Two trees, same species, one block apart, both planted in May 2025. They are both Quaking Aspens and their locations are nearly identical in terms of sun and tree bed size. Why is one tree nearly a third larger in all dimensions and clearly healthier? One was watered and one was not. It is just that simple. NOT WATERED Sparse leaves, Branch spread only 5'11 inches, Height 13 feet, trunk girth 6 inches WATERED. Heavily leaved, Branch spread 13 1/2 feet, Height 18 feet,

When an avid, but amateur, gardener takes on planting in Brooklyn's street tree beds, mistakes are definitely going to be made. And in the 5 years that the South Midwood Pollinators have been doing this, I have made dozens. But gardeners learn from the mistakes and here is some of what my mistakes have taught me. Exuberant asters and goldenrod mean less dog traffic and less litter. People respect Flowers When I started our work on the Foster Avenue Greenway project, winter

Native bees feeding on abundant purple Asters in a Foster Avenue tree pit . . Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) dancing in the wind above parked cars . . . These happy scenes are a far cry from the litter and dog waste that has long populated the tree beds of this very busy transit and pedestrian thoroughfare. Now in the third year of its multi-year project, the South Midwood Pollinators' Foster Avenue Greenway is coming into its own, with evergreen plantings and ho

SMP installed 12 watering bags around selected young trees planted by NYC Parks within the past 2 years. These trees will also be receiving wooden tree guards constructed by volunteers to help protect them during their early years, which is crucial to their survival. These efforts are being done with funding SMP received from a grant from the NYC Green Fund operated by the City Parks Foundation. A mature street tree needs about 8-10 gallons of water a week, but a young tree n