MBTA Orange Line Service Suspended, Green Line Closed From Government Center to Union Square Station Through 9/18. Learn more at somervillema.gov/MBTAclosure
The Urban Forestry Division manages, plans and cares for Somerville’s more than twelve thousand public trees. Somerville’s urban forest offers countless ecological, economic, and health benefits to the community. Trees remove carbon dioxide and harmful pollutants from the air, cool city temperatures, reduce storm-water runoff, all while increasing property values and beautifying urban landscapes.
Monday - Wednesday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
93 Highland Ave. Somerville , MA 02143 United States
Monday - Wednesday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
93 Highland Ave. Somerville , MA 02143 United States
The City of Somerville is planting 270 trees during the Fall 2021 Planting Season. The map below shows details about the placement and species of these trees.
In 2017-2018 the City of Somerville created an inventory of all of the public trees in the city, including trees located along public streets, in public parks, and surrounding public buildings and other public spaces. This inventory was completed by arborists at Davey Resource Group and is being maintained by City staff in Davey’s TreeKeeper software here. The inventory shows information about the location, species, and size of each public tree, as well as the combined ecosystem service benefits provided by all of the trees. Additional data about trees or locations can be provided upon request.
You can explore parts of the map or groups of trees using the Map Tools and Search menu features located on the left-hand side of the Inventory Screen.
You can also explore our historical tree inventory data from 2009 by clicking on the Layers menu feature and selecting Historic Park Trees or Historic Street Trees.
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October 25, 2018 EAB Information Session (View Presentation Slides as PDF)
Officials with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) have confirmed that the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been detected in 43 communities within eight counties in Massachusetts, and on August 17, 2018, DCR's Forest Health Program confirmed the presence of EAB in Somerville. The destructive beetle, which has been detected in 32 states, first appeared in the Commonwealth in the western town of Dalton in 2012. Since that time, the ash borer has been found in Berkshire, Essex, Hampden, Hampshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Worcester counties, as well as in multiple communities in Middlesex County where Somerville is located. To prevent its spread, the entire state of Massachusetts is now under ash borer quarantine, meaning that untreated firewood and other related materials (see below) may not be taken from the Commonwealth into any neighboring state. Officials have also urged all residents in Massachusetts to be alert for any sign of this invasive species.
The EAB is a small, flying beetle, native to Asia. It was first discovered in North America in 2002, in the Detroit, Michigan area. Unlike other invasive beetles, the EAB can kill a tree fast, within just a few years, because it bores directly under the bark, where the tree's conductive system is. Since its discovery in North America, it has killed millions of ash trees and has caused billions of dollars in economic loss across the nation.
Ash is a main component of the Northern Hardwood forest in Massachusetts and is a common species in the Berkshires. Ash is also a common street tree in eastern Massachusetts. The City of Somerville has approximately 1,000 public ash trees (100 of which are on State property), which represents roughly 8 percent of the more than 12,000 public trees currently in the city.
Residents are urged to take the time to learn the signs of EAB tree damage and be sure to report any sightings.
To report suspicious tree damage or insect sightings, or to learn more about this pest, visit www.massnrc.org/pests. You can also call the toll free EAB hotline at 1-866-322-4512.
More information about the Emerald Ash Borer can be found at in the EAB Guide on mass.gov and at http://emeraldashborer.info.
DCR and DAR officials are working together, in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the USDA's United States Forest Service to take a number of swift proactive steps aimed at preventing the spread of the invasive beetle, including trapping programs for early identification and the introduction of parasitic wasps known to prey on the ash borer and thus control their population. The state is also under quarantine.
Regulated items that fall under quarantine include the following:
Along with other cities and towns in our region, the City of Somerville is taking preventive measures to stop the spread of ash borer in our area to avoid tree loss:
Ash trees on private property are also susceptible to emerald ash borer. If you have an ash tree on your property, you should look for the signs of EAB listed above and consult with a certified arborist for recommendations and/or treatment. If the certified arborist determines that your ash tree needs to be treated or removed, please let the City know by emailing or calling 311. This allows the City arborist to collect data about where ash borers have been found and which trees have been treated.
Of Somerville's ~1,000 ash trees, 878 have been deemed to be in good or fair enough condition to benefit from preventive treatment with TreeAzin or to be in borderline poor condition warranting continued monitoring rather than removal. First-round injections for good-to-fair trees began in summer 2016 and will continue with regular boosters.
Click on the links below to view materials from the City's past EAB hearings and information sessions.
Removal of the City's seven dead ash trees commenced in summer 2016. Currently, the listing of vulnerable ash trees scheduled for PHASED removal as of June 2016 citywide is available for viewing. A phased removal of the City's sick and dying ash trees remaining on this list, as well as additional trees that have died or become sick in the interim, is ongoing. The updated list will be posted after additional seasonal review. Approximately 60 of the sick and dying ash trees on the list are expected to be removed in late fall 2018.
There are many reasons that tree health can deteriorate in high-stress urban environments. These factors apply to all tree species as well as the ash tree and are among the factors that have contributed to the poor condition of the ~138 ash trees proposed for preventive removal/replacement:
Somerville is home to thousands of beloved publicly owned trees that offer countless benefits to the community: lowering urban temperatures, absorbing storm water, reducing air pollution, providing habitat, calming traffic, and so much more! Like all urban trees, Somerville trees face a number of challenges such as inadequate water and nutrient availability, small growing spaces, compacted soils, poor soil quality, vandalism, and other harmful human influences.
Watering is the most important thing you can do, especially for young trees.
Click on the images below to enlarge them:
Damage to the bark and wood creates wounds that compromise the health of a tree.
Weeds are fast growing and reproducing plants that take resources from our street trees. Remove weeds from tree wells as frequently as possible.
Tree pits are often receptacles for debris, litter, and waste that can be harmful to the tree’s health. Human and animal-derived waste can alter soil quality, damage exposed tree roots, and give the tree pit an unsightly appearance. Younger street trees are especially susceptible to this type of damage.
Perennials, annuals, and bulbs are beautiful additions to a tree pit, as long as tree health comes first.
On June 27, 2019, the Somerville City Council passed a Tree Preservation Ordinance (Ord. #2019-15) with new requirements for the removal of trees on private property. The ordinance went into effect on August 1, 2019, and incorporates and updates the prior City of Somerville Tree Ordinance, which set requirements only for the removal of public trees.
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