Boulevard Tree Planting Program

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Boulevard Tree Planting

Boulevard trees are an essential part of the urban landscape in the City of La Crosse. These trees provide numerous benefits to the city, such as improving air quality, reducing stormwater runoff, and providing shade and beauty to the streets. La Crosse has a diverse array of boulevard trees, including varieties of both coniferous and deciduous trees. The city has also implemented a tree planting program to ensure a healthy and sustainable urban forest. We encourage residents to plant and care for trees on boulevards adjacent to their properties to further enhance the beauty and benefits of the city's urban forest.

Planting your on tree:
Would you like to add a tree to your boulevard? Boulevard Tree Permits are required for planting trees within the City of La Crosse owned right-of-ways. Permits can be completed by property owners, with no fee associated. Complete and submit the Boulevard Tree Planting Permit to begin. Our arborist will evaluate your planting site for the best possible planting location. Please review the Boulevard Tree Planting Information prior to submitting your application.

Note: Please consider the list of approved trees found in the Boulevard Tree Information when you are researching what tree to plant.

Request a City planted Tree:

If you would like a boulevard tree, but do not wish to plant your own, the City will plant one for you!

How to make a request

1.) Complete the online request form - staff will only contact you if any questions arise
OR
2.) Call the Parks & Forestry Department at 608-789-8679 to be added to the spring or fall planting list.

Note: Our arborist will determine what species of trees we order and plant. With this option, you can still request a certain type of tree (eg. flowering, small, not a maple etc.). We will try our best to match a tree to your request, but cannot guarantee it. For more information regarding trees on public property, please review Municipal Code Chapter 34, Article V: Trees on Public Property. Specifically, sec. 34-144. - Regulations for planting and care of trees.

Helpful information for your new trees

Watering Your New Boulevard Tree

Watering newly planted trees is crucial to help establish strong root systems, especially within our boulevards. Newly planted trees should receive about 1 inch of water, 2-3 times per week until the ground is frozen. Proper watering ensures the development of healthy root systems, increasing their chances of survival and growth. Consistent watering reduces stress and encourages roots to grow deeper, making our urban canopy more resilient to drought and environmental changes.

Learn more about proper watering, view our help document: Proper Watering Information

The City provides watering bags upon request. If you would like to request a watering bag, please call the Parks & Forestry Dept at 608-789-8679.