Neighborhood Tree Program

Trees Soak Up Rainwater


Even when they aren't keeping us cool, our shade trees are working hard not only to absorb rainfall through their roots, but their roots are also loosening our compacted clay-rich soil to enable rainfall to soak into the ground. In Falls Church’s highly developed neighborhoods where stormwater run-off is damaging our streams, we need to make sure we save space for trees and take care of our newly planted and mature trees. An easy way to help your trees stay healthy is by mulching them, which protects their roots from drying out and guards them from injury from lawn care equipment. We recommend a 4” deep ring of ground wood chips or leaf mulch out to the drip line (never pile it against the trunk). As the mulch decomposes it enriches the soil while soaking up yet more moisture like a sponge. As you maintain the trees and shrubs in your yard be sure to leave plenty of low branches to provide cover for birds and other wildlife.

What can you do to help? If you have room on your property or in the City right-of-way within 15 feet of the curb, request your free street tree by completing the request form and submitting it to City Arborist Kate Reich and Seth Heminway. Volunteer to help plant and care for trees.
The Neighborhood Tree Program (NTP) is a partnership between the City of Falls Church and the Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) to help restore and maintain a healthy tree canopy. The simple act of planting trees reduces summer temperatures and stormwater runoff, improves air quality, beautifies neighborhoods, and increases property values by 20 percent.

The NTP was initiated by the Village Preservation and Improvement Society in 2000 and continues to be run by citizen volunteers working in partnership with the city's Urban Forestry Division. Volunteers raise money to purchase trees and then plant them in the city right-of-way in residential neighborhoods. To see one example of past NTP efforts, take a walk down Randolph Street and enjoy all the fringe trees.

Volunteer


VPIS and the City hold a number of tree plantings throughout the year, and volunteers are always needed. Check out VPIS's website or the City's volunteer calendar for the next tree planting dates. Seth Heminway of VPIS is the volunteer coordinator for the plantings and can be contacted at heminway.seth@gmail.com.

Request a Tree


City residents may request a tree through VPIS. To get a free street tree, you must:
  1. be a Falls Church City resident,
  2. have room for a shade tree within 15 feet of the street,
  3. not have interfering utilities, and
  4. not be subject to a required landscaping plan.
Contact VPIS to learn more.