Free Trees for the Hamline Midway Neighborhood

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Volunteers with the Hamline Midway Environment Committee (HMEC) started a new urban tree canopy project in 2020 which now includes a neighborhood tree nursery gravel bed. These trees support St Paul's tree canopy that the city’s forestry department doesn’t engage. St. Paul Forestry plants and maintains public trees in spaces like boulevards, parks, and around public buildings; HMEC focuses their program Free Trees primarily on privately owned spaces in the Hamline Midway neighborhood, including residential and commercial properties. HMEC's tree team, its many volunteers and our dedicated AmeriCorps members have supported the planting of 69 trees in the Midway neighborhood since 2021.





In 2022, HMEC built a new tree gravel bed on the Friends School of Minnesota’s campus. It will foster trees for many seasons going forward. This project brings climate change mitigation to our neighborhood as well as an opportunity to address environmental injustices from inequitable tree canopy coverage.




Sponsors & partners
We would like to thank the following for their support of this endeavor:

The Friends School of Minnesota

Mississippi Park Connection

St Paul Forestry Department

US Forest Service

AmeriCorps

Individual donors

BNSF Foundation

Hamline Church Earthkeepers

Frogtown Green


Tree Trust

Lawns to Legumes (MnBWSR)

MnDNR

Piecework Design PLLC

Right Track youth worker program

All volunteers who support building the gravel bed, maintaining the trees and installing them



History

Locally, the Free Trees project started in 2012 with Frogtown Green and their effort to increase the canopy coverage in the Frogtown neighborhood of St Paul and has planted over 600 trees. Recently, Free Trees programs have branched out to several other communities including Hamline-Midway, Payne Phalen and Summit University. These communities work collaboratively to get trees housed, tended and planted in these neighborhoods of St. Paul.

What are gravel beds

Gravel beds are raised and contained beds of gravel that are used to nurture bare root plants from spring until autumn. This allows for 2 things; sourcing trees for the least cost and taking advantage of autumn weather which protects the new trees from increasingly high summer heat. They are consistently watered throughout the summer in order to prevent the roots from drying out, and if done correctly, result in the growth of a root system of fine fibrous roots. The expanded root system is supportive to the successful transplanting of the tree. Gravel beds are not intended to be permanent housing, since gravel does not possess the nutrients required for a tree to be able to live and grow long term.

Why we are doing this in the Midway

HMC and its residents want a healthier canopy and increased tree coverage within our neighborhood, particularly in response to advancing tree losses due to invasive insects, climate change and attrition. A healthier and more complete canopy will address ecological and climate change issues such as reducing the heat island effect, increasing habitat for fauna, reducing air pollution, and reducing storm water runoff. Further, more greenery in the Midway supports the community’s well-being and often enhances the appearance of our built environment.

This is especially relevant in Hamline-MIdway, which has a Tree Equity Rating that falls below average in comparison to other regions in the Twin Cities. The priority score for Hamline-Midway is at 8+ on a scale of 10. This indicates that the neighborhood needs some more work done in order to bring it back into more acceptable levels of canopy coverage and distribution. There is also a disparity within Hamline-Midway itself, with there being an industrial area on the west side that rates extremely highly on the priority scale due to how little trees are present in the area. Outside of this industrial spot, there are still certain spots which are showing symptoms of increased environmental impact as a result of a lack of trees present, such as summer temperatures varying up to 8 degrees in certain areas of Hamline-Midway. Tree Equity Rating also takes into consideration demographics for the area, to ensure that environmental efforts are reaching all demographics such as races, ages, and income levels. This can help show other factors that would indicate that more resources should be focused on these disproportionately affected areas, such as how areas with higher amounts of children residing are also on average hotter and having less trees.

For more information about Tree Equity Ratings, Demographics, and comparisons across tracts in the twin cities, the Met Council mapping tool is a detailed resource. Another mapping tool is Tree Equity Score, which is updated a little slower, but also shows information and comparisons across the nation.

Volunteers with the Hamline Midway Environment Committee (HMEC) started a new urban tree canopy project in 2020 which now includes a neighborhood tree nursery gravel bed. These trees support St Paul's tree canopy that the city’s forestry department doesn’t engage. St. Paul Forestry plants and maintains public trees in spaces like boulevards, parks, and around public buildings; HMEC focuses their program Free Trees primarily on privately owned spaces in the Hamline Midway neighborhood, including residential and commercial properties. HMEC's tree team, its many volunteers and our dedicated AmeriCorps members have supported the planting of 69 trees in the Midway neighborhood since 2021.





In 2022, HMEC built a new tree gravel bed on the Friends School of Minnesota’s campus. It will foster trees for many seasons going forward. This project brings climate change mitigation to our neighborhood as well as an opportunity to address environmental injustices from inequitable tree canopy coverage.




Sponsors & partners
We would like to thank the following for their support of this endeavor:

The Friends School of Minnesota

Mississippi Park Connection

St Paul Forestry Department

US Forest Service

AmeriCorps

Individual donors

BNSF Foundation

Hamline Church Earthkeepers

Frogtown Green


Tree Trust

Lawns to Legumes (MnBWSR)

MnDNR

Piecework Design PLLC

Right Track youth worker program

All volunteers who support building the gravel bed, maintaining the trees and installing them



History

Locally, the Free Trees project started in 2012 with Frogtown Green and their effort to increase the canopy coverage in the Frogtown neighborhood of St Paul and has planted over 600 trees. Recently, Free Trees programs have branched out to several other communities including Hamline-Midway, Payne Phalen and Summit University. These communities work collaboratively to get trees housed, tended and planted in these neighborhoods of St. Paul.

What are gravel beds

Gravel beds are raised and contained beds of gravel that are used to nurture bare root plants from spring until autumn. This allows for 2 things; sourcing trees for the least cost and taking advantage of autumn weather which protects the new trees from increasingly high summer heat. They are consistently watered throughout the summer in order to prevent the roots from drying out, and if done correctly, result in the growth of a root system of fine fibrous roots. The expanded root system is supportive to the successful transplanting of the tree. Gravel beds are not intended to be permanent housing, since gravel does not possess the nutrients required for a tree to be able to live and grow long term.

Why we are doing this in the Midway

HMC and its residents want a healthier canopy and increased tree coverage within our neighborhood, particularly in response to advancing tree losses due to invasive insects, climate change and attrition. A healthier and more complete canopy will address ecological and climate change issues such as reducing the heat island effect, increasing habitat for fauna, reducing air pollution, and reducing storm water runoff. Further, more greenery in the Midway supports the community’s well-being and often enhances the appearance of our built environment.

This is especially relevant in Hamline-MIdway, which has a Tree Equity Rating that falls below average in comparison to other regions in the Twin Cities. The priority score for Hamline-Midway is at 8+ on a scale of 10. This indicates that the neighborhood needs some more work done in order to bring it back into more acceptable levels of canopy coverage and distribution. There is also a disparity within Hamline-Midway itself, with there being an industrial area on the west side that rates extremely highly on the priority scale due to how little trees are present in the area. Outside of this industrial spot, there are still certain spots which are showing symptoms of increased environmental impact as a result of a lack of trees present, such as summer temperatures varying up to 8 degrees in certain areas of Hamline-Midway. Tree Equity Rating also takes into consideration demographics for the area, to ensure that environmental efforts are reaching all demographics such as races, ages, and income levels. This can help show other factors that would indicate that more resources should be focused on these disproportionately affected areas, such as how areas with higher amounts of children residing are also on average hotter and having less trees.

For more information about Tree Equity Ratings, Demographics, and comparisons across tracts in the twin cities, the Met Council mapping tool is a detailed resource. Another mapping tool is Tree Equity Score, which is updated a little slower, but also shows information and comparisons across the nation.

  • 2023 Free Trees can be applied for now!

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    How to Get a Tree?


    Getting your tree is not like ordering a pizza!

    There are multiple steps to finding a good home for a tree.


    1. Be sure your residence or business is in the Hamline Midway neighborhood of St. Paul.

    2. Keep in mind that matching a tree will require many separate communications, which will be ongoing throughout the days, weeks or even months from when you sign up. Up until planting day, it is essential that you are watching for these messages and responding to them right away. Trees are living organisms that are subject to seasonal weather, plus the fact Midway Free Trees are “bare root” means delivery timing is critical to the survival of the tree. Volunteers are placing 50 trees in our community and if you are not responding to messages, then we may need to skip you and move onto the next recipient.

    3. Fill out the tree order form and indicate your tree preferences and contact information.

    4. A Free Tree team member will arrange a short meeting with you at the property where the tree will be planted.

    5. At this visit, we will look over the location(s) where you want the tree and compare that to which tree(s) you want to receive. We can provide guidance into these decisions in order to get you the tree that is right for you.

    6. In the weeks before planting, Gopher State One will be arranged to mark buried utility lines at the tree planting property.

    7. Once the buried utility lines are marked, you will dig a shallow wide hole (2’x3’, like a bowl) for your tree in the spot where it will be planted. Note, you may only have a few days to do this between utility marking and the tree planting day.

    8. Tree planting is in early October. We welcome you to join in during your tree installation, but it is not essential that anyone is there as long as you provide the volunteer tree planting team has access to the site and water.

    9. Once planted, your responsibility is to consistently water your new tree, keeping an eye out for any potential problems such and pruning. The tree team will provide you materials about how to keep your tree healthy.


    Registration form is here

  • Species Characteristics for the 2023 Free Tree Offering

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    ‘Autumn Brilliance’ Serviceberry

    Source: Arbor Day Foundation

    This popular tree offers white blossoms in spring, followed by sweet purplish-black, edible fruit over a long harvest period. Berries are good fresh, jarred, or frozen (no pitting or peeling required). Heavily branched, the tree has an interesting spreading pattern and attractive light gray bark with brilliant red-orange fall leaves. As serviceberry is a native tree species, the clusters of white flowers are particularly important to local pollinators.

    • Mature Height: 20-25'
    • Mature Spread: 15'
    • Shape: Rounded
    • Exposure: Full Sun
    • Zone: 3-8


    ‘MN Strain’ Redbud

    source: Wisconsin Horticulture Extension

    Smaller statured understory tree developed at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, this tree is typical of eastern and southern climes but has been bred to be hardy to Zone 4. Beautiful clusters of rose-pink to magenta pea-like flowers emerge along its branches in May and form small seed pods in the summer. Prefers well drained soil and cannot tolerate salt. Can be susceptible to verticillium wilt, leaf spots, mildew, Japanese beetles, borers and scale.

    • Mature Height: 25'
    • Mature Spread: 30’
    • Shape: Vase-like with umbrella canopy
    • Exposure: Partial to Full Sun
    • Zone: 4-7


    Ironwood

    Source: NetPS Plant finder

    Medium statured understory tree that is native to Minnesota, the ironwood or American Hophornbeam has birch like leaves and finely textured, grayish-brown bark on mature trees. Disease and pest resistant, this tree gets its common names from the strength and density of its wood and the hop-like seed pods that develop in summer.

    • Mature Height: 20-50’
    • Mature Spread: 20-30’
    • Shape: Rounded
    • Exposure: Part Shade to Full Sun
    • Zone: 4-9


    Kentucky Coffeetree

    Source: U of MN UFOR Nursery & Lab

    Despite being commonly named the Kentucky Coffeetree, this tree is native to small pockets of moist woodlands in Minnesota. It is tolerant of many conditions including a variety of soil types, road salt, and occasional drought, making it a good choice for an urban environment. The fragrant flowers attract pollinator insects and the seed pods do create winter interest, but can be messy.


    • Mature Height: 60-75’
    • Mature Spread: 40-50’
    • Shape: Irregular, Oval
    • Exposure: Full Sun
    • Zone: 3-8



    ‘Prairie Expedition’ Elm

    Source: Fast Growing Trees

    A true American elm, these trees are clones of a Dutch elm disease-resistant tree found in the Wild Rice River bottom near Fargo, North Dakota. A large native Minnesota shade tree that tolerates urban conditions well, this is a classic boulevard tree for city streets.

    • Mature Height: 55-60’
    • Mature Spread: 35-40’
    • Shape: Umbrella
    • Exposure: Full Sun
    • Zone: 3-9



    Harvest Gold Crabapple

    Source: Plantingtree.com

    Showy White flowers coat your tree in spring. Striking Golden Fruit last into winter. Disease Resistance and Low Maintenance. Pollinates your Apple trees!
    • Mature Height: 20-30’
    • Mature Spread: 15-20’
    • Shape: Irregular, Oval
    • Exposure: Full Sun
    • Zone: 3-8



  • Developmental Pruning of Young Trees: A Hands-On Workshop for Midway and Frogtown Residents

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    Developmental Pruning of Young Trees: A Hands-On Workshop for Midway and Frogtown Residents

    When: Saturday, March 25th from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM

    Location: Outdoors at Our Village Community Garden near Pierce Butler Route & Milton St.

    Cost: Free!

    The Hamline Midway Environment Committee (HMEC) and Trees & Me LLC are offering a practical workshop to provide Midway and Frogtown residents an opportunity to learn more about pruning young trees. Trees & Me LLC is a Midway-based tree care, consulting, and applied arboriculture training company.


    Chad and Rachel from Trees & Me will guide attendees in creatively visualizing future tree structure to assist in making thoughtful and biologically sound pruning decisions for young trees. All cuts will be less than 2" in diameter and no mechanical equipment will be used. This type of pruning, when performed during the first 10 to 15 years after planting, is the first step in tree preservation by preventing issues that arise due to deferred or reactive tree care, often requiring more costly services that must be provided by a licensed tree care professional. This is an especially good opportunity for anyone who has received a Free Tree in Midway or Frogtown for their property.


    This class will be held outdoors; wear warm outerwear and boots. Bring pruning tools if you have any, some tools provided. Attendance limited to 15. Reserve your spot by emailing Trees@hamlinemidway.org







Page last updated: 25 Sep 2023, 12:28 PM