While property owners cannot touch city street trees, Citizen Pruners are certified by the nonprofit Trees New York to perform minor, non-structural pruning on street tree branches. This training teaches volunteers how to prune small limbs up to 2 inches in diameter to improve tree health and keep walkways clear. However, Citizen Pruners are not permitted to cut major roots during sidewalk construction, which remains the sole responsibility of licensed contractors overseen by NYC Parks arborists.
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