After field testing trees from various nurseries, we are proud to offer premium-grade stock propagated by a method known as 'air-pruning.' This process creates a more fibrous root system which enables faster initial growth and equips young trees to better withstand stress from heat, cold, drought, insects, etc.
Hardiness: All trees are from northern sources to assure hardiness in the Cambridge area. See price tabs for each tree's specific hardiness zone.
Prices/Sizes:
We recommend $38 trees trees for most applications: they're easy to handle and plant; quick to establish and they consistently out-performed other trees we tested. While these trees are quite short initially (generally between two and three feet tall) they grow quickly because of the air-pruning propagation method (see picture below). With regular watering, a good mulch ring and plentiful sunshine trees planted in late summer can experience growth up to three feet by the following fall. Spring-planted trees can grow up to two feet by that fall. Three of these trees can be purchased for $99 including tax and delivery.
If you have to have a larger tree, our large trees are at least six feet tall and have trunk diameters between 1 and 1 1/2 inches. Unlike other larger trees that take a few years to get acclimated and start growing, some of large trees are also air-pruned and suffer less transplant shock so they start growing for you fairly soon after transplanting. Most of these trees are potted in seven gallon containers which are fairly easy to handle.
The $5 seedlings we offer aren't air-pruned; they're sown from seeds collected locally and are generally around 12" tall. These trees need your help (very regular watering) for the first year or two after planting. They should also be protected from rabbits during winter months until their diameter is equal in size to a finger.
Can I see trees before ordering? Yes, numerous project trees are planted throughout Cambridge: in the terraces (the area between sidewalk and street) on the 100 & 200 blocks of North Street; Park Street by Veteran's Park; the 100 block of High Street; along North Alley behind Voyagers Jewelry and the new Rockdale sewerage plant on Highway B. You can also see Tree Project trees planted throughout Westside Park.
Consultation: We are happy to help you select trees that will work best in your yard's unique micro-climate. Email us with your questions: info@cambridgetreeproject.org
Pictures:
$38 redbud planted in the spring of 2006 and pictured June 2008:
