The City of Ann Arbor needs your help to restore “Tree Town ” to its former glory. Since 2003 the infestation of the non-native Emerald Ash Borer beetle has compounded the normal loss of trees with the resulting emergency removal of over 10,000 trees planted along public sidewalks and parks. Many neighborhoods are now barren of street trees or have conspicuous ‘hot spots’ where the shade is lost. Trees not only provide a cool, welcoming environment for the public to enjoy for a lifetime—trees also significantly reduce flooding, create oxygen, increase property values, and provide homes for songbirds. After incurring the costs to remove thousands of mature trees and stumps, the city is not able to fund a comprehensive replanting effort.
Replanting Street Trees:
1) Do it yourself. Hire a pre-qualified nursery to plant a street tree on your property and receive a letter of charitable donation, up to $1,000 to use with your Federal Income Tax return. (2-page PDF summary)
A property owner is able to contract with a pre-authorized nursery and pay that company directly to install an approved street tree as appropriate to the specific site. The nursery is responsible for providing the approved tree, contacting “Miss Dig” to identify locations of underground infrastructure, such as water and power lines.The nursery also handles scheduling the city’s Forestry Office site visit for the Forestry Permit approval of the staked location and tree species. The company is responsible for digging the hole, installing the tree, and obtaining the final Forestry Permit inspection. The property owner can submit the street tree installation receipt and the signed authorized Forestry Permit to the city’s Forestry Office (734-994-2768) to obtain a letter of charitable donation, up to $1,000 to use with your Federal Income Tax return.
Benefits: Individuals are able to plant a street tree on their own timetable (spring and fall are traditional tree planting seasons) and recover a portion of their costs through a charitable donation. The process assures that the tree will have a high survival rate and not pose future damage to the city’s infrastructure.
Steps for replanting street trees:
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Street tree planting steps, list of approved street trees and pre-authorized nurseries to work in the street extension. (2-page PDF)
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2) Volunteer as part of a Tree Team to replant a neighborhood
The City of Ann Arbor is partnering with the citizens of Ann Arbor to replant neighborhood trees. Ann Arbor’s Public Services Area has contracted with the nonprofit Global ReLeaf of Michigan to coordinate the program. To be eligible for consideration, a neighborhood will need to replace15-25 street trees. Interested individuals willing to help organize their neighborhood, as well as general Tree Team volunteers should contact Global ReLeaf of Michigan at 800-642-7353 or grma2@aol.com.
Global ReLeaf organizes a pre-planting education meeting, manages the Forestry Permit process, and coordinates the volunteer planting day.
Benefits: Provides a method to plant many trees, quickly and efficiently as part of a fun, community volunteer project.
Qs? Contact customerservice@a2gov.org.