City Launches "Tree Bud" Program to Assist with Tree Watering

Cedar Rapids residents with homes or businesses where trees have been planted in the City’s right-of-way are invited to volunteer to become “Tree Buds.” As a Tree Bud, a resident or business owner volunteers to fill a tree’s water bag every 7 – 10 days, unless an inch of rain is recorded in that time period.

“We have had many residents ask what they can do to help newly planted trees flourish during the summer heat. The new Tree Bud program will speed up the watering process for trees throughout the city while also reducing the possibility of trees being over-watered if an individual is already watering the trees,” said Carole Teator, ReLeaf Program Manager.

This voluntary watering program is part of the ReLeaf Cedar Rapids plan, a citywide reforestation effort to plant 32,000 trees along city streets and 8,000 trees in City parks by 2032. This reforestation effort was initiated after the August 2020 Derecho, that destroyed approximately two-thirds of the City’s tree canopy, amounting to an estimated loss of 670,000 trees.

Trees are planted in the right-of-way on behalf of the City of Cedar Rapids by contractors and Trees Forever, a Cedar Rapids-area non-profit organization that is partnering with the City to implement the ReLeaf plan. While these organizations are committed to watering the trees for two years after planting, the new “Tree Bud” program is meant to engage residents who want to be part of the ReLeaf effort.

“While we have systems in place to support trees through watering, the large number of new trees that have been planted, in conjunction with high temperatures, makes the watering process very time intensive. We know people want to help and this is a way for them to do so,” said Hashim Taylor, Parks and Recreation Director.

Those interested in becoming a “Tree Bud” can request a sticker for a tree watering bag by calling the City’s Forestry Department at 319-286-5747 or by stopping by the Parks and Recreation Office at 500 15^th Avenue SE. Starting July 5, 2023, stickers will also be available from the crews watering the trees as well as at the Northwest Recreation Center at 1340 11^th Street NW and through the Rollin’ RecMobile. The Rollin’ RecMobile’s schedule can be found on the City’s website at CityofCR.com/CRRecmobile.

The Department estimates the cost for filling a tree’s water bag once a week for 30 weeks is $2.14. This assumes Cedar Rapids’ current rate of $.00356 per gallon of water multiplied by 20 gallons per weekly fill of the water bag for 30 weeks spring through fall.