Since 1971, the Neighborhood Tree Corps has provided much needed tree care for Bedford Stuyvesant's street trees and gives neighborhood youngsters a valuable and enjoyable learning experience. It has also stimulated many tree care education projects throughout New York City. The Tree Corps helped survey almost 7,000 street trees in a pilot project to provide the New York City Parks Department with accurate, block-by-block information about street trees and their health.

Tree Corps youngsters receive horticultural training and hands on practice twice weekly during the summer. During the school year, the program is extended via this brochure to instruct adults and youngsters in how to continue care for their trees.

TREE TIPS from the TREE CORPS

Clean the Soil -- City trees have very little space in which to grow, so they don't need competition for the soil's nutrients and water. Bottles and other heavy litter pack down the tree's roots. Deeply rooted weeds also compete with the tree for nutrients and water. When pulling weeds, make sure you pull out the roots along with the tops.

Cultivate the Soil -- Using a trowel or garden cultivator, gently loosen the top two inches of soil around the tree so water can seep down to the roots. Don't dig too deeply as the tree's feeder roots are near the surface.

Enrich the Soil -- Add leaf mulch and other organic material to the soil.  This will add nutrients and help keep the soil loose and moist. Cover the soil with a mulch of wood chips to prevent moisture loss in summer and the roots from freezing in the winter.

Water the Tree -- During the summer dry spells, water trees with 6 to 8 pails of water after sunset.  Pour the water gradually so that it doesn’t splash dirt out of the pit. If you must use a hose, turn it on as lightly as possible so that the water flows gently and does not  flood the pit or splash out dirt.

Put Up Fences -- Small fences can be constructed easily and inexpensively to keep dogs and pedestrians off the soil. Dog waste badly damages delicate root hairs and young tree bark. Pedestrians pack the soil down and prevent air and water from reaching the roots.  Two old broomsticks sawed in half can be placed at each corner of the tree pit and wrapped around a clothesline to make a quick tree guard. Make fences high enough (over 1 feet) and paint them white so people won't trip over them. To protect the trunk of the tree from cars and knives, wrap it with chicken wire or other similar fencing.

Don't Poison The Soil -- Do not pour oil, gasoline, detergents  or other  toxic materials on the soil. In winter, use calcium chloride for de-icing sidewalks instead of rock salt. Better yet, use sand.

Remove Tight Wire Supports -- Support wires attached to stakes help keep newly planted trees upright while roots grow and take hold in the soil. As the trunk grows in size, such wires can cut into the tree trunk and gradually cut off the passageways that transport nutrients through the tree.

Report Hurt Street Trees -- If a street tree has been injured, is diseased, has insects, pests or presents a hazard to pedestrians in any way report the problem to the Forestry Division of the Parks Department:

• Brooklyn -- (718) 768-0223
• Bronx -- (212) 430-1877
• Manhattan -- (212) 806-1844
• Queens -- (718) 520-5321
• Staten Island -- (718) 816-9193

For hurt or hazardous trees on private property, call a nursery company.

Keep The Soil Level Constant -- Tree roots need air to breathe. Raising the soil level too high too fast can cause the feeder roots to smother.

Plant Ground Covers -- Ground covers show that someone cares about a tree. People will be less likely to damage a tree for which someone cares. These ground covers should consist  of plants which are both decorative and shallow rooted so they won't compete with  the tree's roots..

Plant Trees -- Suggest that your block association, church or civic group plant new  trees. Most trees do best if they are planted in the fall/ spring not in the hot dry summer. Contact your local Community Board to have your name put on their tree-planting list. You can find out their number and address by calling (212) 566-1553 -- Community Assistance.

Be sure to follow-up on your phone call with a written request to the Community Board.