On Saturday, November 8th, approximately 30 volunteers from the Stevens Environmental Club and Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority assisted the City of Hoboken and the Shade Tree Commission to add mulch to all existing street tree pits along Washington Street from Observer Highway to 15th Street. Ornamental cabbage plants were also planted in the 18 new tree pits between First and Third Streets. Volunteers cleaned up tree pits, aerated the soil to allow moisture and nutrients to reach the tree root structure, and laid down mulch to protect and feed the trees. The Shade Tree Commission offers the following simple tips to help maintain healthy street trees: 1. Keep tree pits clean. Keep tree pits free from debris and garbage. Garbage should be put to the curb and not in the tree pit each night. Garbage bags can compact the soil around trees, which blocks oxygen and water from getting to the roots. Leaked chemicals from disposed cleaning supplies, bleaches, oils, etc. can kill trees. 2. Keep dogs away from trees. Dogs should be curbed to the street. Compaction and waste from walking your dog in tree pits can kill trees. To prevent these issues, consider installing pit guards, plantings and/or mulch. Pet owners tend to respect well cared for tree pits. 3. Do not chain bikes to trees. Bikes and their riders cause significant compaction around trees and bike chains can damage the tree trunk. If bike parking is desired, consider installing a bike rack tree guard, which limits compaction and protects the tree trunk. 4. De-ice sidewalk with salt alternative. Rock salt (sodium chloride) can kill tree roots and corrode sidewalks. Suggested alternatives include calcium chloride and magnesium chloride. Avoid shoveling snow into tree pits and remove snow build-up from snow plows.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 12:41:51 +0000
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