Keeping our urban forest healthy and safe is a priority. We’re proud to have earned the “Tree City USA” designation, and with the community’s help, we can help keep our trees and city beautiful for generations to come.

Tree ordinance
Parks staff and certified staff arborists are thoroughly trained in proper ways to trim, remove and maintain trees. The city has the right to trim or remove trees in the public right-of-way abutting your property. Occasionally, this includes trees that sit outside the right-of-way that obstruct or overhang a sidewalk, street or streetlight. Trees must be trimmed to allow a minimum eight-foot clearance over sidewalks and 13-foot clearance for streets.

Our staff may trim the trees abutting your property if the tree:

• is damaged, diseased or dead
• is causing a sight, sign or sidewalk obstruction
• has low-hanging or broken branches
• requires it to promote healthy growth
  

View the city’s street tree ordinance.

Recommended trees
Below is a list of recommended trees for planting in the right-of-way. These types of trees have been selected for their strength, size and ability to thrive in our extreme weather conditions.

Red Sunset Maple
Sugar Maple
Bald Cypress
Shademaster Locust
Saw Tooth Oak
Swamp White Oak
Triumph Elm

Tree diseases and emerging threats
Pine, Ash and Walnut trees all represent a significant part of Lenexa’s urban forest. Currently, these trees are facing regional threats from disease. Learn more about the issues facing these species on the Pine tree problems and Ash and Walnut tree diseases web pages.

For more information
For planting techniques, trimming techniques, proper care, and other tree information, view the street tree FAQ page, download the tree care brochure, or call us at 913.477.7100.