Introduction
For logistical reasons, the Newton Tree Conservancy gives priority to planting groups that include eight or more trees where five or more homeowners, in relatively close proximity, have one or more empty spots. Generally, the Newton Tree Conservancy plants trees on the berm located along the property of a tree recipient. The berm is the strip of grass located between the sidewalk and the street.
Each neighborhood group will consist of the planting group leader and other homeowners who are tree recipients. Planting group leaders can also be tree recipients.
The leader will contact homeowners within a range of a few blocks to ask if they want a tree, organize the participants and manage the group planting, and function as the primary contact for the Newton Tree Conservancy director who will be assigned to work with that neighborhood group.
All participants, including the leader and homeowners in a planting group, must complete and submit an application by clicking the Start Your Application button below. The leader will submit their application to establish the group name, then provide their neighbors a link to this web page and have them use that group name when they submit their applications. It is important that all members of a tree planting group specify the designated group name.
There is no cost to homeowners as the Community Tree Planting program relies on donations and grants.
Requirements
Please review the commitments below to which planting group leaders and tree recipients must agree. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Newton Tree Conservancy for clarification.
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Choose a name for your planting group when you complete and submit your application. Name the group based on the name of the street where the majority of trees in the group will be planted. Because Newton includes roads that use the same street name, qualify the street name with its unabbreviated suffix (Avenue, Street, Road, etc.). For example, specify "Maple Street" as the group name, not just "Maple".
Canvas your neighbors to ask whether they would like to be tree recipients in your planting group. Provide the group name to the tree recipients in your group along with a link to this web page. They will enter the group name when they complete and submit their applications.
If you are unable to contact homeowners directly, leave a printed copy of the Dear Neighbor Letter with those homeowners. A generic version of this letter is available by clicking the Download Dear Neighbor Letter button below.
Ensure that individuals in your group understand and agree to participating on planting day and to the tree care commitment.
Meet with the Newton Tree Conservancy director assigned to your group during the review of specific planting locations.
On planting day, organize your planting group and be available to assist others in the group.
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Complete and submit an application, specifying the group name the planting group leader provided you.
Water your tree once per week for two years from mid-April through mid-November by filling the irrigation bag that will be provided with each tree.
Notify the Newton Tree Conservancy of any problems such as missing or non-draining irrigation bags, broken branches or tree health issues.
On planting day, help plant your group’s trees, or have a friend or relative assist you. Helping does not necessarily require digging; it may be holding the tree, watching to ensure it remains straight during the planting process, or watering. Please provide water, preferably via a hose long enough to reach the planting location.
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Planting locations must be at least
5 feet from any underground utilities that are often marked on the street with the following paint colors:
Yellow for gas
Green for sewer
Orange for cable
Blue for water
Red for electric
Pink for temporary survey markings, or to pre-mark the general scope of an excavation or boring
10 feet from any driveway
10 feet from any storm drain
10 feet from any utility pole
15 feet from any street light
20 feet between small trees
30 feet from any intersection and stop sign (and further if needed to ensure unobstructed view)
35 feet between large trees.
Upcoming Community Tree Plantings
The Newton Tree Conservancy is now accepting applications for our next Community Tree Planting. The deadline for applications is June 29, 2025. Planting day will be the morning of November 15, 2025. That morning, someone from each planting location will be required to be present to help and to resolve questions. Applications received after the deadline will be considered for subsequent plantings.
Application deadline
June 29, 2025
Planting day
November 15, 2025
Additional Information
Tree species will be selected in consultation with Newton’s Director of Urban Forestry, Marc Welch, taking into consideration the presence or absence of utility wires and other location factors, and availability of species when ordering. Our policy is to plant varieties that will grow the largest in the available planting spots to maximize Newton’s future tree canopy. Species most frequently planted under utility wires include serviceberry, crabapple, Amur maackia, tree lilac, and cherry. Where wires are not present, we have planted swamp white oak, red oak, linden, London plane trees, and both hybrid and disease-resistant American elms. When available, other species have included hornbeam, hophornbeam, Kentucky coffee tree, Turkish filbert, Worplesdon sweetgum and mountain ash.
In order to plant as many trees as possible with limited funds and people, we ask that each group provide one planter/helper per property on planting day. Please note that while some digging ability is helpful, the Forestry staff will pre-dig the holes, so most of the hard work will already be done. Other non-strenuous jobs are holding the trees upright and spotting to make sure they are straight as the hole is filled. Bare-root trees are not heavy and are very easy to plant.
Also please note that the planter-helper and the caretaker (person who will water and weed the tree) do not have to be the resident/owner. If you have elderly neighbors who would like a tree but are not up to physical participation, or absentee landlords, we encourage the group to ask for the participation of other neighbors to help with the work. Having neighbors as backup to water will also be helpful during vacation absences.