The Town of High River is reminding residents of the Tree Protection Bylaw. Arborist for the Town Darlene Donovan asks those advertising yard or garage sales not to attach anything to public trees.

"The biggest concern recently is garage sale signs. What we have sometimes is people like to nail them to the trees. As things get forgotten, it can girdle the tree and kill the branch or even the tree itself."

Donovan says the bylaw uses fines of up to three hundred dollars in instances where the bark of a public tree is pierced or damaged.

"We have a number of things that we ask people not to do. One of the things is penetrating the bark of a public tree, which would be like nailing something to it, and that's a $300 fine. And then if you were to attach, secure, or place anything in the branches or on the trunk of a tree it's a $100 fine."

She says the town is concerned with protecting their trees, but will also work with people's concerns.

"In general we like to look after our trees located on town property, and we're not out to fine everybody every minute. We'll definitely work with people and that sort of thing if they have concerns. So, we're just looking after trying to protect the trees."

The Tree Protection Bylaw was passed in 2009, and also prohibits cutting, removing, moving, or pruning town trees. Under the bylaw people also can not plant trees on town land or spray trees with any substance except water.