TREE PLANTING
The Arlington DPW Tree Division is responsible for planting street trees. These trees are usually bareroot and are planted in spring and fall in the 'tree strip' owned by the town on public streets.
There are several ways in which residents can help to enhance the tree canopy of their neighborhood:
PARTICIPATE IN THE TOWN'S BACK-OF-SIDEWALK PILOT PROGRAM
2024 PILOT PROGRAM
To expand the town tree canopy, the Arlington Tree Committee is helping the town of Arlington find private locations to grow trees. Apartment owners, businesses, single and multi-family residences: all private growing locations are open to participate!
The town of Arlington will purchase and plant a new tree on your property, within 20 feet from the public right-of-way. The tree is planted on your private property and becomes yours to nurture and care for its lifetime.
Please contact the Arlington Tree Committee for more information or to express your interest in participating in the Fall of 2024
PURCHASE A TREE THROUGH THE COMMUNITY CANOPY PROGRAM
2024 COMMUNITY CANOPY PROGRAM
To expand the town tree canopy, the Arlington Tree Committee offers a subsidized tree planting program each spring made possible with funds from the Arlington Department of Public Works’ Trees Please Fund. These trees are available to residents and businesses for planting on private property.
Trees available for Spring 2024
Acer rubrum 'October Glory' (Red maple)
Quercus bicolor (Swamp white oak)
Magnolia virginiana (Sweetbay magnolia)
Cornus florida 'Cherokee Princess' (white Flowering dogwood)
Amelanchier grandiflora 'Autumn brilliance' (serviceberry)
Order here
REQUEST A STREET TREE
To request the planting of a street tree near your home, 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. Once the tree has been planted, you will be asked to water the tree frequently over the first couple of years until it is established.
For further information, please contact the Tree Warden’s office (781-316-3311) or the Tree Committee at ArlTreeCmte@gmail.com.
If you would like to participate in the care of newly planted trees, please join our Adopt-a-Tree Program. Not all trees planted by the DPW are planted in response to requests. Some, especially those along Arlington’s major thoroughfares, are planted in front of businesses or other non-residential properties. These trees often need a point person to accept responsibility for watering the new tree. The Adopt-a-Tree Program ensures that these trees are cared for during their early years.
For more information on the Adopt-a-Tree Program, press here.
USE THE RECOMMENDED TREE LIST TO PURCHASE A TREE AT A LOCAL NURSERY
Planting trees makes our community forest more varied and adds to our tree canopy. For ideas of what shade trees might be suitable for planting on private property in Arlington, consider these species. All are deciduous (lose their leaves in the fall) and many are native. (Some non-native species are included in this list due to their suitability in urban conditions). The Arlington Tree Committee recommends that residents opt for native trees when possible to encourage pollinators and native birds.
Below is access to a list of trees recommended for Arlington: