Greening

Donate to Greening Programs

Your donation to our greening programs will help provide and maintain more nature in the community.

The programs include greening of public parks and gardens, streetscapes and POPS (privately owned public spaces).

Adopt A Tree

Managed and maintained by St. Vartan Park Conservancy under the direction of Michael-Ann Rowe, the Adopt A Tree program has brought many new trees to public locations in East Manhattan.

The program has made significant improvements in the adjoining East Midtown neighborhoods of Murray Hill and Kips Bay.

In addition to tree installation, Adopt A Tree provides the vital service of maintenance of tree beds.

The Adopt A Tree services are made possible through continued community support.

Conservancy director Michael-Ann revitalized the Adopt A Tree program in 2022.  To learn more about the program, please contact Michael-Ann at ma@stvartanpark.org.

Community Tree Care Instructions

  • For at least the first two growing seasons, trees need regular watering. In this way, they will generate many new roots and so become better able to support themselves for the long term.

  • All trees need to be watered from early spring until winter (first frost), During the spring and summer months each tree needs 20 gallons of water once per week. In drought periods, or when the temperature averages 85 degrees or above, each 2.5-to-3 inch caliper tree needs 20 gallons twice per week.  Twenty gallons is the equivalent of four of the common white five-gallon ompound buckets.  

  • A slow hose run in the root zone for 15-20 minutes should give the equivalent, as well.  Alternatively, a Treegator — zip-on watering bags — can be filled with 20 gallons (green bags) of water. The water will drip slowly out of the bag and into the root zone.

  • Some of the trees we plant are larger than 2.5-to-3-inch caliper. Those should receive an additional 10 gallons per inch caliper, added onto the weekly 20-gallon drenching.

  • Do NOT water a little bit each day. The trees need good deep watering. Fewer, deeper waterings are far better for root development and tree health.

  • Please keep your dogs away from the tree beds, especially new trees as this is like pouring acid on the tree route and can kill a new tree.