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 Division and, whenever possible, included in the next order that is placed. Residents are encouraged to offer to plant their own tree, when possible, potentially allowing more trees to be planted overall. You will be asked to water the tree frequently over the first couple of years until it is established.
Trees have already been ordered for the 2012 spring planting. Subsequent requests will be included in future plantings. The Town will be planting about 80 trees this spring. With the help of volunteers, the Tree Committee will plant an additional 15 trees.
2. THE ADOPT-A-TREE PROGRAM
This Program was first introduced in 2005 and will be revived again in the future. 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 will vary, but may include:
‘October Glory’ Red Maple - Acer rubrum ‘October Glory’
‘Red Sunset’ Red Maple – Acer rubrum ‘Red Sunset’
“Princeton’ Elm – Ulmus americana ‘Princeton’
Red Oak – Quercus rubrum
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 2012 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 planting trees for the Town are encouraged to attend a tree planting demonstration to be held at 8 am on Saturday, April 21st. The location will be Spy Pond Park Playground at the end of Pond Lane.
