from summer and winter extremes, and quality human health. The key to these benefits, however, is to select the right tree and plant it in the right place.
Pruning & Removal
The City of Hamilton's Tree Ordinance requires that property owners obtain written approval from the City prior to pruning and/or removal of any tree located in the public right-of-way (typically, this is the area between the curb and the sidewalk). There is no charge for the application to prune or remove a street tree.
Pests & Diseases
Pests and diseases such as the Asian Longhorn Beetle, Emerald Ash Borer, and Thousand Cankers Disease have plagued our urban forest for years. In an effort to protect the trees of Ohio from multiple pest infestations that threaten the health and viability of the state’s hardwood forests, the movement of firewood and certain tree products is tightly regulated by both state and federal authorities in Ohio.
The City of Hamilton Tree Advisory Board is charged with advising the City Council and administration on matters related to the City’s urban forest. Learn more about the Tree Board here.
Urban Forestry Interns
The Urban Forestry department takes college interns every summer to learn about urban forestry and tree care. Interns participate in tree ID, GIS inventory, forest drones, utility forestry operations, diagnosis, project management, educational programming, and research projects.
Meet our 2024 interns: Alyssa, Haley, Anna, and Madison!
