2023 Tree Planting Program

Blue Water Baltimore (BWB) plants trees on residential properties across Baltimore County through our cost-share yard tree program. Our Ruxton, Riderwood, and Lake Roland community is part of this program.

Residents pay a small fee for a tree, depending on the size.  Tree options can be found in the Look Book link below.

Trees will be planted between October and November by BWB staff and volunteers (please feel free to join us). The fee includes tree installation, mulch, a mower guard, and stakes, if necessary. Homeowners will need to call Miss Utility prior to planting in September.

The BWB team works closely with local volunteer residents, called Neighborhood Tree Stewards, to promote the program to neighbors and to help you select appropriate species and sites. Your neighbor, and Association Board Member Patty Mochel, and her husband Gerry Willse are Tree Stewards for the Ruxton, Riderwood, and Lake Roland area.

While you may select your own tree(s), we strongly encourage all residents to reach out to Patty and Gerry at treesteward@rrlraia.org before ordering to have them assist with species selection and placement. Remember, “Right tree, Right place” is key if you want to fully enjoy your new tree for decades to come!

We also encourage homeowners to select large canopy shade trees rather than smaller understory trees. Small trees should be reserved for locations with limited height or space, such as under power lines. Canopy shade trees are long-lived and provide many more benefits for you and future generations! Trees save money, cool down streets, reduce flooding, improve health, raise property values, and provide habitat for our native butterflies and other wildlife. And they are beautiful!

Yard trees are in 3-7 gallon pots with 3/4″ caliper trunks depending on their species. They can be planted anywhere on your private property: in your front, back, or side yard. Yard trees include any species on the list.

Street trees are in 15-gallon pots with 1-1/5″ caliper trunks and are planted in the “public right of way” (the grass strip between the sidewalk and the street). Bigger trees are sturdier, which helps prevent damage by pedestrians and vehicles. The grass strip must be at least 4-ft wide to receive a tree. The street tree price varies by $25 depending on whether you are required by Baltimore County to install a root barrier. Root barriers are 2-ft x 8-ft hard plastic sheets that are buried in the ground to block roots from disturbing the sidewalk. If your grass strip is 8-ft wide or less, you must pay the additional $25 and you must install this root barrier yourself prior to BWB’s planting. To install the root barrier you are trenching 6″ wide by 8′ long and digging 2′ deep. This takes about 2 hours to complete if you are hand digging on your own. If your grass strip is greater than 8-ft wide, you do not need to purchase a root barrier, and your tree will cost $125. There is a shorter species list of approved street trees. Check out this helpful video on how to install a root barrier.

Please review the Tree Availability Look Book to determine the best trees(s) for your yard. The Look Book contains pictures and a description of each species! Orders must be placed by August 31, 2023.

Trees will be planted between October and November by BWB staff and volunteers (please feel free to join us). The fee includes tree installation, mulch, a mower guard, and stakes if necessary. Reminder: Homeowners will need to call Miss Utility prior to planting in September.

The information from this page has been adapted with permission from https://bluewaterbaltimore.org/tree-orders/

Program funders include the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Baltimore County Environmental Protection & Sustainability.

• Community Tree Stewards for Ruxton, Riderwood, and Lake Roland: Patty Mochel and Gerry Willse at treesteward@rrlraia.org.
• BWB’s Community Engagement Manager, MJ Jenkins at mjenkins@bluewaterbaltimore.org.