Tree Committee
STORIES MISSION STATEMENT CONTACT US INVENTORY TREE CARE STREET TREE ORDERING WAYS TO HELP RESOURCES
Eastmoreland is a neighborhood defined by its beautiful tree-lined streets. Our neighborhood owes its lush and serene beauty to the large canopy of trees planted by generations of homeowners like you. Each tree is a testament to individual homeowners who over time have cared for the well-being and health of our trees and Eastmoreland inhabitants.
FEATURED TREE STORY (February 2024)
Lessons From Our 2023 Winter Street Tree Planting
Over the last 3 years, the ENA Tree Committee has helped homeowners in Eastmoreland plant 84 street and yard trees – this winter was our highest yet, with 35 trees planted on Jan 24 and 25. We (the Tree Committee) have learned some important lessons and want to share them with those of you who might be thinking about a new tree for next year.
Site Prep is Vital to New Tree Survival
Stump grinding - if the new tree is to go back in the same spot where the old tree was recently removed, that old tree’s roots and stump must be ground down at least 3’ deep from ground level to accommodate the new tree’s roots AND so the roots have room to grow.
Minimize the amount of wood chips from grinding that go back into the planting hole. Native soil has nutrients that feed the tree via their roots. Wood chips will eventually break down, but while they are doing so, soil nitrogen is not available to the new tree. It is best to put native soil back in the hole (not potting soil or compost).
After planting, the soil around the tree needs to be level with the surrounding soil (not lower, not higher).
Burlap Has to Go!
Burlap on new trees must be removed by the planting crew before the tree is planted. Although the burlap will decompose, it takes several years to do so and, in that time, tree roots will circle around inside the burlap since they cannot grow through it.
Burlap also should not be left in the bottom of the planting hole.
New trees need to be examined after the burlap is removed to ensure that roots are not circling. Circling roots do not provide wind stability to the trees as they grow and can strangle the root crown, cutting off flow of nutrients from roots to leaves.
Breaking up the soil in the root ball and spreading the roots out after the burlap is removed can help roots grow outwards.
It’s a Team Effort
Involvement of both the Tree Committee and the resident is essential. Both need to:
Ensure that the correct tree is put in the correct spot.
See that the planting site is ready (stumps ground, hole deep enough, mostly native soil).
Make sure that the tree is planted correctly (no burlap, root crown at or slightly above the soil line, soil around tree level with surrounding soil).
Help relocate the new tree if the planting spot will not work.
Examine the new tree and make sure it is healthy, not damaged, and roots are not circling.
Any questions about preparing your planting site for your new tree? Email the Eastmoreland Tree Committee at eastmoreland.tree@gmail.com
See PREPARING FOR YOUR NEW TREE
For archived Featured Stories, click here.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Eastmoreland Tree Committee envisions a neighborhood where residents work together and cooperate with conservation groups and city bureaus to maintain an evolving, verdant, healthy, and beautiful neighborhood landscape unified by trees. The Tree Committee recognizes the importance of a healthy tree canopy for the enjoyment of the residents and to mitigate climate change.
GOALS & OBJECTIVES: click here
TREE COMMITTEE CONTACT INFORMATION
Event announcements are made on the ENA website. The Tree Committee, a standing committee of the ENA, meets as needed, with regular meetings often scheduled on the second Tuesday of the month. The current co-chairs of the tree committee are Jerry Beatty and Matt McGraw. The Tree Committee ENA Board liaison is Nico Smith. They can be reached at: eastmoreland.tree@gmail.com.
STREET TREE INVENTORY
In 2011, Eastmoreland's street trees were inventoried by Urban Forestry staff with the help of many volunteers. Since then, the Eastmoreland Tree Committee has updated the inventory periodically with plantings, removals, and condition ratings. Our information is available in map and list form at ena-streettrees.info.
What can you do with the website other than check the information on your trees?
Bookmark the site on your phone's home page. Now, if you're out for a walk and want to identify a street tree, you can use your phone. There's a button for zooming in to your approximate location on the map.
If you are thinking about a new street tree and you want to check on recently planted ones, such as a willow oak, go to the List tab and enter willow, and a list of the current ten willow oak street trees in the neighborhood will be returned.
If the map shows a vacant spot in front of your house and you plant a tree, tell us about it on the Help Us tab.
If you're just interested in numbers, such as how many American elms were present in 2011, have been removed, and are still remaining, you can get that info from the List tab.
The counts as of spring, 2023 were 237, 107, 130, respectively.
Eastmoreland Street Tree Mapping Tool
TREE CARE
Each homeowner, by city code, is responsible for the care and maintenance of the street trees in front of their property–the trees in the public rights of way, the planting strip between the sidewalk and street.
Plant trees in any open street tree spaces. There are nearly 700 empty spaces for trees of various sizes in Eastmoreland! See our Reimbursement Program Information.
Water young trees regularly for the first three years to help them get established. This is critical to getting them established.
Water aging trees deeply periodically in drought conditions.
Remove branches that are broken or obstructing the sidewalk or street right-of way. The city requires sidewalk clearance of 7 ½ feet, street clearance of 11 feet, and arterial clearance of 14 feet. Removal of branches over ½” in diameter or complete tree removal requires a permit from the City. See https://www.portlandoregon.gov/trees/ for permit requests.
Remove dead, dying, or dangerous trees.
Tree care links:
WAYS TO HELP EASTMORELAND TREES
1. Volunteer with the ENA Tree Committee. We are always looking for help to increase neighborhood engagement on our trees.
2. Contribute to the ENA Tree database: Submit information about a large limb or whole tree failure by going to http://streettrees.eastmorelandpdx.org. At this website you can also learn about the condition, genus and species of any neighborhood street at any neighborhood address.
TREE RESOURCES
Permits: When a permit is required to large branch prune or tree removal or to make informed decisions on a street tree , go to https://www.portlandoregon.gov/trees/ or call 503-823-4489.