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Arlington Community Tree Canopy Program

The Arlington Tree Committee has embarked on its seventh year of a subsidized tree planting program made possible with funds from the Arlington Department of Public Works’ Trees Please Fund.

 

This program is managed by the Arlington Tree Committee and is not related to the town’s ongoing street tree planting managed by Arlington’s DPW.

 

When you plant the right tree in the right place, it can help improve air and water quality, manage stormwater runoff, sequester carbon, attract wildlife, help save you money on utility bills, and make neighborhoods more enjoyable.  It's a win for you and the town!   

 

Available trees

 

Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida, ‘Cherokee Brave’)  SOLD OUT

 

Eastern redbud (cercis canadensis)   SOLD OUT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pin Oak  (quercus ellipsoidalis, 'Majestic skies')   SOLD OUT

 

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  • Native, understory tree, part shade, well-drained acid soil

  • Showy pink blossoms in May/June

  • Grows 15 - 20 feet tall, 25 - 30 feet crown spread

  • Native, small tree

  • heart-shaped leaves, rosy pink flowers in early spring

  • 2 - 3" seed pods persist through winter

  • Full sun to partial shade

  • Grows 20 - 30 feet tall

  • Native, upland forest shade tree

  • Symmetrical form and straight branching

  • Pointy leaves, red rich fall color, acorns

  • Full sun, drought tolerant, avoid planting near road salt

  • Grows 50 - 70 feet tall, 45 feet spread

Cost: $67 delivered 

 

Flowering Dogwood, 7 gallon container (sold out)

Redbud, 7 gallon container 

Pin Oak, 15 gallon container 

CTC form
Tree Order Form

 

$67 includes delivery

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In advance of planting, please contact DigSafe

TREE INVENTORY AND VALUATION

In 2017, a street tree inventory was undertaken in Arlington made possible by funding from The Department of Conservation and Recreation, Urban and Forestry Challenge grant. The tree inventory data was collected by Arlington’s Tree Warden, two hired interns, the Arlington Tree Committee, and many Arlington residents who crowd-sourced data using Open Tree Map software. The results can be seen in the Public Tree Inventory Map

Summary of the 2017 street tree inventory:

A. Current Status:

  • Arlington has 8,734 public street trees and an additional 1,219 trees in locations that may require maintenance by the Tree Department, including cemeteries, parks, the bike path, and school grounds.

  • The inventoried trees provide cumulative benefits from CO2 removed, storm water filtered, energy conserved, and air quality improved estimated at $758,320 per year.

  • The replacement value of the public trees inventoried is $43,000,000.

  • Fifty-seven percent of the trees inventoried were determined to be in ‘good health’, 33 percent in ‘fair’ condition, 10 percent ‘poor’ or ‘dead’ condition.

  • No evidence of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was found in Arlington

  • The inventory identified 6,401 potential public street planting sites.

 

B. Areas of Concern:

  • Over 1,000 trees were categorized as 'Priority' due to poor condition.  This number is constantly changing as the Town completes ongoing maintenance and removals using this data to direct its work.

  • Tree genus diversity is sub-optimal.  Arlington contains 56% Acer (Maple) genus.  

  • Distribution of tree size is sub-optimal.  Arlington has fewer young trees (small diameter) and more mature trees (large diameter) than is ideal to maintain a healthy urban forest.

  • Arlington’s high number of ash trees (939 trees ) presents a significant risk if Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) moves into Arlington.

 

Tree inventory

SCHEDULE OF TOWN’S TREE-RELATED ACTIVITIES

All Year:  Crews remove dangerous or unhealthy street trees and tree limbs. Prompt removal of damaged or fallen trees that block public thoroughfares or otherwise endanger the public takes precedence over any other tree-related activity.

 

February: The Tree Division orders 100-150 new street trees which are shipped as bare-root saplings.

 

Mid-April: Trees are delivered to Mount Pleasant Cemetery and “heeled in” until planted.

Late April: Town crews have approximately two weeks to plant trees before the trees leaf out in May.

November: Town crews plant another 100+ trees before the ground freezes.

TREE CITY USA CERTIFICATION

 

Arlington has been a designated Tree City USA every year since 2005. To earn Tree City USA status, municipalities must:

  • Have a tree warden

  • Follow state laws regulating community forests

  • Celebrate Arbor Day

  • Have an annual forestry budget of $2 per capita or more

 

Being a Tree City USA reflects a town’s commitment to protecting the environment and their community forest.  On a more pragmatic level, communities with this designation are sometimes given preference over others when competing for state or federal grants directed at trees or forestry programs.

tree city
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