Forestry Information

Home > Parks and Facilities > Forestry > Forestry Information

Trees in Rockville

Rockville Tree Crew Rockville values its trees and forests because of the many benefits they provide to the community.

The Mayor and Council included in their vision for how the city will look in 2020 a Quality Environment in which Rockville is a green city in all areas. They also included the theme of having Exceptional City Services and Amenities. Trees play a significant role in each of these themes.

The City maintains approximately 28,000 street trees and 872 acres of parkland. Recognizing that forests are some of the most significant natural resources within the city, more than 300 acres of parkland are designated as Forest Preserve. Just one acre of trees can remove up to 2.6 tons of carbon dioxide from the air each year.

Reporting Felled Trees and Branches

To report a felled tree or downed or hanging branches, call 240-314-8700. If a tree or branch has caused electric utility wires to come down, call Pepco's 24-hour emergency line at 202-872-3432.

City Forester

The City Forester’s Office is responsible for the maintenance of all trees along the street within the public right-of-way, in parks and around City facilities. In general, street trees are located between the curb and sidewalk. Where there is not a sidewalk, the width of the right-of-way must be determined in order to know if a tree is maintained by the City’s or on private property.

The City Forester also implements the provisions of the City's Forest and Tree Preservation Ordinance, which regulates tree removal and requires tree planting on new development sites.

The objectives of the City Forester’s Office are to:

Preserve, protect and manage Rockville’s urban forest through tree pruning and other preventative maintenance.
Enhance public safety by removing dead, dying, hazardous and utility conflicted trees.
Improve the quality of Rockville’s urban forest areas by implementing a non-native invasive plant management program.

Benefits of Trees

Tree Planting for Arbor Day in Rockville Environmental Benefits

Improved water quality -- Trees reduce erosion and absorb pollutants before they enter streams.
Stormwater management -- Trees intercept rainfall, which slows storm water runoff and reduces flooding.
Improved air quality- -- Trees absorb air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, ozone and sulfur dioxide. Trees also produce oxygen and play an important role in carbon sequestration.
Climate control -- Trees cool in the summer by intercepting sunlight, and reducing the amount of heat absorbed by streets, parking lots and buildings. Trees also allow sunlight to warm in the winter.
Shelter for wildlife.

Economic Benefits

Reduced energy costs – one sentence explanation needed.
Improved property values – one sentence explanation needed.

Social Benefits

Trees provide privacy and serve as a screen for undesirable views. Trees can be plants in memory of someone. Trees break up the monotony of hardscapes and buildings.

Watch a Video

Silver Maple Video

Storm Clean-up (January 2011)
Rockville 11 interviews City Forester Wayne Noll about the City's tree clean-up efforts after the January 26, 2011 snow storm.
Pepco Tree Safety (October 2010)
Rockville 11 interviews City Forester Wayne Noll to find out how Pepco is partnering with the City to trim back trees to keep residents safe during winter.
Farewell Silver Maple (June 2010)
The Silver Maple tree that has stood by the grey courthouse in downtown Rockville for more than 150 years had to be removed recently since it was hollowed out and hazardous.
City Forester Wayne Noll Talks Tree Cleanup Efforts (February 2010)
Damaged trees were victims of the blizzard of 2010. City Forester Wayne Noll talks about how the City worked to keep sidewalks and roadways cleared after the massive storm.

Hiring a Tree Care Contractor

All companies and individuals who perform tree care in the State of Maryland are required to be licensed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as a Tree Care Expert . You should ask for proof of this license. It is also a good idea to ask if the company has a certified arborist on staff. This certification is administered by the International Society of Arboriculture and indicates a higher level of tree care knowledge.

Find a qualified contractor:

More information on trees:

02/01/2011