Street Tree Demonstration Planting!

Street Tree Demo Planting!

Starting in 2020, Trees New York began engaging volunteers and community members in the street tree planting process to educate them on the size and scope of a typical street tree planting in New York City. We realized that once community members have a greater understanding of the process, they become stronger advocates for our urban forest. 

Unlike most cities, street tree plantings in New York require the use of contractors, mainly due to the size and weight of the street tree that is being planted. Therefore, historically, this has excluded volunteers from participating in the planting process. 

Working with volunteers, we recognized that the public has a lot of interest in planting street trees and have several questions about the process. 

For example, they often ask – why are street trees so expensive and why do street tree plantings require such a rigorous permitting process? We are also often also asked why street tree plantings require contractors and heavy equipment. 

To better answer these questions so our volunteers and community members can gain a more solid understating of the planting process, Trees New York invites community members to watch and participate in some of our street tree planting projects! 

The participants watch the Arborist and contractors unload the 600lb street trees from the truck, remove the soil from the tree bed, backfill the tree bed with new soil, and use the equipment to lift the trees into the tree bed. Following the contractors, the participants shovel the new soil into the tree beds, stabilize the trees with stakes, and water and mulch the trees. 

This was all made possible thanks to our generous supporters and volunteers!

Click here to watch Sam’s presentation: “Planting a New York City Street Tree”.