Learn More about the D39 Tree Care Team and Help Our Street Trees!

CM Shahana Hanif's office is organizing a Tree Care Team with a variety of local organizations.

FOFA is proud to be a participating organization in the newly formed D39 Tree Care Team! Please check out the new website and sign up for updates!

FOFA and Gowanus Canal Conservancy (GCC) will be hosting a tree care event on 4th Ave to recognize City of Forest Day on October 4th. Save the Date!

Until then, our street trees need us during the hot summer! Follow these tips to help our trees and find out more on the NYC Parks Tree Map website.

TREE CARE 101 (shared from the D39 Tree Care website)

1.Watering is the MOST important thing you can do!  Due to the pollution and heavy foot traffic, New York City’s soil has difficulty absorbing water. This means the soil needs to be cultivated or loosened so that the water can reach the tree’s roots.

• Using a hand cultivator, carefully loosen the top 2-3 inches of soil to alleviate compaction and help water and air reach the roots.

• Water each young tree 15-20 gallons once a week between May and October (that’s 3-4 large buckets).

  
  

2. Remove Litter + Weeds from the tree bed! Street trees in urban settings are very resilient, but being on the public right-of-way can leave them vulnerable   to deposits of debris, litter, and waste that can be harmful to their survival. 

• Wear gloves. When removing weeds, take out the entire root system. Leaving some of the plant in the tree bed will allow the weed to grow back. Use trowels or weeders to dig out stubborn roots. Learn more about best weeding practices.)

• Are you a dog owner? Keep dogs and dog waste (both liquid and solid) away from the tree. The waste will overwhelm a tree, burning its trunk and disrupting the balance of soil nutrients.

  
  

3. Mulch and Aerate the Soil: To aerate the soil of your tree bed, take your hand cultivator and rough up the dirt 1-inch to 3-inches down. This will break up the compacted soil, allowing more oxygen to reach the roots.

4. Can I plant in my tree bed? Yes!

• Annuals are preferred, as they generally form less aggressive root systems than perennials and are less likely to compete with the tree for resources.

• Avoid planting within a one-foot radius of the tree itself.

• Do NOT raise the soil level in the tree bed above the grade of the surrounding sidewalk—burying the base of the tree trunk is harmful to the tree.

• Find out more about best plant choices on the NYC Parks Website