Shade Tree Commission advances large West End planting push; mailer with QR code to reach hundreds

The Shade Tree Commission discussed plans to plant a large number of trees across the West End and Clintonville corridors, and members said mailers will go to roughly 360 households to recruit participants for the multi‑year project. The commission approved minutes for April, May and June by voice vote during the meeting. The mailer includes a QR code and a form residents may complete online, in person, or by phone to request a tree; the commission said responses previously exceeded expectations when the format was used.

Commission members and staff said the project covers a broad area — described in meeting remarks as the West End from High Street North through Mansfield Avenue and the Clintonville area — and was intentionally described as “multi‑year” in the mailing to avoid creating the impression crews could plant everywhere in a single season. Staff said the desired planting in the West End could be “a couple hundred” trees if uptake is high, but that final numbers depend on orders and planting conditions.

City staff discussed logistics: about 360 letters are ready to mail, and staff proposed an early‑September cutoff for tree orders to allow time for nursery ordering. Staff said actual planting will occur “when the weather permits,” with fall (when trees are dug) noted as a typical season. The commission said the city will provide a water truck to assist newly planted project trees and that project trees will receive city watering; resident recipients must agree to additional regular watering as part of the tree request form. Staff described the typical planting stock as two‑inch caliper trees, roughly eight feet tall, which are provided to residents with a watering bag. Meeting remarks said the watering bag can take a few hours up to a day to soak through depending on conditions.

Commission members reviewed recent program performance: the group reported having planted more than 400 trees in recent years (including recurring Tree City Partner, or TCP, placements), with a typical TCP program contributing about 70 trees annually. Members said losses were modest in prior years but increased during severe drought conditions; one member said about five trees were lost in the hardest recent year. Staff noted insect pressures on some species (for example, crabapples showing scale) and said treatments can help but cannot fully eliminate some outbreaks.

Financial and equipment notes were discussed: the commission expects lower postage lead times and cost using the current mailer approach, and staff flagged supplies such as tree guards, corrugated pipe and zip ties for installation during volunteer events. Members also raised fertilizer and tank sizing; staff said the water truck uses a roughly 500–550 gallon tank and that fertilizer mixes should keep nitrogen lower in the first year.

No ordinance, statute or formal policy was changed at the meeting; the planting program and ordering deadlines were presented as operational plans and contingent on order volume and weather. The commission scheduled volunteer and operational tasks (see related article on tree‑guard installation) and said staff will confirm final order counts and planting dates with the nursery once the order cutoff is reached.