Matching Tree Grant Program

Red Oak

Flowering Pear

Ginko Biloba

Red Maple

Golden Desert Ash

Hedge Maple

Katsura Tree

The City of Auburn's Tree Grant Program is sponsored by the City of Auburn's Neighborhood Program in conjunction with the City of Auburn's Parks, Arts & Recreation Department.

Since the lifespan of trees is typically longer than the human lifespan, adopting a tree is a lifelong commitment. Trees require watering, periodic pruning and an occasional visit from a licensed arborist or professional when it gets sick.

In return the trees beautify neighborhoods, their shade cools the city on hot summer days and they help reduce pollution. As the trees grow and mature, they often become landmarks enjoyed by everybody in the city. It all starts when somebody makes a commitment to plant and take care of them.

The information presented here is designed to help determine whether to make that commitment. The application is not complicated. The steps it requires will hopefully cause the applicant to think about the commitment they are making.

Download and review the full grant requirements and details (PDF) before applying. Below are the basic requirements for grant qualifications.

Planning a Tree Planting Project
When designing and planning your project, keep in mind that you need to comply with the City of Auburn's Design Standards (PDF). Some of those requirements are paraphrased below and pertain to "Landscaping" Section 10.08 and "Trees" Section 10.08.5:

Trees made available through a Neighborhood Matching Grant Program must be planted within the right-of-way of a city street. Trees need to be placed so that they do not obstruct the view of any street intersection, driveway, or traffic control device or sign. All street trees planted within a five-foot wide landscape strip must use a root barrier.

Selection of trees is typically based on:

• Size of the landscape strip along the street where it will be planted (often a minimum of 5-8 feet is required).
• Whether the roots are shallow or burrow deep into the soil.
• Site conditions and the amount of sunlight.
• Aesthetic qualities such as the shape of tree, its color, flowers and/or fragrance.

Trees are only available during the dormant season. Due to the popularity of some tree species and limited availability of others, City of Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation Department cannot always guarantee the availability of tree choices.

Download City of Auburn's Design Standards (PDF) here.

Watering the Trees
Perhaps the biggest commitment to adopting a tree is the obligation to water it. Providing water appropriately and adequately to newly transplanted tree is critical to their success.

Standard rule of thumb is a tree needs a minimum of 7 gallons of water per caliper inch per week throughout the growing season. In other words, a 3” caliper tree will need to receive 21 gallons a week. The amount of water required will vary depending on the soil conditions around the tree. During periods of heavy rainfall, you will not need to water the trees. The watering is to continue for a minimum of two years or until such time as the trees become established.

To help ensure the success of your tree planting project, check your site for proper drainage by conducting a simple perc test. Dig a hole about twice the size of the tree’s root ball. Next, fill the empty hole with water and let it sit overnight. If it takes longer than 24 hours to drain, select another site. A tree will die if its roots are underwater for long periods of time.

Grant Requirements
Tree Grants are intended to beautify the streetscape along a city block. The grants are limited to $1,000 or roughly four to six trees. Tree grants are limited relative to the availability of funding and the availability of the selected trees.

Once a tree is adopted, it becomes part of the public domain. In other words, the tree cannot get cut down or relocated at a later date without the written permission of the City of Auburn.

To match the grant, neighbors must organize the planting effort, provide necessary tools, and assume responsibility for watering and maintaining their trees. Each tree will need to be adopted by a neighbor willing to assume the responsibility for its care and maintenance.

The grant application is designed to help you and your neighborhoods plan a successful tree-planting project. It consists of three, required forms.

• Tree Grant Application: Identifies the project coordinator, types of trees requested, and the level of commitment from the participants.
• Pledge Form: This form identifies the neighbors who are participating in the project.
• Landscaping Plan: This plan demonstrates the participants are taking into consider the needs of the tree along with applicable landscaping requirements of the City.

Your grant application will need a site or landscaping plan. It does not need to be a professionally drawn or fancy document. The landscape plan can be drawn by hand, or applicant can use aerial photos or plot maps that are available on the Internet.

• The landscape plan must be sufficient to include the following information:
• Location and species of all trees, both requested and existing.
• Location of all objects within 50 feet of requested tree locations, including: utility lines, curbs, sidewalks, buildings, traffic signs, and other structures.
• Directional arrows (north).

City personnel must be able to verify the following information:

• Trees will be planted on public property within Auburn city limits.
• The proposed planting site demonstrates an environmental need for trees.
• Trees are providing benefits by being planted in close proximity to streets, parking lot and other areas as indicated on the application.

If your site plan does not meet the above criteria, you will be asked to resubmit your design. Your project will not be considered for trees until an acceptable site plan has been submitted.

Tree Grant applications will be accepted at any time. However, it may take as long as 60 days to review them and make a decision whether to award the grant.

New trees are only available during the dormant season. Typically grant applications should be submitted during the fall season for planting during the winter months.

Useful Websites

If you have additional questions, comments or need more information, please contact Mike Miller, Parks Maintenance Manager, at 253-931-3027.