Training Trees to Stand Tall

On Friday, July 19, our Tree leaders and Youth Inclusion Initiative Interns joined New Jersey Tree
Foundation’s Green streets crew, led by James Cunningham along West State Street to
stake trees. Staking trains young trees that lean to grow upright.

NJTF Green Streets Crew demonstrates tree staking on a honey locust tree planted last fall on West State Street.

Leaning is not a problem when trees are small – think 15 feet or less – but as they grow these trees can become hazards for drivers and pedestrians alike: leaning trees can either fall into the street, pull apart the sidewalk, or tumble over walkers-by. And leaning trees that grow into wires can even topple electric poles.

**Before:** Waiting for the group to gather and go over how to properly stake this leaning tree.

Thankfully, staking is a simple procedure: the green streets crew hammered stakes into the ground; after, they taught our interns and tree leaders how to tie the trees to stakes for proper tree growth. All our students took turns finishing off staking with great applause! The trees can only be staked for up to two growing seasons (or years), however, after which point the stakes will need to be
removed. Otherwise, trees will incorporate the ties into their wood. Moving forward, we’ll
be carefully monitoring the leaning trees to help them stand up straight and tall.