Let’s work together to make Buffalo’s new trees thrive.
Keys to help trees grow and thrive
The City of Buffalo will take on some of the steps needed to make your tree grow. Learn about what that looks like and how you can help.
Watering
Watering helps provide your tree with the nutrients needed to grow and thrive.
WATERING YOUR TREE
Fill 5 gallon buckets and slowly trickle water evenly onto the mulched soil within the dripline of the tree. Often times gator bags are used to speed up the process. Fill the bag which will slowly release the water to the tree through weep holes.
WHEN TO WATER
From spring to fall, it’s good to provide weekly watering of 10–20 gallons, especially in Buffalo’s warmer months. Watering should be deep and infrequent, applied slowly, to encourage strong root growth and overall tree health.
Staking
Stakes help keep the tree upright as its roots get stronger and established.
2 or 3 stakes are driven into the undisturbed subsoil surrounding the planting area, guy wires or straps are interwoven around the trunk of the tree loosely holding the tree in an upright position.
STAKING YOUR TREE
Trees get staked when they are planted, and the stakes remain in place for 1-2 years or until the tree establishes new roots anchoring it into the surrounding soil. Once the tree is stable, stakes and straps should be removed in their entirety. Residents can dispose of stakes and ties after one year at curb with normal trash pickup.
WHEN ARE TREES STAKED
Trees planted will be staked by City of Buffalo staff or contractors and will be monitored through the first 18 months following planting. If ready, stakes will be removed by the City when its ready to stand on its own.
If at any point a resident notices a stake has come loose, or a tree has gotten crooked, they are encouraged to straighten the tree and resecure the stake or notify the City of Buffalo.
Mulching
Mulching helps retain soil moisture for tree roots and keeps the soil cool as the tree grows.
Spread mulch evenly in a 2-4 inch layer ring out to the outer edge of the canopy of young trees (dripline). Pull mulch away from the trunk so that no mulch is in contact with the bark. For more on mulching, please see the City of Buffalo proper mulching flyer.
MULCHING YOUR TREE
WHEN TO MULCH
Trees are to be mulched when they are planted in spring or fall. Shredded wood mulch is continuously decomposing and should be evaluated and refreshed each spring to maintain the 2-4” coverage.
City of Buffalo’s staff or contractors will mulch trees at time of planting.
Residents are encouraged to refresh mulch as needed during the establishment period.
Monitoring
Monitoring can help identify tree health problems in newly planted trees.
MONITORING YOUR TREE
Keep an eye on your tree and check to make sure tree is in good health. Check out the size, color and distribution of leaves and inspect the trunk for rodent or mechanical damage.
WHEN:
Regularly throughout the year. It’s good to recognize any annual changes year to year.
Trees planted through BST will be monitored periodically by the City of Buffalo and its contractors over the first 18 months after plantings.
Residents are encouraged to monitor the health of trees in their neighborhood and notify the City of Buffalo of any concerns.
Pruning
Pruning helps promote healthy growth and improves safety.
PRUNING YOUR TREE
Pruning should be focused on getting rid of broken and dead branches and removing any crossing/rubbing branches. Prune branch back to the next live bud or just above the branch collar. Residents are permitted to prune low eye pokers or basal sprouts that can be done with hand tools only from the ground. Use sharp and clean hand pruners or loppers to make all cuts.
For more information, see Cornell Cooperative Extension Pruning Guidelines PDF
WHEN TO PRUNE
Within the first three years of planting, you want to limit the amount of pruning stress you put the tree under. Winter is best time of year to prune because branches are easy to see, diseases cannot be spread, and there is minimal stress to the tree. But for most trees, minor pruning can be done at any time. Exceptions are trees that are prone to fire blight or oak wilt.
Residents are encouraged to contact 311 to request street trees to be pruned. The City of Buffalo regularly prunes trees and appreciates when residents bring problems to their attention.
Residents are permitted to prune street trees if they feel comfortable doing so, but power tools or ladders are not permitted for use by residents on street trees.