Become a City Tree Tender!!

Posted by on April 26, 2002

The city’s street trees need extra care to survive a decade of drought and extended heat waves. Philadelphia residents can learn how to provide this tender loving care by becoming “Tree Tenders” in a free training course offered by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. This 12 hour course covers urban stresses on trees, and includes basic planting, pruning, tree pit care, and tree identification. Groups of four or more who attended all sessions receive special tree tending tools and benefits. The next training will occur on three Wednesday evenings in October (Oct 9, 16 and 23) at PHS, 100 N. 20th Street, with a hands-on picnic workshop on Saturday, October 19.

Created in June of 1993, the course has so far graduated over 1100 Tree Tenders from over 90 different neighborhoods. To date, in partnership with the Fairmount Park Commission, they have planted over 1500 trees and care for over 8000. The training course is endorsed by the Commission and funded by the William Penn Foundation. Individuals and groups interested in applying should contact Mindy Maslin at (215) 988-8844, mmaslin@pennhort.org or through the PHS website, http://www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org.