Caring for Your Street Tree

Watering

• You should water May through October. 
• Soil should be moist, not soaked. Overwatering can damage your tree.
• If it rains 1 inch or more in a week, you don't need to water that week.
• Water slowly so the water can penetrate the soil.

Weeding

Weeds are fast growing and fast moving. They tend to compete for water, space and nutrients. Street trees live in very small spaces that only provide limited amount of nutrients. Having as little competition as possible helps your tree stay healthy. Here are some helpful tips on weeding: 

• Weed your tree site in early fall before the plant dries out and seeds disperse.
• Wear gloves to remove the weed's entire root system.
• Dispose of weeks in City yard waste bags.
• Watch out for poison ivy and hazardous trash in the soil.

Mulch 

• 2 to 4 inches of mulch is best.
• Do not add soil to the tree base, as it can smother roots and cause trunk rotting.
• Make sure the trunk of the tree doesn't get covered by mulch. 1 to 2 inches of mulch-free area around the base of the of the tree is best.

Ornamental planting

Planting flowers or plants around a tree is a great way to add color to your neighborhood. However, flowers shouldn't be planted within the first 3 years of the tree planting. Here are some helpful tips on ornamental planting: 

• Choose flowers that are "drought tolerant" and don't require much watering. We recommend Daffodils, Lilies of the Valley, or Tulips.
• Use small plants and bulbs to reduce competition and tree root damage.
• Don't add any more than 2 inches of new soil when planting flowers.
• Don't plant flowers that compete for water and nutrients, such as bamboo, ivy, vines, or shrubs.