Adopt-a-Tree
About the Program
Adopt-a-tree is a public-private partnership created by the Town of Essex to promote a healthy, vibrant, and diverse urban forest. Community members take on basic responsibilities to care for trees, and help keep an eye out for major tree problems to which the Town should be alerted.
See a map of all Town trees, including those available for adoption.
Learn more about the program and sign up to adopt a tree.
See our list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Adopt-a-Tree Program.
Read the Town's Tree Care Policy to learn how public shade trees are managed.
Tree Care Basics
Tree adopters will monitor overall health, and let the Town know of any issues such as safety concerns, broken or damaged limbs, or pruning needs. You will monitor for pests or other threats, and keep the tree mulched. Newly planted trees will need occasional watering while they are becoming established, particularly during dry periods. You may be asked to do some simple mitigation measures, for example, putting up caterpillar barriers for Lymantria dispar (formerly known as gypsy moth).
The Town will still be responsible for any major work needed. For example, you should not do (or contract out) any pruning, pesticide treatment, or dead limb removal. If the Town has placed watering bags or stakes on new trees, you should leave those in place until they are removed by the Town. And naturally, you would not do anything that would harm the tree, such as inserting nails or screws, or tying cords or ropes around the truck or limbs. If you have questions about anything in particular, please contact the program administrator.
Learn more about general tree care from the VT Urban and Community Forestry Program.
Profiles of Our Trees
The following table provides links to basic information about common Essex street trees from the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Tree Selection Tool, as well as links to other sites with more detailed information.
Common Name | Scientific Name with VT Tree Selection Tool Link | Other Resource |
Eastern Redbud | Cercis canadensis | PlantingTree.com |
Honey Locust | Gleditsia triacanthos | GardenNerdy.com |
River Birch | Betula nigra | University of Minnesota Extension |
Red Maple | Acer rubrum | University of Minnesota Extension |
Northern Red Oak | Quercus rubra | Arbor Day Foundation |
Pin Oak | Quercus palustris | Bartlett Tree Experts |
Hackberry | Celtis occidentalis | University of Minnesota Extension |
Ash (white, green, black) | Fraxinus spp. | |
Crabapple | Malus spp. | AttainableSustainable.net |
Eastern White Pine | Pinus strobus | Bartlett Tree Experts |
American Elm | Ulmus americana | University of Minnesota Extension |
Contact the Program Administrator
Katherine Sonnick, Community Development Director
Community Development
81 Main Street
Essex Junction, VT 05452
ksonnck@essex.org
(802) 878-1343