There's no site that isn't owned or administered by someone. Your job is one of education and enrollment. Your ultimate goal should be for a commitment not only to allow but also to assist you to plant, including permission and help with long-term care. Trees need guardians. Even if the owners of a property can't help physically or financially, involve them in some way. Talking someone into letting you plant won't guarantee that the trees will be appreciated and cared for. Save yourself heartache; stop before you get to the arm-twisting stage.

Each property owner will undoubtedly have a different view of trees, and you may need to provide different kinds of assurances and paperwork before you'll be granted planting permission. In many cities, the county tax assessor's office is able to provide the name and address of the owner of the land, but they rarely give out such information over the phone. You'll need to go into the office or write a letter and pay a fee for the service.

Public Agencies

Most cities and agencies have a permit process. Some have extensive requirements and a long permit process. City agencies sometimes tighten their regulations in an effort to avoid badly-planned plantings that will cause trouble in the future. Seeking official approval, whether or not it involves paying a permit fee, is worth your while. Agency staff are a great source of information and usually know which species do well under particular conditions.

Private Owners

When you want to plant on private land, you may be surprised by the opposition you face from hesitant property owners. Remember, your job is not to convince but to educate.

Landowners may believe that future income-producing uses of the site will be limited by the presence of trees. They may be concerned about added expenses resulting from cracked sidewalks, damaged utilities, leaf litter, and liability for tree-related injuries and damages. If they're unwilling to provide maintenance, they may worry that the responsibility will revert to them if your group loses interest in the project. They're right. Think hard before going ahead. Trees should sustain relationships as well as the environment. If the opposite happens, something's wrong.

Planting Permits

As difficult as it sounds and as time-consuming as it can be, the permit process should ensure that appropriate trees are planted in the right place. It also makes possible uniform plantings so a design or species mix can be carried down a street or throughout a neighborhood. (The older communities in many of our towns reflect this, just as they reflect the days before air-conditioning when trees were used to keep homes cool.) Furthermore, during the permit process the agency should research and identify all planned developments, street widenings, and excavations that could have an impact on your plans in the coming years.

Parkways or Median Strips

Call the city or county agency responsible for your street trees and ask for a permit to plant. An inspector may be required to check out your site, in which case you'll need an appointment. If you have to leave a message, call back and be persistent but polite. If someone's gruff with you, bear in mind that they may be having an exasperating day just like you!

At the same time, be sure you have your neighbors' support. Collect the signatures of property owners who want trees adjacent to their property. If someone on the street is not interested or doesn't want trees, leave that name off the petition and ensure no trees are planted in front of that property. Draw up a planting plan showing the frontage of each property along the street and where you want to plant trees. If you'll be cutting through concrete, you or the agency will need to check on underground utilities.

If an inspector is sent out to your site, he or she will take note of existing trees, parkway size, utilities present, and consider the tree master plan for the city if one exists. It is best to be present at this inspection and show your map and the signatures of property owners. You can discuss possible species at this time. Cities will differ in what they check.

You may be told what species you have permission to plant or be given a few choices. Los Angeles requires all trees on city regulated property to be planted with root barriers, which are thought to prevent lateral roots from pushing up through the pavement.

If you've obtained written permission from all owners of property adjacent to the planting site and the site has been approved, the inspector will mark the locations for each tree. Then the final tree selection must be made, and your permit will be issued.

City Parks

City parks are usually the province of your local city parks and recreation department. They may be accustomed to channeling planting requests through their own tree-dedication program, if they have one, and planting the trees themselves. Give your reasons for wanting this planting to be a community participation event and invite them to be directly involved. Be sure to develop your plan with their guidance and input.

Private Land: Vacant Lot, Parking Lot, Industry

If you don't know who owns the land, ask attached businesses or neighbors or, as stated above, contact your local county tax assessor's office in person or by letter. If you need a legal description of the location, contact city hall. Once you've identified the owner, try to set up a meeting at the site. Be professional. Use recognized procedures, like a proposal, and your request will at least be taken seriously.

Above all, establish credibility. If you have or anyone in your group has special training with trees, it will set you apart as someone who knows about the subject. If you've been working with your city-government representative, don't forget to mention that you also have support there. In fact, an introductory phone call or letter from a higher-up never hurts. Be cooperative. Remember, the owner will make the final decision.

Churches, Synagogues, Schools

To avoid wasting time, try going to the top when you first contact an institution. Your suggestion, which may sound strange to a receptionist, could strike just the right chord with the person who ultimately makes decisions. Again, a proposal will probably be expected. Tailor your planting proposal to include the planting plan, the cost and liability of the project, benefits to the constituency, how members or students can be involved, and as much as possible on how the project meets the establishment's needs or goals. Furnish progress reports and final plans. Try to enroll a leader from the institution early on to help develop the plan. If you wait too long, leaders may be reluctant or threatened.

If your potential planting location is a school, refer back to "How to Use This Guide" for information on campus planting.

Freeways and Highways

Your local highway department may have an adopt-a-highway program. If not, suggest it to them. Here in California, participants, including civic groups, churches, corporations, and schools agree to plant at least five acres of drought-tolerant, urban-tolerant tree seedlings and establish them for two years.

National Forests, National Parks, Wildlands

Here you'll be relying on the planting or care prescription of the responsible agencies' resident experts. Forestry and restoration are complex fields requiring a fair amount of training and experience. Try to link up with a group like TreePeople, who have ongoing forest restoration projects in place.

Maintenance Permits

Your city tree department may welcome street tree-maintenance assistance if you can prove your commitment, knowledge, and ability; however, as with plantings, there may be a permit procedure.

Where the government is responsible for maintenance of street trees, the homeowner takes on liability when choosing to have the trees pruned by someone other than the city. An inspector will issue a permit for you to prune a small tree-one whose limbs are reachable when you're standing on the ground-if you can offer assurance that you know how to do the job.

You may want to stage an event, working with other individuals knowledgeable about pruning. Consider putting on a training event, bringing in government trainers or private arborists.

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