YOUNG TREE CARE BEST PRACTICES
Sometimes spreading shade is a good thing!

All great trees start small! Experts agree that a newly planted tree typically needs one year for each inch in diameter of the trunk to regain a normal root system. For example, a three-inch diameter newly planted tree will need at least three years in the ground to become fully established. 

Below are educational videos to learn more about young tree care best practices. Typically a tree’s average lifespan can exceed 50 years with some remarkable species living long beyond 100 years. Much of a tree’s success and development is determined in its first five-years during a period referred to as young tree establishment. During this time, the tree is spreading critical roots and branches, adapting to environmental conditions (like water availability), and gaining stability from interactions with winds, storms, and drought. Therefore, young tree care activities are essential – like supplemental watering, prune training, temporary staking, and mulching. Note: Many of these can taper to as-needed activities after the tree is established.

City of West Hollywood Urban Forest Contact: 
Scott Smith, Superintendent
T: (323) 848-6463   |   E: ssmith@weho.org

PUBLIC TREES - TREE STEWARD PLEDGE

1. I pledge to water my parkway tree regularly (10-15 gallons per week for a period of up to 5 years) to help it fully establish and grow strong. 
2. I pledge to maintain a watering basin at the base of my parkway tree and I will keep this area mulched and free of debris, grass, and other plants.
3. I pledge to monitor the health of my parkway tree and will contact the City of West Hollywood, as necessary. The City uses contracted ISA certified arborists to train and prune all public trees, ensuring they grow a strong, central trunk, evenly spaced branches, and a balanced canopy.

PRIVATE TREES -  TREE STEWARD PLEDGE

1. I pledge to plant my tree using the best practices videos on the City's website, paying special attention to site placement, using the tree's root flare to determine proper planting depth, and potential conflicts and/or conditions that may affect the tree's health as it establishes and grows into maturity. 
2. I pledge to water my tree regularly (10-15 gallons per week for a period of up to five years) to help it fully establish and grow strong.
3. I pledge to maintain a watering basin at the base of my tree and I will keep this area mulched and free of debris, grass, and other plants. 
4. I pledge to keep my tree properly staked for a period of two years before removing them so its trunk doesn't slant while its roots are growing and forming a strong foundation. 
5. I pledge to monitor the health of my tree and will contact an ISA certified arborist for tree expert guidance, as necessary. 
6. I pledge to hire an ISA certified arborist to prune my tree, as necessary, to ensure it has a strong, central trunk, evenly spaced branches, and a balanced canopy.

EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS

Tree Watering Guide (published by California Urban Forests Council): Drought conditions are extending the establishment period for young trees in Southern California. 

Tree Planting Guide (published by Texas A&M Forest Service): Comprehensive guide that reviews planning before you plant a tree, knowing what to avoid, and planting and maintenance activities. 

Right Tree, Right Place (published by Arbor Day Foundation): A proper landscape plan takes each tree into consideration – height, mature canopy spread, species debris (deciduous/evergreen and fruit), form/shape, growth rate, growing requirements (soil, sun, and moisture), and hardiness zone.

TREE BENEFITS

Trees provide a myriad of environmental and community benefits because of the ecosystem services they provide – such as filtering air pollution including particulate matter, producing oxygen, sequestering carbon dioxide, providing shade, regulating temperatures (cooler ambient air), absorbing and retaining water runoff/stormwater runoff, improving water quality, reducing erosion, providing beauty, improving physical and mental human health, providing food and habitat for wildlife, and increasing nearby property values. Trees reduce heating and air conditioning (HVAC) loads which decreases energy consumption and reduces costs for building occupants. Additionally, the more tree species populating an area increases urban biodiversity and builds local resilience against tree-related pests and disease.