 |
Neighborhood Matching Funds Tree Fund Frequently Asked Questions How long does a tree planting project take? Typically, you should budget about seven hours pre-planting time, which includes writing the application and organizing your neighbors. The tree planting itself usually takes one weekend morning, depending on how many trees and active volunteers you have on hand. What tools do we need?
Can we borrow tools from the City? If you are planting trees on Parks property, you may be able to borrow tools for short-term use from the Park Department. Your Parks Department project contact person can help you with this. For projects on neighborhood streets, you will need to share tools with your neighbors. Where can we get mulch for our planting? Most nurseries sell mulch by the yard. Since it is cheaper to buy mulch in large quantities, you may want to arrange to share a mulch load with another project. Ask a Matching Fund staff member to put you in touch with other projects near yours.
For all other questions about trees
How often do we need to water? When the tree is planted, water well with five to ten gallons. After that, water with five to ten gallons at least once a week. Seattle soil can be very dry from May through October and even into November. Depending on your soil type and the weather, you may need to water your tree several times a week through the dry months. Where can we get stakes? If your trees need staking and ties, you can find these at most larger nurseries and home improvement stores. Who is responsible for taking care of the trees? In accordance with City Ordinance #90047 Title 15 Street Use Code, it is the responsibility of the adjacent property owner to maintain trees in the public right-of-way planting strip. If you have questions about trees in right-of-way locations, call the City Arborist at Seattle Transportation at 615-0957. Can I apply for trees for people who live outside my neighborhood? Each application must be for one geographic area only (about four to six adjacent blocks). If friends in another area want to plant trees, they must organize and submit a separate application. How and when do trees get delivered? Once your application has been submitted, you will be notified of the date your trees will be delivered. Trees will be left at one pre-selected site within the planting area. We cannot place trees at individual planting sites. When do we call the utility locator service? Call the utility locator service at 800-424-5555 before selecting your tree planting locations. You should have already identified an adequate five foot wide planting strip and completed your list of neighbors who want trees. The underground utility locations will affect tree spacing. Overhead wires will also limit what kind of trees you can appropriately plant. How do we interpret the markings from the utility locator service?
Red=electric;
Private sewer lines are not marked by the locator service. Call 684-5283 for information on side sewers. Can we plant trees if our planting strip is narrower than five feet wide? Planting strips narrower than five feet wide are not suitable for trees. Trees planted in too narrow strips have inadequate room for root growth and so become unhealthy as they mature. Trees can also create safety hazards when planted in insufficient space: roots crack and make sidewalks uneven, possibly tripping pedestrians and making bicycle and wheelchair access difficult. What if there aren't enough people on my block who want trees to qualify for the Tree Fund application? The goal of the Tree Fund program is not only to help Seattle citizens green the city, but also to bring together neighbors and build communities. Consider partnering with another neighbor to come up with ways to get more neighbors involved in planting trees. You might want to try greeting cards or a block party, for instance. You can also apply in future cycles when you have adequate participation. For more information contact Wendy Watson at (206) 684-0719. |
|
|