The City maintains a register of trees with entries on 26,000 trees along streets and roads. In addition to this, trees are also found in parks and, naturally, in forests in their natural state. Trees growing in streets and parks are maintained according to a separate plan.
In Helsinki, park and green area maintenance is managed by the City of Helsinki Construction Services Stara and maintenance companies selected through competitive tendering. This year, e.g. more than 900 trees are maintained in the central maintenance area of Stara. In practice, this means cutting dry branches of trees and growing branches interfering with contact wires or structures. At the same time, it is checked that branches grow at the appropriate height above traffic routes.
“It is important for trees, people and means of transport alike that trees are maintained correctly. If a bus collides with a branch, for example, the collision can cause invisible damage to the tree, even reaching deep inside the tree. Furthermore, a torn section of branch will not heal as well compared to a neatly cut branch. Open surfaces enable disease and vermin to enter the tree,” says project director and arborist Maria Sutenius from the Urban Environment Division.
High and wide means of transport require more space
The length and height of transport vehicles on the streets will be taken into account in the work. For example, on routes used by two-storey tourist buses branches of trees may need to be pruned higher than elsewhere. The maintenance measures will also take upcoming construction projects that will involve the replanting of trees in the area into account.
Maintenance pruning will be performed all year round. Roadside trees rarely have birds’ nests, but if any nesting birds are found, the trees will be pruned at a later date.
Trees pruned for maintenance in Stara’s central maintenance area in 2025:
• Intiankatu, 27 lime trees
• Kaarlenkatu, 4 lime trees
• Kalasatama, 81 lime trees, a few rowan trees and oak trees
• Käpyläntie, 66 lime trees
• Latokartanonkaari, 29 lime trees
• Muurikuja, 18 Swedish whitebeams
• Mäkelänkatu, 462 lime trees
• Näkinkuja, 16 lime trees
• Oulunkyläntie, 120 maple trees
• Pohjolankatu, 30 lime trees
• Taivaskalliontie, 8 lime trees
• Vaasankatu, 42 rowans
• Vilhovuorenkatu, 29 lime trees
