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 many 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.

Trees planted through the BEST program will receive 15 watering from the City of Buffalo or its contractors during each of the first two growing seasons.

Residents are encouraged to monitor the watering and supplement during hot and especially dry periods through the establishment period.

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 through the BEST program will be staked and will be monitored through the first 2 years. 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 and BEST Program landscape contractor will mulch the trees at time of planting and the following spring.

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 BEST will be monitored periodically by the City of Buffalo and its contractors over the first two years.

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.

How BEST will help trees grow and thrive

Watering

For the BEST program the City of Buffalo will be contracting with a landscape maintenance company to water the trees 15 times during the each of the first two growing seasons.
Citizens are encouraged to monitor the watering and supplement during hot and especially dry periods through the establishment period.
Staking

For the BEST program the City of Buffalo will be contracting with a landscape maintenance company to monitor and maintain the tree for the first two growing seasons and remove the stakes once the trees are stable.
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

City of Buffalo’s staff and BEST Program landscape contractor will mulch the trees at time of planting and the following spring.
Residents are encouraged to refresh mulch as needed during the establishment period.
Monitoring

City of Buffalo’s staff and BEST Program landscape contractor will be out periodically to inspect trees however residents are encouraged to monitor the health of trees in their neighborhood, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension for more information and notify the City of Buffalo of any concerns.
Pruning

City of Buffalo encourages residents to participate in the CCE CommuniTree Stewards Program to learn the necessary skills to prune street trees. Power tools or ladders are not permitted for use by residents on street trees.