TreePhilly Offers City Residents Free Yard Trees
Drexel students cart their new dogwood tree back to their fraternity as part of TreePhilly’s yard tree program.
The Mayor hasn’t been shy about wanting Philadelphia to become “the greenest city in America,” as part of GreenWorks Philadelphia — an ambitious plan that has been made easier to reach, thanks to a little help from some friends.
Led by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, TreePhilly is providing an easy way for property owners, businesses, and neighborhood residents to improve their communities by planting and maintaining free trees.
The partnership between the City, Wells Fargo bank, and Fairmount Park Conservancy is part of Philadelphia’s commitment to plant 300,000 trees by 2015.
Through TreePhilly’s yard tree program, city residents can submit an online form to request two free trees per address to be planted on their private land. Residents must pledge to water their tree 20 gallons a week from March through December for two years, to help the trees take root.
If Philadelphians are instead interested in turning their neighborhood blocks into tree-lined streets, Parks & Recreation will also plant a street tree in front of a resident’s house for free. After a request is submitted via the online form, an arborist will come out to inspect the site for safety hazards and revisit to plant a tree within 18 to 24 months.
Residents should sign up by September 30th to receive a yard tree by this November. Pick up giveaway events for trees will occur during late October and early November throughout the City at various locations. Planting care demonstrations will be taking place on site for residents who are interested in finding out how to keep their tree healthy.
To stay updated about the program, information on giveaway locations, tree species, and size can be found here.
TreePhilly’s yard tree program
When: Sign up by Sunday, September 30 to receive a tree by late October 2012
Where: Throughout Philadelphia
Cost: Free
More info: www.treephilly.org
Photo via TreePhilly
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