Trees

Clarington's Public Works Department is responsible for maintaining all municipal trees including boulevard trees, trees at the sides of roads, within our parks and at facilities.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the maintenance or conditions of municipal trees, please contact the Public Works Department.

Replacement of Municipal trees

If the tree on your boulevard is dead or is diseased, you can have your tree replaced.

Report a dead or diseased tree online, by email or by calling 905-263-2291. We will come look at the tree to determine if it should be removed and/or replaced.

Tree removal

By-law 97-35 regulates the destruction of trees in Clarington.

If you are planning to cut down or remove trees within a woodland area, you may need a permit from the Region of Durham. There are two types of permits available under the Region's Tree By-law--a Good Forestry Practices Permit and a Clear Cutting Permit. A "Woodland" is a treed area one hectare in size and greater, but does not include orchards, tree nurseries or Christmas tree plantations.

Read more about tree removal on the Region of Durham website.

Trees for Rural Roads Program

The Trees for Rural Roads Program offers trees free of charge to Clarington's rural residents to be planted along municipal roads on private land.

New TREES partnership for private landowners

The Region of Durham is partnering with its local Conservation Authorities on the DURHAM TREES program to subsidize tree-planting for private landowners who want to plant at least two acres of land with a minimum of 500 native trees. The program's goal is to increase forest cover region-wide by at least 30 per cent over the next five years to help mitigate climate change. Residents can use the TREE program's mapping tool, to identify their Conservation Authority and contact their Tree Planting Expert. Visit the DURHAM TREES website for more information about the program.

Emerald Ash Borer

In 2013, Clarington’s Public Works Department took an inventory of trees infested with the Emerald Ash Borer. Over the course of several years, staff have identified and removed over two thousand infested trees from municipal parks and urban municipal right-of-ways. Clarington is now working to replace all removed trees with a variety of other native species. Throughout 2021, crews have been planting replacement trees on urban boulevards in Newcastle, and in fall 2021, we will begin replanting in our municipal parks.

The emerald ash borer beetle is native to China and eastern Asia. The emerald ash borer lays eggs on tree bark and in crevices. In its larva form, the emerald ash borer feeds on the tree, and cuts off its water and nutrient supply, eventually causing the tree to die.

Lymantria dispar dispar (LDD) moths

LDD (Spongy) moths, formerly known as gypsy moths, are non-native defoliating insects that feed on broadleaf tree species, including oak, birch, maple, poplar, and willow. Outbreaks typically occur every seven to 10 years and last three to five years. Data collected by the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry indicates that 2022 may be another year with widespread LDD moths in our area.

Learn what measures you can take to help control LDD moths on your property.

Resources

• Lifecycle of the LDD moth (Government of Ontario)
• Map of projected 2022 LDD moth defoliation (Government of Ontario)
• Frequently asked questions (Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program)
• Spongy Moth Fact Sheet (Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program)