Urban Forestry
Urban Forestry helps people learn how to care for trees and forests in cities and neighborhoods. Trees are important because they clean our air, protect our water, stop soil from washing away, and give animals a place to live. They also make our parks and streets more beautiful and help keep our cities strong.
The UF/IFAS Extension in Hillsborough County teaches people about trees through classes, events, and helpful guides. We work with homeowners, neighborhoods, and professionals to share science-based information that anyone can use.
What We Offer:
- Tree Care Classes and Events
- Help for Tree Professionals and Homeowners
- Forest Management Tips
- Newsletters and Publications
- Tree Grant Program – Apply to get trees for your community
We serve all of Hillsborough County, including Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, and more. Our goal is to make learning about trees easy and useful for everyone.
Tree Grant:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Q: How can I hire a certified arborist?
A: Go to treesaregood.org you will have the option to use the new credential tool or the legacy search tool. In the new credential tool, use the fields on the right-hand side of the screen to enter your location and look for an arborist in your area. In the legacy tool, you will be prompted to enter your zip code. In either case, you may find additional qualifications listed by the arborist's name and contact information. TRAQ means that the individual has the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification; this is the most relevant to homeowners searching for a professional to conduct a risk assessment.
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Q: Do I need a permit to trim or remove my tree?
A: This depends on whether you live in unincorporated Hillsborough County or in one of the municipalities. If you live in unincorporated Hillsborough County, you can find tree permitting answers at this website. If you live in the City of Tampa, you can find tree permit information here. If you live in another municipality, check first on their available websites and then contact us if you need additional help.
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Q: What can I do with the mangroves on my shoreline?
A: Mangroves are protected from unregulated removal or trimming by the Florida Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act. Hillsborough County is a locally delegated government, given the authority to implement the permits and enforcement of that law. You can find more information, including a list of registered Professional Mangrove Trimmers and trimming permit or exemption information, at this website.
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Q: What trees are best for hurricanes?
A: This answer depends on your site's conditions. You can find a publication including lists of 'wind resistant' tree species here. Please review the list and then contact us for confirmation of your tree selection based on your site's environmental conditions.
CONTACT
Alyssa Vinson Urban Forestry (813) 744-5519 alyvinson@ufl.edu
Address 5339 County Rd. 579 Seffner, FL 33584-3334
