Several residents in Northville have some new neighbors that require special attention.
The city is replacing or replanting 51 trees in the community as part of the effort to retain the status as a Tree City. That designation requires diligent maintenance and care of municipal trees, including replacement and a variety of plants.
Dead trees are being removing by DPW staff members and new plants installed in several areas. Staff members are planting various new trees along city rights of way, including species like fast-growing tulip trees to fall-color-favorite maples and even some lesser-known London planes, swamp white oaks, and the common huckleberry.
There is already a new tree in front of the Art House and three more on Cady Street that will provide shade on the north side of the Northville Post Office, city officials said.
This year, $18,000 is being spent to purchase new trees for the city from Marine City Nursery. In addition to planting new trees and removing dead trees, maintaining the tree canopy requires tree trimming and periodic treatment to contain various tree diseases, officials said.
Many of the replacement trees are in locations recommended by the non-profit, citizen-led Tree Champions group. These trees are in areas that fill open space when the right-of-way is too narrow to support a new tree that will grow into a huge tree in the decades ahead, officials said.
DPW Director Mike Domine noted, “The city has plenty of maples so we're planting other varieties. In some cases, we're matching maple trees because they are already on the street.”
Officials asked residents with new trees planted near their home to ensure that the new plantings receive about 5 gallons of water every week.
Irrigation systems typically don't provide enough water for a new tree, specialists said. In Northville, the nearby homeowner is responsible for watering the tree year-round.
Keeping the trees supplied with water is integral to their establishment and growth, horticulturists explained. “It's very important that new trees get the proper care during the first year after being planted, especially as we head into a hot summer when trees may need even more water,” officials said in a prepared statement
For more information, contact the Northville DPW at 248-449-9930 during business hours.
