Caring for Street Trees
Benefits of Street Trees
Trees are among the most important environmental assets in our community and provide a canopy for the urban landscape. Cooling shade, noise absorption, wildlife shelter and food, oxygen production, glare reduction and decreased storm water runoff are just a few of the advantages of trees and other landscape plants. The beauty and uniqueness that trees provide in our neighborhoods is also an added benefit. With proper selection, trees provide a unifying design element which makes a neighborhood more inviting and enhances property values. A few major benefits of street trees include:
- Trees significantly enhance property values.
- Shade trees lower street and sidewalk temperatures in summer months.
- Shade trees can reduce air conditioning costs and cleanse the air of diesel and dust particles
- Tree-lined streets encourage motorists to drive slower.
- Trees absorb carbon dioxide, which helps ease the negative effects of greenhouse gasses.
- Tree leaves and roots filter particles from storm water, improving water quality.
- Trees roots help hold storm water in soil.
How You Can Help
Young and establishing trees need to be watered once every 7 days during dry periods. Trees do not need watering during the winter months when no foliage is present. Although watering recommendations may vary with soil conditions, here are some general guidelines to follow for watering a young tree:
- Use approximately 1-1½ gallons (3.5-5.5 liters) of water per inch of tree diameter.
- If a garden hose is available, run the water at a trickle for 7-10 minutes at the base of tree.
Be careful not to over-water. Over-watering can kill a tree the same as not watering at all.
The city will remove all dead or damaged street trees, but will not replace them unless there is commitment from the adjacent property owner to maintain the replacement tree.
Reporting a Dead or Damaged Street Tree
To report a dead or damaged street tree, contact Public Works by email or by phone at 360-332-8820.