Longmont will begin its annual springtime curbside collections of tree limbs on April 1, according to city officials.

This year, limbs and branches will be collected April 1-5 at residences north of Ninth Avenue, and from April 8-12 at residences south of Ninth Avenue.

Limbs must be cut into lengths no longer than 6 feet, and no limb can be larger than 6 inches in diameter.

Branches must be stacked, and the stacks spaced at least 2 feet apart. Stacks of limbs mst be placed in the gutter off the sidewalk, no closer than 2 feet from any fence, building or obstacle that would interfere with a loader’s pickup of the pile.

Branches must be placed curbside before 7 a.m. on the Monday of the residence’s scheduled branch collection week. City code prohibits placing items in the street prior to the Saturday before the April 1-5 or April 8-12 start of this year’s annual limb cleanup.

Code enforcement officers can issue notices or citations for branches placed in the street before the scheduled collection week.

Limbs will not be collected in alleys or on private property. Officials advised residents that even if their city trash collections occur from an alley, they must place limbs curbside in front of their properties for pick-up.

The city will make only one limb and branch collection per day per neighborhood. Longmont will not collect limbs placed at the curb after that neighborhood’s collection day.

Branches meeting city curbside composting requirement can be placed in compost carts any time of the year. Those branches must be no larger than 6 inches in diameter and must fit fully inside the closed compost cart.

For more information about the spring branch collection program, the schedule and city guidelines and regulations, visit tinyurl.com/y5c65deq

John Fryar: 303-684-5211, jfryar@times-call.com or twitter.com/jfryartc