Mike Dexter, chairman of Cortland’s landscape and design commission, checks out a tree in the city that is part of the annual tree program. (Photo provided by Timothy A. Bennett, Owner & Publisher of The Cortland Voice).
Registration is open for the city of Cortland’s annual tree program.
Cortland, a member of Tree City USA since 2006, is inviting all Cortland property owners to apply for a tree to be planted at no cost. The trees will be planted on the city’s right-of-way by either Cortland’s Department of Public Works or the water/sewer departments.
The planting of the trees is tentatively scheduled for May 2024. Details from the city’s website about the program are as follows:
“Cortland’s LDC has chosen several species of street trees for planting under our annual tree program. The species of tree to be planted on your property will be determined by the LDC based on overhead and underground utilities, site conditions, tree availability, and your input. You will be notified of the tree species and location prior to planting. City property and school taxes must be up to date to be eligible.
If you accept a tree, you must agree to maintain and care for the tree with regular watering. You must not transplant, disturb, or harm your tree. Mulch may not touch the tree, and mowers or string trimmers must not nick the bark. Trees cannot be guaranteed and may not be replaced if they do not survive.”
The funding for the trees are provided by the city, and National Grid’s 10,000 trees and growing program. The trees, which come from a nursery in Buffalo, cost anywhere between $125 and $150.
A list of tree choices for the program can be viewed by clicking here.
The deadline to apply for the program is Monday, Oct. 2. Individuals interested in applying can either fill out the form online at cortland.org, or print out a hard copy of the form that can be accessed here.
For information, contact Diane Batzing (member of the landscape and design commission) at 607-753-0146, or Linda Armstrong (Thoma Development) at 607-753-1433.
