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2. The City of East Lansing has a long-standing commitment to urban forestry and has been recognized as a Tree City USA for more than 30 years by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The Department of Public Works (DPW) annually plants, cares for and maintains trees along streets and in City parks. When funding is available, DPW crews replace trees that have been removed and continue to identify additional locations for plantings. Submittal of this application does not guarantee a tree planting this year or any future year, but is intended to identify willing parcels to aid in future tree planning efforts.

   East Lansing residents interested in having DPW crews perform a street tree planting in the public right-of-way near their property are encouraged to submit this application for review. If a property owner would like purchase a tree and perform a planting in the public right-of-way themselves, please submit a Street Tree Planting by Resident Application instead.

4. Name*
6. Street Address*
8. City*
9. State*
10. Zip Code*
12. Email*
14. Phone Number*
18. Please select one of these options.*

    1. I am the property owner at the above address.
    2. If I am not the property owner, I have provided a letter from the property owner with permission to plant.
20. Upload letter from property owner.
24. Please check the boxes below to confirm your understanding of these items.*

    1. I understand that the street tree planted in the public right-of-way becomes a City tree and the responsibility of the City to maintain.
    2. I understand that the City has full authority to perform any future maintenance (ex: tree pruning, tree removal) it deems necessary for the health and safety of the tree and community.
    3. I understand that an accepted application may be revoked should the locations of underground utilities, planned construction or any other reason that indicates the planting location is not viable.
    4. I understand that trees shall not be planted closer together than the following: Tier 1 trees- 25 ft.; Tier 2 - 35 ft.; Tier 3 - 45 ft. Special landscape plantings may be excluded with DPW's approval.
    5. I will water the newly planted street tree until root establishment using the instructions provided below by the City of East Lansing.
28. Street Tree Watering Instructions

    New trees should be watered at planting time and at these intervals:

    • 1-2 weeks after planting, water daily.
    • 3-12 weeks after planting, water every 2 to 3 days.
    • After 12 weeks, water weekly until roots are established.

    How much to water newly planted trees based on size of trunk? Measure the trunk diameter at 6 inches above the ground.

    • 1-inch caliper of tree trunk: 1-1.5 gallons at each irrigation. 1.5 years root establishment time.
    • 2-inch caliper: 2-3 gallons at each irrigation. 3-year root establishment time.
    • 3-inch caliper: 3-4.5 gallons at each irrigation. 4.5-year root establishment time.
32. Street Tree Selection

    The City plants trees according to the "Right Tree, Right Place" concept. Therefore, all aspects of the tree and the planting location are considered from the ultimate height of the tree, root zone, overhead utilities, sidewalks, etc. This concept minimizes damage to sidewalks and curbs, reduces conflicts with utilities and provides the best opportunity for a tree to grow to maturity. Based on this concept, the City has developed a list of approved street trees which are suitable for planting along City streets. 

    For the purposes of this form, a parkway is defined as the area between the sidewalk and the curb. Where sidewalks are not present, it is the area between the curb/edge of road and the line where the right-of-way meets the property line.

36. Tier 1 Trees: 10-30 feet tall at maturity. Suitable for sites where the following conditions are present:

    1. Parkway width is greater than 3 feet wide. Note: Parkways that are 3-feet wide or less are not suitable for tree planting.
    2. Overhead utility lines are present.
    3. Existing tree canopy or streetlights are present.

38. Serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora)
    Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea 'Trazam')
    Allegheny Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis 'Cumulus')
    Cockspur Thornless Hawthorn (Crataegus crusgalli var inermis)
    Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa)

39. Crabapple (Malus sp.)
    Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulate)
    Green Hawthorn (Crataegus viridis)
    Eastern Redbud (Cercis Canadensis)

43. Tier 2 Trees: Between 40-60 feet tall at maturity. Suitable for sites where the following conditions are present:

    1. Parkway width is greater than 4 feet.
    2. No overhead utility lines present.

45. American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)
    American Hophornbeam (Ostraya virginiana)

46. River Birch (Betula nigra)
    European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)

50. Tier 3 Trees: 60 feet tall or greater at maturity. Suitable for sites where the following conditions are present:

    1. Parkway width is greater than 6 feet.
    2. No overhead utility lines present.

52. Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus)
    Thornless Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos var inermis)
    Eastern Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
    Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
    American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
    Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)
    Burr Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
    Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
    Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii)
    American Elm (Ulmus americana)
    Dawn Redwood (Metasequoai glyptostroboides)

53. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)
    London Planetree (Platanus x acerifolia 'Bloodgood')
    Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
    Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum)
    Silver Linden (Tilia tomentosa)
    Little Leaf Linden (Tilia cordata)
    American Linden (Tilia americana)
    Hybrid Elm (Ulmus X)
    Zelkova (Zelkova serrata)
    Red Horse Chestnut (Aesculus x carnea)

57. Parkway width:

    feet

59. Where feasible and available in nursery stock, the City attempts to accommodate resident preferences on tree species. Based on the above criteria, please provide three preferred tree species choices.
61. Additional Notes: Please include any notes, questions or requests regarding your application for staff to know and consider when evaluating your application.

63. Submittal of this application does not guarantee a planting will be performed. The City of East Lansing prioritizes replantings at locations of tree removals. Additional planting locations are selected at the discretion of the City of East Lansing Department of Public Works and Environmental Services and follow City planting standards.

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