The City of Medford will be planting over 200 trees throughout the community during the 2023 season as part of its continual tree canopy strategy, Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn announced. The City will invest additional Community Preservation Act Funds as well as ARPA funding to build upon last year’s total of 180 new trees planted.

“Trees beautify our neighborhoods, protect our natural environment and provide some relief on those warm summer days,” Mayor Lungo-Koehn said. “We’ve been steadily expanding our tree canopy in the City each year and I'm thrilled that we will be increasing our inventory this year. Thank you to our DPW Commissioner Tim McGivern and Tree Warden Aggie Tuden for helping lead this charge.”

Dozens of different tree species will be planted to ensure the health and sustainability of the City’s tree inventory. The goal is to plant trees, in greater numbers of species and varieties, in locations where they can grow and thrive into maturity. Diversification of species and planting of trees in appropriate locations, especially under urban conditions, will ensure success of trees and provide benefits to the community for the foreseeable future.

The City also encourages residents and businesses to request trees on sidewalks. To request a new tree, residents and business owners may contact the Tree Warden, Aggie Tuden, at [email protected], or stop by or call the DPW Office, Room 304, City Hall, (781) 393-2419. Those who request new trees should please plan on supplying water to young trees through the irrigation bags provided, for three years, to help the tree become established and thrive.

To help with the City’s commitment to expanding its tree canopy, an arborist has been hired to assist the Forestry Department in its strategy and operations.

Last month, the City released a GIS Map of tree plantings from 2022 which illustrated City’s commitment to expanding Medford's forest and canopy management. The map is available on the City’s website at www.medfordma.org/departments/forestry. While the plantings in 2022 represent a broad cross section of the community, it is important to note that some areas were already identified and addressed with plantings in previous years or already have robust tree cover and didn't require additional trees this year.

Additionally, if you’re interested in helping the City water and maintain public trees, you can sign up for the ‘Adopt a Tree’ Program. Participants are encouraged to care for public trees throughout the City by filling slow-release watering bags each week or every other week if there is significant rain. You can sign up for the program at https://www.treesmedford.org/adopts.

For more information on the City’s tree strategy and procedures, visit www.medfordma.org/departments/forestry.