Medford Deploys $300,000 to Removing Tree Stumps and Planting New Trees this Year

The City has nearly completed removing stumps and is in the process of planting new trees this season to improve pedestrian access and expand its tree canopy, Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn announced.  

To date, crews have removed about 221 stumps since the beginning of 2024 and will plant 106 trees en route to achieving the City’s goal of planting 200 trees in 2024. Fall is the ideal planting season for trees where the climate and soil produce the optimal environment for healthy growth. 

In January 2024, the City identified 430 stumps for removal across all neighborhoods and has leveraged $300,000 to help complete the work. To date, 221 stumps have been or are in the process of being removed. 

“Many of the large stumps we encounter were planted decades ago and are a result of poor planning and a lack of understanding of root systems at the time,” Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said. “Now as we work through our stump removal inventory, we have far more knowledge and technology that allows us to effectively and efficiently remove stumps, fix impacted sidewalks and plant new trees that force the roots to grow down and not out under our infrastructure. We are diligently working through our inventory list and removing as many of these hazards as possible. Thank you to our Tree Warden Aggie Tuden, DPW Commissioner Tim McGivern and the staff at DPW for coordinating this important work across the City’s sidewalks.” 

If you’re interested in helping the City water and maintain public trees, you can sign up for the ‘Adopt a Tree’ Program. Participants are encouraged to help care for public trees throughout the City by filling slow-release watering bags each week or every other week if there is significant rain. You can sign up for the program at https://www.treesmedford.org/adopts. 

For more information on the City’s tree strategy and procedures, visit www.medfordma.org/departments/forestry.