Shade Tree Commission

The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission (STC) was established by Ordinance, #870, passed by the Upper Dublin Board of Commissioners on June 14, 1994.
Agendas and minutes for meetings of the Shade Tree Commission are available as downloadable PDFs. Minutes are posted after they have been approved and signed.

Apply to Serve on the Shade Tree Commission

The Ordinance:

Establishes the STC as comprising 5 members, residents of Upper Dublin, who are appointed by the Commissioners, and who serve without compensation.
Defines "Shade Tree" as "any tree having more than fifty percent (50%) of its trunk diameter at breast height within the right-of-way of a public street or on Township property."
Vests in the STC "exclusive custody and control" of all Shade Trees.
Requires anyone who wishes to plant, remove, trim or spray a Shade Tree or that portion of any tree, which extends over the right-of-way to obtain STC approval by making a written request to the Township's Director of Public Works, which is submitted to the STC for investigation and approval or disapproval. Use the Tree Pruning-Removal Form for any of these requests.

Since its inception, the STC has, among other activities:

Planted or given to Township residents and property owners to plant over 5,000 trees through our programs and activities, including Annual Planting, Arbor Day, Adopt-a-Tree.
Conducted annual Arbor Day celebrations with educational and tree planting programs, generally at a UD school.
Inspected numerous potentially hazardous tree sites.
Adopted Regulations and an Application process to prevent imprudent loss of Shade Trees.
Reviewed development plans and suggested changes to increase and preserve shade trees and pursue tree diversity.
Established a Heritage Tree Registry to identify publicly accessible trees that have unusual size or age or that are unusual species. (See link below)
Since 1997, arranged for Upper Dublin to be awarded the prestigious "Tree City USA" designation from the national Arbor Day Foundation.
Worked to increase the tree canopy on public rights of way and on Township property.

Form-Tree Pruning Removal Application (14.1 KiB)

Meetings

The Shade Tree Commission usually meets the third Thursday every month at 3:30pm, except for a combined July / August Meeting. In person meetings are at the Upper Dublin Public Library, 520 Virginia Drive, Fort Washington, PA 19034. All meetings are open to the public and we encourage you to attend.

Minutes

Agendas and minutes for meetings of the Shade Tree Commission are available as downloadable PDFs. Minutes are posted after they have been approved and signed.

Contact the Shade Tree Commission

Email: Shade Tree Commission
or Write:
Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission
370 Commerce Drive
Fort Washington, PA 19034

Events

The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission has an “Adopt a Tree” Day twice a year in the spring and the fall. The container trees available range in height from three (3) to five (5) feet and consist of native species. The trees are given free to Upper Dublin residents, business operators and property owners who would like to adopt a tree for planting in Upper Dublin Township.

Anyone who wishes to adopt a tree must pre-register online here through the UD Parks and Recreation website where you can select a species from those available, and make donations. Adopted trees may be picked-up on the designated date in the rear parking lot of the UD Library, 520 Virginia Drive.

In order for the Shade Tree Commission to continue this program donations are requested and greatly appreciated at the time of registration. The current cost per tree is about $14.

Since 1996, over 2,000 trees have been adopted and planted through the Adopt-A-Tree program. See this map for their locations.

Annual Tree Planting Program

The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission has planted several hundred trees throughout the Township in its Annual Tree Planting Program. It seeks suggestions from Upper Dublin residents and property owners for locations for future plantings. You may suggest your own property, public or other private property. The Shade Tree Commission is especially interested in locations where a mature tree will shade sidewalks and streets. Please mail your suggestions to the address listed or send via email to either person listed above.

Arbor Day Foundation/Tree City USA

Since 1997, Upper Dublin has achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. Most years, the STC holds an annual Arbor Day event at an Upper Dublin school. A tree is planted on the school grounds by students, faculty, and members of the Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission. The ceremony includes remarks by school officials, shade tree commissioners, and presentation of the Tree City USA Recertification Award by the PA Bureau of Forestry.

“Tree City USA communities see the impact an urban forest has in a community first hand,” said Dan Lambe, President of the Arbor Day Foundation. Additionally, recognition brings residents together and creates a sense of community pride, whether it’s through volunteer engagement or public education.”

Trees provide multiple benefits to a community when properly planted and maintained. They help to improve the visual appeal of a neighborhood, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants, and provide wildlife habitat among many other benefits.

More information on the program is available at arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.

Emerald Ash Borer

Press Release-Emerald Ash Borer Found in Township Park

Spotted Lanternfly

Spotted Lanternfly Management for Homeowners

Heritage Trees

Heritage trees are trees having magnificent size, significant age, or that are unusual species. The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission (STC) seeks to promote public appreciation and general awareness of such trees. Click here to view a list of Heritage Trees in Upper Dublin Township.

In addition, the Pennsylvania Forestry Association maintains a list of Champion Trees in Pennsylvania at pabigtrees.com. Its compilation includes over 1700 Pennsylvania trees listed by location, species and size.

The STC wants to collect data on significant trees in Upper Dublin to add to our Heritage Tree Registry. If you are aware of any tree that you think may qualify because of size, significant age, or species, please contact the STC by e-mail at shadetree.commission@upperdublin.net. We are interested in trees on both public and private property, your own or someone else’s. If a tree is on private property, we will not publish any information about its location on our website or elsewhere without the written consent of the property owner.

The National Register of Big Trees is a non-profit group that maintains a list of the largest living specimens of each tree variety found in the continental United States. A tree on this list is often called a National Champion Tree. This list has been maintained since 1940. Each state has its own list of Champion Trees.

Download the Specimen Tree Inventory Consent to Publish Form. Details on form.

Form-Specimen Tree Inventory Consent

Tree Planting and Care Fund

After the tornadic events of September 1, 2021 during which hundreds of trees in public lands were destroyed, numerous requests were made from local and surrounding businesses and residents for the Township to facilitate the donation of trees and funds to enable the replanting of lost trees. In response to this, the Tree Planting and Care Fund was created.