The City of Charlottesville has been planting trees city-wide for a number of years. Unfortunately, the city spends a substantial amount of time and expense removing trees that have died or may become hazardous. The table below reflects how many trees the city plants annually. Parks and Recreation views each tree installation as an investment in our future, it will take patience and maintenance to get our young trees to the status where they can provide optimum ecological benefits. Probably the most important consideration is planting the right tree in the right place.
Urban Tree Planting: Tree installations on Public Rights of Way, Schools, and City Parks
Each year, the City plants new trees in City rights-of-way, schools, and parks. Tree planting on City property is carried out by Park and Recreation Department staff and managed by the City’s Urban Forester, who is tasked with monitoring and caring for all trees on City-owned property. In spring of 2023, 161 2” caliper (caliper = diameter of tree measured six inches above soil line) trees were planted. In fall 2023, 186 trees were planted in public rights of way, schools, and parks. An additional 25 trees were planted by volunteer organizations in select parks in the fall of 2023. Spring of 2024 showed the installation of 15 trees in select locations in City Parks and Rights of Way. Projected plantings for Fall 2024 include 165-185 trees (2”caliper), with an additional 20-30 trees planted by volunteer organizations (Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards and Re Leaf Cville). Please note, these tree counts are separate from the trees planted as part of Forest Restoration projects described below.
Table 2: Tree Removals funded through CIP Fiscal Years 2019-2023
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|
Non-Ash Trees | 60 | 65 | 65 | 56 | 70 |
Ash Trees | 2 | 53 | 6 | 15 | 110 |
Total | 62 | 118 | 71 | 71 | 180 |
Table refers to trees removed by City Tree Contractor (Big O Tree Service). Increase in removals is likely due to increased stress from climate extremes. CIP funding is divided into two operational categories for tree work: Tree work/maintenance for non-Ash trees include maintenance, inspections, pruning, removal, stump grinding for all species (not including ash). Ash funding includes removal, pruning, insecticide injections, and stump grinding of Ash trees specifically.
