As summer temperatures rise, the Lebanon Garden Club seeks to expand the cooling tree canopy over our sidewalks and streets.
During the past two years, the club has bought street trees for residents on Williams and Fifth streets. This year the club will offer the chance for a new street tree to residents anywhere in the city.
“Street trees” are those trees planted in the unpaved strip between the sidewalk and curb. To qualify for a free tree, a resident must live within Lebanon’s city limits, have a planting strip of at least 5 feet in width, and agree both to plant the tree and to water it as needed, especially during its first three years.
Applicants who are renting will need their landlords’ consent, and all planting sites are subject to the approval of the city of Lebanon, which will make sure that trees won’t compete with water and sewer lines. Other utilities must also be accommodated, although shorter trees can be planted under overhead utility wires.
Part of the funds for the project have come as a grant from Pacific Power.
The club plans to buy the trees in the fall but is already collecting names of interested residents. Funds are limited, so people who would like a street tree are encouraged to sign up soon. Those who qualify will be able to choose among several varieties. Likely choices include dogwoods, eastern redbud, serviceberry, Japanese snowbell, flowering crabapple, and maples. Each tree will measure at least 1½ inches in diameter.
To sign up for a tree or to request more information, send an email message to the attention of Linda Ziedrich at [email protected].
Serving East Linn County since 1929