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Tree Planting Initiative

Where to Plant

DCH encourages tree planting anywhere in the region where tree canopy can be added. This includes both public spaces and private yards. If you do plant a tree, we’d love to hear about your efforts. Tell Us About Trees You’ve Planted in Delaware and for Wilmington residents, to have your tree(s) included in our Wilmington Tree Counter.

For those living in the City of Wilmington: DCH has designated priority tree planting areas in the City incorporating input from the Trees for Wilmington coalition. These maps are based on data from the tree inventory, number of people per tree (population density), and median income, organized by Census Block Group (2000) and City Council District. These factors are important due to the fact that some residents in low-income areas experience an inability to pay for tree maintenance and plantings; in addition, we strive to plant more trees in areas that currently have less trees on average per resident than other neighborhoods. We value that all residents deserve to have access to green and trees, despite income or neighborhood location. Because community involvement is crucial to the survival of our urban trees, community involvement will be weighted double against other criteria.

These maps aim to present a broad picture of tree cover in Wilmington and begin to highlight where priorities exist. Actual priority planting areas will be determined based on approved other criteria and on-the-ground knowledge of various neighborhoods. These criteria have been placed in a matrix and will serve as a tool in identifying these priorities. Other factors to consider will be information gathered at a site survey, projected costs, available funding sources, crime data, trees per mile data, sidewalk/camera/lighting issues, relative location to combined sewer overflow sites, relative location to high percentage of impervious surfaces, and existence of a watering and maintenance plan.

While all efforts will be made to select the “right tree for the right place” utilizing the Delaware Center for Horticulture’s list of recommended urban trees, any tree planting initiative will select canopy/shade trees as a first choice if possible since research has shown these provide greater environmental benefits.

Urban forestry maps:

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