The Northeast Tree Tender’s spring planting Saturday was a success despite the ominous forecast.
Volunteers met at the Al Furqan Mosque on Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard at 9 a.m., where they ate breakfast, split into groups and watched a short tree planting demonstration by Northeast Tree Tenders founder, Hasan Malik.
Although the turn out of 30 people was less than half of the 70 who showed up to last year’s spring planting, the volunteers, along with eight group leaders, managed to beat out the rain and plant all 50 of their trees.
Saturday was the Northeast Tree Tenders’ seventh planting, and the group has planted more than 300 trees in the Northeast in the past three years.
The trees were planted at the Lawncrest Recreation Center on Rising Sun Avenue, in front of the Northeast Older Adult Center on Bustleton Avenue and in the front yards of residents across the Northeast.
Since the trees were being paid for by tax dollars, they were planted close to the street where they could benefit everyone in the community, Malik said.
The trees and any necessary concrete cuts were paid for by grants from TreeVitalize, a state-wide program aimed at replacing the Pennsylvania tree canopy.
Although homeowners who applied for a tree didn’t have to pay anything, they were asked to give a $20 donation to help cover the Northeast Tree Tenders’ costs.
The applications for yesterday’s free trees actually came in last fall, Malik said. Although homeowners can request a specific type of tree, if it isn’t a good fit for their yard because of space limitations, they can’t have it.
The Northeast Tree Tenders’ work doesn’t stop after a tree is planted. In the summer, the group actually checks on all of their past plantings and performs any needed pruning or maintenance.
Northeast residents interested in receiving a free tree for the fall planting can apply now. Forms are available online at netreetenders.com.
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