Due to budget constraints, the Town is not able to replace all the trees that are removed each year. The Arlington Tree Division orders about 100 bare-root trees in late February/early March of each year at a cost $70 – $90 each. The trees are delivered in mid-April and are heeled in at the cemetery for temporary storage. To avoid undue stress and increase their chance of survival, the trees must be planted within a couple of weeks before they leaf out.
There are several ways in which residents can help to enhance the tree canopy of their neighborhood:
1. TREE REQUESTS
To request the planting of a tree, visit the Town’s Request/Answer Center. (You will need to create an account, if you don’t already have one.) Your request will be forwarded to the Tree Committee and included in the next order that is placed. Residents are encouraged to help with the planting, if possible, and will be asked to water the tree frequently over the first couple of years until it is established.
We regret we can accept no further requests for the 2011 spring planting. With the help of volunteers, we will be planting just 32 trees this year.
2. THE ADOPT-A-TREE PROGRAM
This Program was first introduced in 2005 and will be revived again in 2011. It enables Arlington residents to adopt a tree ordered by the Town. They can choose from a selection of tree species drawn each year from the list of Recommended Urban Trees. The resident pays $50 towards the cost of the tree (about 50%) and agrees to pick up the bare-root tree in April, plant it promptly in the curb strip, and provide ongoing care. The types of trees available may be:
‘October Glory’ Red Maple - Acer rubrum ‘October Glory’
‘Red Sunset’ Red Maple – Acer rubrum ‘Red Sunset’
“Princeton’ Elm – Ulmus americana ‘Princeton’
‘Cruzam’ or ‘Crusader’ Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn – Crataegus crus-galli var. inermis ‘Crusader’
Cornelian Cherry Dogwood – Cornus mas
Ginko or Maidenhair Tree – Ginko biloba
The funds raised by this program are deposited to the Trees Please Fund and used to purchase more trees for Arlington.
We regret we can accept no further requests for the 2011 spring planting.
3. THE DONATE-A-TREE PROGRAM
This option allows residents to select, purchase and plant a new street tree at their own expense. If you are interested in doing this, please consider purchasing one of the trees from the list of Recommended Urban Trees. You are encouraged to plant the tree either in the tree strip or on your own property within about 20 ft of the pavement, where it will still contribute to the streetscape.
Additional trees which are purchased by the Town are planted in locations chosen by the Tree Warden.
For further information about any of these programs, please contact the Tree Warden’s office: 781-316-3311 or the Tree Committee: ArlTreeCmte@gmail.com
TREE PLANTING DEMONSTRATION
Residents participating in the Adopt-A-Tree Program or those purchasing trees for the Town are encouraged to attend a tree planting demonstration to be held in April. Details will be posted as soon as they become available.
