In late July, Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) will be hosting a neighborhood tree planting event in the Richmond District.
Prior to the event, FUF is accepting applications from residents and businesses that would like sidewalk trees installed in front of their buildings.
FUF sudsidizes 75% of the cost to plant the tree, so the cost to the homeowner or merchant is only $135-$180 per tree depending on the species you pick. They offer a variety of trees to choose from – check out their urban tree directory here.
The cost of the tree also covers its installation, including prep work such as concrete removal, and scheduled tree care over first 2 years of life.
The deadline to apply for a tree to be planted during the Richmond District July 27 event is JUNE 20. Visit the FUF website and complete the online application form to get started. If you have questions, contact Caitlin@fuf.net or call 268-0772.
Sarah B.
Do it! I would but we already have two trees in front of our house. The Richmond is a concrete jungle. We need more trees! Some blocks have almost no greenery. It’s depressing when the sky and the ground are all grey! 🙂
More trees are nice but they come with responsibility. Be aware that property owner is responsible for maintenance (City Hall rescinded tree maintenance almost immediately after passage of Prop 13, along with sidewalk maintenance; did that dance a long time ago when the tree planted by FUF’s predecessor in the very early 1970s got up to the phone & PG&E wires and all maintenance has been on my dime and time, including the dog poop, cigarette butts, liquor bottles, food wrappers and trash deposited by slothful passers-by).
Be well aware there are zero Licensed Arborists on the City payroll and that DPW’s groundskeepers can cite for “improper” pruning. There are different levels of education required for what the average consumer calls “gardener.” Groundskeepers operate mowers and clear debris, gardeners have some to extensive formal botanical training, and arborists have specialized training in tree care and maintenance. This is not unlike the differences between a prep cook, a saute chef and a baker.
Also be very careful to learn about the precise placement and age of any water and sewage lines in your sidewalk, including bordering properties, before selecting a tree. Once you have narrowed down choices, learn as much as you can about the root systems of the species so that your careful selection will not involve expensive plumbing and concrete work later on. Think carefully about tree height if there are no underground utilities on your block.
One last thing to consider is whether the tree might affect people with allergies, you might not have them now but could develop them later on.
Plant on and enjoy the songbirds that move in.
FUF sucks. Let me explain why. 15 years ago when we moved into our home, we wanted a tree out front, and FUF recommended a Strawberry Marina.
This tree is the most terrible possible recommendation for the urban environment.
1. It has shallow roots that spread out, lifting and cracking the sidewalk
2. It drops a ton of sticky slippery fruit and debris, requiring at least daily sidewalk cleaning and more debris than the sweeper-truck can sweep up
3. It just keep growing and trimming it makes it look crappy
I despise FUF for having recommended this huge tree, which would now take many thousands of dollars for removal and related repair. I believe this is actually professional malpractice on FUF’s part, as obviously you would look to an organization self-designated as expert in the “urban forest” to provide a useful recommendation.
If you want a tree in front of your home, do your own research, because you’ll be on your own to care for it anyway.
4thGenRichmond:
Whenever property owners need help with tree maintenance, Friends of the Urban Forest recommends using certified arborists. We keep a list of them here: http://www.fuf.net/resources-reference/arborist-referrals/. We also have helpful info for property owners who want to do tree maintenance themselves: http://www.fuf.net/resources-reference/tree-care-on-your-own/.
jzj:
We’re very sorry you’re not happy with your Strawberry Tree! We do our best to help property owners choose trees that suit their preferences and suit the conditions at that location, but it sounds like this tree wasn’t right for you (though as a big tree, it’s providing valuable environmental services). Friends of the Urban Forest is certainly more experienced today than we were in the 90’s when you planted your tree. And our website now includes an Urban Tree Species Directory (http://www.fuf.net/resources-reference/urban-tree-species-directory/) that helps people choose trees. One bit of good news for you is that you may be able to resolve or reduce the cracked-sidewalk problem by expanding the tree basin and/or by having the roots pruned by an arborist. See “Help! My sidewalk is cracking! What do I do?” here: http://www.fuf.net/resources-reference/tree-care-on-your-own/sidewalk-basin-care/