BTF News

Benicia Tree Foundation's first project involved planting 80 trees at Benicia High along Military West and Denfield Avenue.  This included 30 five-gallon size coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia).  The supplemental water applied during the dry season ended in 2013.  After two years of average to above average rainfall, many of those trees are 15 to 20 feet tall and need some structural pruning (i.e.

Twenty Volunteers at Mathew Turner Project Site

The sun shined brightly on February 11, which brought out 20 volunteers for our Second Saturday Tree Maintenance Day at Mathew Turner Elementary School.  The 50 trees planted in 2014 got some much-needed TLC. Tree wells were weeded and rebuilt to help capture more rainfall.  Mulch was applied around the trees to help supress weed growth and retain soil moisture during the dry season.  All trees were tended-to and we finished early.  Many thanks to our great volunteers.

he Benicia Tree Foundation has scheduled Volunteer Tree Care Days for the Second Saturday and Third Thursday of each month, from 9 am to Noon, for 2017.  The first Second Saturday event was on January 14 at Joe Henderson Elementary.  Over 80 trees were planted on this campus in 2013.  Each year we rebuild the tree wells to help increase the amount of rainfall each tree captures, and apply mulch to help retain soil moisture during the dry season.  A group of Benicia High students volunteered to help with these tasks last Saturday.

The Benicia Tree Foundation has scheduled Volunteer Tree Care Days for the Second Saturday and Third Thursday of each month for the first half of 2017.  BTF volunteers will perform light maintenance tasks such as applying mulch and water, and weeding around trees from 9:00 am to Noon.  Volunteer Tree Care Days will rotate among our project sites.  No experience necessary.  Bring gloves if you have them and wear sturdy shoes.

Our Third Thursday Volunteer Day in May at the Lake Herman Open Space project site was well attended by Valero employees.  They weeded and watered around the nearly 100 native tree saplings that were planted last November.  

The Benicia Tree Foundation has scheduled Volunteer Tree Care Days for the Second Saturday and Third Thursday of each month for 2016.  BTF volunteers will perform light maintenance tasks such as applying mulch and water, and weeding around trees from 9:00 am to Noon.  Volunteer Tree Care Days will rotate among our project sites.  Check the BTF Calendar for available volunteer opportunities and RSVP by clicking here. 

Benicia High School students worked with Benicia Unified School District staff to plant 20 coast live oak seedlings to help buffer the campus from the freeway traffic on I-780.  These trees are in addition to 21 trees planted earlier this year in the same area of the campus.

Benicia Tree Foundation and the Benicia Housing Authority jointly sponsored a tree planting project at the Capitol Heights development.  32 shade trees were planted along Riverhill Drive and Bayview Circle.  Members of the nearby Heritage Presbyterian Church and residents volunteered to help plant the trees, with the assistance of maintenance staff from the Benicia Housing Authority.  The trees were selected to require minimal maintenance and water once established, and were located to protect the bay views enjoyed by some of the residents. 

Benicia Tree Foundation sponsored a tree planting event at Benicia State Recreation Area on December 5.  10 tree seedlings were planted at the main picnic area and adjacent to several parking lots.  Some of these trees replaced pine trees that were removed due to disease.  All trees were grown from locally collected acorns and buckeye fruits.  A total of 22 trees have been planted at BSRA in the past two months.