When I was in kindergarten, the Maple tree in my grandparents’ front yard seemed giant, huge, enormous. Sometimes I wonder what year they planted it, but the answer is not so important, is it? What’s important is that they did plant it and went on planting and caring for more trees for our family and our neighborhood. When you drive Charlotte’s streets enjoying your favorite street tree fall leaf color, winter-interest, or spring flowers, rest assured, the work of planting and caring for more trees is ongoing.

Seizing the day

The City of Charlotte arborist office works quietly, with great intent and focus, and as the weather has cooled and the days shortened, work is underway to plant new trees throughout Charlotte. “During the planting season, spanning mid-October to mid-April, the team plants hundreds of trees, often called ‘street trees,’ in the planting strips and rights-of-way,” says Victoria Aguilar, City of Charlotte assistant arborist. Young trees are of ample size to begin growing in their new places out of the tree farm and into the ground in our beautiful city.

You will see them planted – five or ten here, but sometimes only one or two there. The cold weather is no bother unless the ground freezes, which isn’t often in Charlotte, so planting holes are dug, often by hand, at an astonishingly quick clip and trees go in one after the other, even on days when one might think it is too cold to step outside.

Building a diverse urban forest

Oaks, Maples, Cherries, and Dogwoods are common street trees that provide social and environmental benefits in our city, including habitat for songbirds and squirrels, shaded sidewalks and bus stops on hot summer days, and an increased sense of well-being for residents. Trees native to North Carolina or the Southeastern United States help diversify the mix of trees planted in Charlotte. These natives are desirable additions, because they are often resilient and less susceptible to some of the challenges non-native trees could experience. This year’s planting includes Serviceberry, Fringe tree, American Basswood, and Black Gum, offering food for birds, showy flowers, filtered shade, and amazing fall color. I’ll take that!

Oh, the places we plant!

Planting sites for this year’s tree planting program are peppered throughout the City of Charlotte’s estimated 300 square miles, but it’s not random. The team evaluates potential planting sites for suitability regularly, so if you believe you have a good place for a new tree in the planting strip or right-of-way near you, let the tree planting program team know.

To request a tree visit City of Charlotte Street Tree Request .

In a future blog post, Assistant City Arborist Victoria Aguilar will provide a deeper look into the effort put into the Tree Planting Program. Topics such as how quality trees are chosen and what right-of way is and isn’t will be covered. Don’t miss it!

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Would you like to know more about the City Arborist Office? Visit Charlottenc.gov/Trees.

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