UFA, DDOT: FAQs #2

Street trees are located in the public space strip between the curb and sidewalk. This space is commonly referred to as the "tree space." The Urban Forestry Administration is responsible for the trees located within this tree space District-wide.

Q: I thought you were called the Tree and Landscape Division?

Our new name, the Urban Forestry Administration, has been in effect since March, 2002. We changed the name because it better reflects current professional thinking about trees located in urban areas. Collectively, all the trees located in an urban area comprise an "urban forest" that provides numerous environmental, public health, and aesthetic benefits not only for the District, but for the region as a whole. To learn more about the benefits an urban forest provides, click on Benefits of Urban Trees.

Q: What do I do if the street tree in front of my home needs some work?

Call the Mayor's call center at 202-727-1000, and explain the nature of the problem. Our office will send out an inspector to check your request, and a note will be left in your door notifying you that an inspection has taken place, and what service(s) will be provided if required. To find out how long it will take to respond to that request and any work associated with it, click on Schedule of Services.

Q: Can I water a new tree even if it is not planted in front of my residence?

Currently, the Urban Forestry Administration only plants trees in the public space. So, if you wish to water the tree across the street from you, or even down the block, you are more than welcome, and we thank you for your assistance!

Q: When a tree or limb falls on a roadway, house, or vehicle, how long does it take for the Urban Forestry Administration to respond?

These situations are considered emergencies, and as shown in our Schedule of Services, we conduct a site assessment within 4–24 hours. After completing the assessment, the UFA corrects the problem within a 48-hour period. During a storm event where multiple incidents such as these may occur, UFA prioritizes by first clearing all major roadways, followed by minor roadways, alleys, and pedestrian walkways. UFA inspects any street trees that may have fallen on homes or vehicles and clears them within 48 hours.

Q: What is the best thing to do to help a newly planted tree survive?

Street trees usually take two years to get established, which means they need some care during this time period. In the absence of regular rainfall, a newly planted tree will need water about three times per week. To be most effective, apply about 15 gallons per watering with a watering can or plastic bucket in the evening. During prolonged dry periods (you'll typically see cracks in the soil and lawns will brown out during these times), place your hose at a very low volume (a trickle) at the base of the tree and let it run until the water no longer penetrates the soil and begins to run off the top. This usually takes two to four hours.

Just as important as watering, make sure that there is enough mulch around the base of the tree. The depth and extent of the mulch ring provided during planting is sufficient, but you can add more as it decomposes to maintain the depth at three inches. Mulch acts as a "moisture trap," keeping the soil moist beneath it. If the mulch is removed, or as it decomposes, you'll have to water more often because the water will evaporate more quickly.

Q: Why do I need a permit to plant a tree in the tree box in front of my home if it benefits the District?

Tree planting does benefit the District and we thank you for your interest and investment in wanting to plant a tree. A permit is required because not all tree types are appropriate for street side plantings; some trees can even create dangers by blocking road signs, stop lights, and sidewalks. When your permit request is reviewed, an inspector will check the site with pedestrian and vehicular safety concerns in mind. To review the tree planting guidelines used by the Urban Forestry Administration, click on Planting Guidelines. To obtain a permit to plant, click on Permits for Planting, Pruning, and Removing Trees.

Q: Should I fertilize a newly-planted street tree?

Do not fertilize newly-planted trees. When a new tree is planted, we replace the soil in the tree space with new soil mix that has a slow-release fertilizer that lasts for three years. Your new tree has plenty of nutrients to get it through the establishment period and beyond, but if you still want to help, the best thing to do is water the tree regularly.

Q: Who are the Casey Trees People?

Ms. Betty Brown Casey donated $50 million to establish The Garden Club of America/Casey Trees Endowment Fund. GCA/Casey Trees has been active throughout the District working on a District-wide tree inventory project, and they are an active partner of the Urban Forestry Administration, helping us in our efforts to make the District greener. For more information, click on the GCA/Casey Trees Endowment Fund website link.

Q: Does the Urban Forestry Administration trim trees that are located around utility wires?

We do trim trees to our specifications that are planted under or near utility lines, but we do not trim these trees for line clearance. Law requires that the owners of the wires (utility companies, phone companies, cable companies) prune to maintain clearance around their lines. For example, PEPCO has a yearly maintenance schedule that they follow to conduct this type of pruning for their energized lines that carry electricity to the many homes and buildings within the District. Some companies that have lines that are not energized, such as cable TV and phone lines, do not prune unless a line breaks or is ready to break (these lines are located low on the poles). Go to the Urban Forestry Administration's Pruning Guidelines to learn more. To learn more about PEPCO's line clearance operations, go to their website at www.pepco.com.

Q: What determines if an individual tree or an entire block will be trimmed?

When the UFA receives a call to trim a single tree, UFA inspects that tree and every other tree on the block. If the inspector finds that the tree needs trimming, the UFA places it on the trim list. Similarly, if a majority of the remaining trees on the block also need trimming, UFA will trim them as well. Go to the UFA's Pruning Guidelines to learn more.

Q: What is meant by a "street tree maintenance cycle"?

One of the goals the Urban Forestry Administration is to maintain the District's street trees on a five- to seven-year cycle. This means that UFA inspects every street tree at least once every five to seven years and updates records of these trees at the time of inspection. Based upon these inspections, the UFA conducts work such as pruning, removal, and/or replacement if necessary.

Q: If you remove a tree, do you automatically replant another one in its place?

We base our replanting decision on two things. First, we check to see if the empty space conforms to our Planting Guidelines. If it does, we will inform the nearest resident about our intention to plant. If they have no objection, we will schedule that spot for planting in the upcoming planting season, which runs from October through April each year.

Q: A tree located in my front yard needs work. Do I call Urban Forestry Administration for that?

The Urban Forestry Administration only maintains trees located between the curb and sidewalk. All trees located between the sidewalk and the dwelling (your front yard) are the responsibility of the property owner.

Q: Does the Urban Forestry Administration provide free mulch for individual residents?

The UFA currently does not provide this service, although it intends to establish an area where residents may come to pick up mulch with their own vehicles. At times the UFA will provide mulch for community street tree planting projects and the like, if adequate notice is given, and if staffing is available. Another resource you may want to check for mulch is the Department of Parks and Recreation. To contact the Parks Department, contact the Mayor's call center at: 202-727-1000.

Q: Can the Urban Forestry Administration provide a list of tree care companies for work on my property?

Unfortunately, the UFA cannot provide a list of companies for personal property. However, we do strongly recommend that you hire a certified arborist. Certified arborists have passed an examination given by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), and all certified arborists must maintain a yearly number of continuing education credits to retain their certification. This ISA certification assures that the people working on your tree have the minimum skills required to do work in accordance with industry-standard tree care methods. There are many companies that simply cut trees but do not have the required knowledge to prune live trees correctly. Improper pruning cuts can, over time, weaken and even kill a tree, so any money you save by using an non-certified individual you may have to pay for many times over for necessary corrective work or even removal of the tree if it is damaged.

To get a list of ISA certified arborists in the Mid-Atlantic Region, go to the Mid-Atlantic ISA website. When looking for an arboricultural care company in the Yellow Pages, check to see if they are certified arborists, and always obtain at least three price quotes so you have a good basis of comparison.

Q: Does the Urban Forestry Administration maintain trees in alleys?

The District is responsible for paved surfaces of alley rights-of-way. Therefore, trees located beyond the pavement on either side of the alley are located on private property and are the responsibility of the adjacent property owners. If these private space trees interfere with the free use of the alley (vehicles cannot pass, for example), the property owner who owns the tree could receive a ticket with instructions to prune the tree back, or remove it, to eliminate this conflict.

Q: Can the sidewalks on my block that have buckled because of tree roots growing under them be repaired?

One solution is to apply an asphalt patch to smooth out any tripping hazards that may exist. Request this work from the Mayor's call center by asking for a sidewalk patch.

Another solution is to replace the sidewalk completely; however, a significant quantity of tree roots may be lost during this procedure. Consequently, trees may have to be removed. If enough roots are lost to construction, the tree can no longer support or feed itself and it will eventually die. Therefore, sometimes trees are removed as a precautionary measure. The Urban Forestry Administration works as closely as it can with DDOT's Infrastructure Project Management Administration (IPMA) to save trees that exist where new sidewalk is being installed.

In general, sidewalk/tree root conflicts are a price that must be paid for tree-lined streets. Neither the construction, nor the tree care industry, have come up with viable, cost effective solutions to this age-old problem. The best way to avoid these conflicts is to plant trees in very wide tree lawns that are often not available in the confined spaces of a major metropolitan area such as the District. The other alternative is to plant roadside trees on front lawns away from the sidewalk with the permission of the property owners, and the Urban Forestry Administration is currently looking into this alternative.

Q: Once I call to schedule a request, how long will it take to plant, prune, or remove a tree?

Take a look at the Urban Forestry Administration's Schedule of Services for details.

Q: What does the yellow painted dot on the Gingko tree in front of my home mean?

The yellow dot simply identifies the tree as female, or a fruit-bearing tree. The fruit is much disliked due to its odor, and we spray the trees with a mild pesticide each spring which forces them to drop their fruit before it matures thus eliminating the odor problems. To give more alternatives to residents living on streets that have many female gingko trees, however, we have enacted a Female Gingko Tree Removal & Replacement Policy should the majority of residents on the block wish to consider this option.

Q: My neighbor's tree is overhanging my property. Should I call up the Mayor's call center to have the Urban Forestry Administration take care of it?

The Urban Forestry Administration does not intervene in tree issues that concern private property owners. To address this situation, we suggest that you have a discussion with your neighbor, and come to an agreement regarding any work that must be done to the tree. Contacting an ISA certified arborist is also recommended. Many certified arborists will provide you with a free consultation along with a price quote for any work you propose or that they may recommend.

Q: What are those large green bags I see that are placed around newly planted trees on the streetside?

The bags are often referred to by their trademark name of "Gaiter Bag." They are plastic bladders placed around a newly planted tree, zipped up, and filled with water. The bag slowly releases water into the soil over about a two-day time period. Gaiter bags are easy to use, reusable, and effective at helping a newly planted tree establish itself. They can be purchased at most home and garden stores.

Q: If I need tree work done on my property, but cannot pay for it, who do I contact?

The Urban Forestry Administration neither has, nor knows of, any programs to assist homeowners who are not able to pay for private property tree work. You may wish to contact the elected Councilmember in your ward to see if they are aware of any programs for which you may qualify.

Q: How do I get a tree planted between the curb and sidewalk in front of my house?

Contact the Mayor's call center at 202-727-1000 and request a tree planting. UFA inspectors will check the site to see if it conforms to planting guidelines. If it does, requests received before July 15th will be planted in that current season's planting cycle, from October of that year to April of the following year. Requests received after July 15th will be planted in two planting seasons' time. Refer to the Urban Forestry Administration's Planting Guidelines to learn more.

Q: Who do I contact if I want to speak with an arborist directly about some general tree questions I have?

The Urban Forestry Administration currently does not have the capacity to provide general consultation regarding tree care issues. However, other resources are available where you can get advice about a tree or landscape questions. The US National Arboretum, US Forest Service, and University of the District of Columbia's Cooperative Extension Service are a few resources you can turn to. In addition, click on Links to access several resources, including an online plant diagnostic website offered by the University of Maryland.

Q: Is it a good idea to put down plastic sheeting or "weed barrier" fabric to stop weeds growing up in a tree box?

Plastic sheeting actually harms the tree and is forbidden by city law. Plastic sheeting and even weed fabric, which is perforated, will stop or severely limit water from penetrating into the soil. The tiny perforations that are supposed to make most weed fabrics permeable get clogged with silt and do not let adequate amounts of moisture through. Without sufficient water, your tree will decline and eventually die. The importance of not laying weed barrier fabric or plastic cannot be overstated; street trees have enough stresses with which to cope, adding another may cause enough harm to kill them.