Tree Planting Process Workflow - Click to Expand
Introduction
Are there empty spaces on the berms in your neighborhood where street trees formerly provided shade and beauty? Would you like to work with your neighbors and the Newton Tree Conservancy to plant new trees? The Newton Tree Conservancy is now accepting applications for its next Community Tree Planting. There is no cost to tree recipients.
For logistical reasons, the Newton Tree Conservancy plants in neighborhood groups that include 8 or more trees to be planted in the empty spots of 5 or more homeowners who live within a few blocks of each other. 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 may also be tree recipients.
The planting group leader will contact homeowners within a range of a few blocks to ask if they want a tree, organize the participants, manage the group planting, and function as the primary contact for the Newton Tree Conservancy director who will be assigned to work with the 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. All members of a tree planting group must specify the designated group name.
Requirements
Please review the requirements below to which planting group leaders and all 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 submit your application. Name the group based on the name of the street where the majority of trees in the group will be planted. Specify only a single street name. Because Newton includes multiple roads that use the same street name, qualify the street name with its suffix (Avenue, Street, Road, etc.). For example, specify "Maple Street" as the group name, not just "Maple".
Contact your neighbors to ask whether they want join as members of your planting group. Provide the group name to the member of your group along with a link to this web page. They will enter the group name when they submit their applications.
If you are unable to contact your neighbors directly, you may email or leave a printed copy of the Dear Neighbor Letter template with them.
Ensure members of 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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Enter the group name the leader provided you when you submit your application.
Provide a water source, preferably a hose long enough to reach the planting locations of your trees.
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.
Upcoming Community Tree Plantings
Application Period is Open
The Newton Tree Conservancy is now accepting applications for its 2027 Spring Community Tree Planting. The dates for the application deadline and planting day are listed below. Applications received after the deadline will be considered for subsequent plantings. On the morning of planting day, someone from each planting location must be present to help plant, resolve questions and provide a water source.
Application deadline
December 13, 2026
Planting day
May 1, 2027
Application Period is Closed
The application period for the 2026 Fall planting day on November 14, 2026 is closed.
Additional Information
Tree species will be selected in consultation with Newton’s Director of Urban Forestry 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. We list here the tree species we may plant.
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.