Street Tree Care
Life is tough for street trees.
NYC street trees live in challenging city conditions. They deal with countless difficulties of city life, including:
cramped tree beds with extremely limited rooting space, poor soil conditions, animal waste, and poor drainage
persistent drought conditions exacerbated by the Urban Heat Island Effect
pollutants like ozone and sulfurous or nitrous oxides in the air
frequent damage from passing trucks, car doors, bicycle locks, vandalism, string lights, and taped or stapled signs
harsh weather conditions with no protection from nearby trees as in a forest
But with help from neighbors like you, trees can overcome these challenges to provide measurable benefits, including shade and cooling resulting in energy conservation; storm water interception, which reduces the amount of untreated sewage released into nearby waterways like Newtown Creek; carbon dioxide storage and the release of oxygen through photosynthesis; and the reduction of air pollutants including dust, ash, pollen, and smoke. Studies show that people who see trees and plants in their environment tend to enjoy better physical and mental health.
Tree Bed Stewardship Basics
Soil Care
Flush the tree bed with water to remove salt and other pollutants. Cultivate the soil, being careful not to damage the tree’s roots. Add compost to provide much-needed organic matter and nutrients. A little goes a long way, so add only ½ inch per year. Add a layer of mulch to suppress weeds and keep moisture in the soil. Keep the mulch at least 6 inches away from the trunk to avoid bark rot.
Watering
Watering is the single most important thing you can do for a street tree. Newly-planted trees are especially susceptible to lack of water. Street trees are confined to their tree beds, so their roots can only access the little water that is absorbed through the surface of the tree bed. This, along with the Urban Heat Island Effect, results in persistent drought-like conditions for street trees. Water 15–20 gallons once per week during the summer months.
Planting in Tree Beds
Always remember, the health of the tree comes first! Planting in tree beds can promote tree health when done thoughtfully, but it can damage trees if done carelessly. Never raise the soil level or pile soil above the tree’s root flare. Choose plants wisely. Small and shallow-rooted annuals, perennials, and bulbs that require little watering are best. Plant at least 8 inches away from the tree trunk, and only plant if you have access to a water source. Rainfall alone isn’t enough. Refer to the NYC Parks Department’s list of suggested plants for tree pits.
Getting Help
Greenpoint Tree Corps is an entirely volunteer-run organization. We are here to support our neighbors with information and guidance on how to take care of our urban forest. Though we welcome inquiries about general tree care, tree damage, and pruning needs, many tree jobs are out of our scope and need to be handled through appropriate city agencies.
Tree Service Request through NYC Parks
This is the place to go for dead tree removal, stump removal, hanging or fallen branches, illegal damage to a tree, pruning, and sidewalk damage from tree roots.
NYC Parks regularly plants new trees in empty tree beds or areas where a new tree bed has to be installed. All requests are handled on a first-come, first-served basis. The process can take well over a year, but this is still a great way to get a new tree on your street. Trees are only planted during in Spring (March 1 to May 31) and Fall (October 1 to December 31).