Urban Forest and Tree Care

The District maintains trees located on municipal property, including:

• Parks and public green spaces
• Boulevard trees along roadways
• Trees around civic buildings and facilities

Care includes pruning for safety, removal of hazardous trees, and planting new trees where appropriate.

Reporting a concern about a public tree

Let us know if you notice:

• A fallen or leaning public tree
• Broken or hanging branches creating a safety hazard
• Trees damaged after storms
• Roots impacting sidewalks or roadways

Public tree concerns can be reported through the District’s service request system.

Most of Sooke’s tree canopy is on private land. Proper care helps keep trees healthy—and can reduce wildfire risks around your home.

Planting the right tree in the right place

Consider:

• Full size at maturity
• Suitability to soil, sun, and moisture
• Distance from buildings and structures
• Location relative to powerlines
• Native and climate-resilient species

Routine maintenance

• Water young trees regularly for the first 2–3 years.
• Add mulch around the base to protect roots and retain moisture.
• Avoid piling soil or mulch against the trunk.
• Prune dead or damaged branches, ideally during dormant seasons.
• Hire a certified arborist for large or complex work.

Living in a forested community means wildfire preparedness includes thoughtful vegetation management. FireSmart principles help reduce the risk of wildfire spreading to homes while still maintaining a healthy tree canopy.

FireSmart landscaping practices

• Maintain 1–1.5 metres of non-combustible space around your home (bare soil, gravel, rock).
• Keep shrubs, trees, and wood debris tidy and well spaced in the 1.5–10 metre zone.
• Prune tree branches up to 2 metres from the ground (ladder fuels).
• Remove fallen branches, needles, or combustible debris close to buildings.
• Avoid planting highly flammable species near structures.

FireSmart tree considerations

Trees can remain part of the landscape with mindful care:

• Keep trees at least 10 metres from structures where possible.
• Maintain healthy, well-watered trees—stressed or dead trees increase risk.
• Consider spacing evergreens farther apart, as they ignite more easily.
• Limb up coniferous trees to reduce fire spread through lower branches.
• Choose deciduous species (such as maples) closer to homes—they’re naturally less flammable.

Homeowner FireSmart support

The FireSmart program provides homeowner tools, assessments, and checklists to help residents reduce risk. Call Sooke Fire Rescue Services at 250-642-5422 to book a free home and property assessment. Learn more about FireSmart at firesmartbc.ca.

Choosing species suited to local conditions supports healthy growth and reduces maintenance needs.

Native species include:

• Douglas-fir
• Western redcedar
• Bigleaf maple
• Arbutus (site dependent)
• Red alder
• Shore pine

These species support local wildlife and adapt well to our environment.

Fruit trees are common in Sooke and can support household and community food security. However, they can also attract wildlife, if not properly maintained. Responsible care helps keep wildlife wild and supports a healthier, safer community.

Tips for managing fruit trees:

• Pick ripe fruit promptly and clean up fallen fruit.
• Prune trees regularly to keep them healthy and manageable.
• Choose varieties you can harvest each year.
• Consider sharing excess fruit with local gleaning or food security groups.

Wildlife attractant awareness:
Unmanaged fruit trees can draw wildlife into neighbourhoods. Keeping trees maintained and harvested helps prevent conflict and protects both residents and animals. Local programs and volunteers, such as the Sooke Region Food CHI fruit tree gleaning initiative, may be able to help manage your tree. Volunteers pick fruit in collaboration with the tree owner, sharing harvests between personal and community use and donating surplus to the local food bank.

FireSmart note:
Well-maintained fruit trees can be a low-risk vegetation choice and fit well within FireSmart landscaping when kept pruned, watered, and free of debris.