We all want to see our neighborhood trails look their best. But taking beautification into your own hands by planting trees near a trail isn’t such a good idea, says Dallas Park Board member Lee Kleinman.
“We call it ‘rogue planting’,” he says. “It’s when well-intending neighbors take it upon themselves to plant trees on public land, like near a trail.”
The problem, he says, is that this creates more work for the city.
“A lot of times it prevents our crews from being able to use the ride-on mowers because there are unplanned trees there. So the crews will have to use the push-mowers, which costs the city more time, labor, and money.”
And most of these “rogue” trees don’t end up surviving because the people who plant them don’t return to water them enough. A better option, he says, is to contact the city’s tree bank. The city will provide you with a tree that fits an assigned location near you, as long as you commit to watering it for the first two years of its life.
To adopt a tree for your neighborhood trail, call the city tree bank at 214.670.4293
