Newly-Planted North Loop Trees Need Someone To Water Them
Every spring the North Loop welcomes a batch of new residents: young trees finished off with a green tree pouch filled with 20 gallons of water.
After that, the trees are on their own, hoping for at least an inch of rainfall each week. In a dry spell, the young trees rely on volunteer stewards — individuals and businesses — to help them survive their first two summers in the neighborhood.
Young trees need volunteer water stewards to help them survive their first summer in the neighborhood.
“The water bags are terrific. They also signify that this is a young tree that needs our attention,” said Louis Raymond, North Loop Neighborhood Association (NLNA) board member. “There are never enough waterers. Some people love to do it, because nurturing a living thing is a viscerally satisfying human delight for us.”
Raymond is a landscape designer who has spent the last two spring seasons volunteering to map, count and monitor each year’s batch of new trees. “They need our care; if they don’t get enough water in their first two years, they can find it challenging to survive.”
Thanks to Raymond’s mapping efforts, he knows which trees could be cared for by businesses or individuals because the tree is within reach of a faucet that a hose could reach. Last year, 106 new trees were planted; this year the count is about 40 trees.
“Street trees are on public property. Normally the building doesn’t own the sidewalk or the planting area along the trees, so they’re under no obligation to care for them,” Raymond explained. “But the building can, of course, water, because it increases the appeal of the building. Some of our buildings actually irrigate beds in which street trees are growing; that’s really fantastic.”
Trees survive when a building’s owner waters them, such as here at Steelman Exchange.
The NLNA pays a service to water trees that businesses and individuals can’t reach, as it’s critical to make sure young trees survive their first two years after planting. “Trees are one of the most economical and well-appreciated ways to change how we experience neighborhoods. People want to be on streets with trees, they don’t want to be on streets without them,” said Raymond. “So the way to increase property values, to increase street traffic, to increase visitors to our local businesses, the most economical way is to ensure that we have a lovely tree canopy.”
The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board is hosting a free Tree Stewards Training on June 14 where volunteers can learn about tree care from University of Minnesota educators. The training is from 10 am to 4 pm at the Elliot Park Rec Center, located at 1000 E. 14th Street.
Raymond estimates he connected 40 new trees with about a dozen stewards last year. “It makes it a better neighborhood for everybody who lives here and works here and visits here. And trees repay your kindness.”
If you or your building would like to learn more about caring for young trees, please contact Louis Raymond at volunteer@northloop.org.
By Mary Binkley, NLNA Board Member