(Washington, DC) Adopting a street tree in the District of Columbia just got a lot easier. If you have a smart phone, you can join the Canopy Keepers program by simply scanning the Quick Response (QR) tag hanging on or near newly planted
street trees in the city.

The District Department of Transportation’s Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) program is piloting the QR tags this spring in four neighborhoods: Adams Morgan (Ward 1), Brookland (Ward 5), Fairlawn (Ward 8), and Tenleytown (Ward 3). If the program is successful it could be expanded citywide.

When you scan the tag (at right), using a QR code reader application downloaded to your mobile phone, it will link you directly to the form on the DDOT website to sign up for the Canopy Keepers program. Residents and businesses can adopt one or more trees by entering the locations on the form.

“We’re trying to make it as easy as possible to join the ranks of Canopy Keepers who have already adopted more than 2,400 street trees in the District,” said DDOT’s Chief Forester John Thomas. “These young trees need all the care and attention they can get, and that’s why signing up more community partners is so important.”

Anybody who agrees to water new street trees each week from spring through fall will receive a free 10-gallon watering tub for each tree adopted through DDOT’s Canopy Keepers program. Crews will water all 3,900 new trees DDOT planted this year but DDOT relies on the community to provide the consistent weekly water each tree needs to thrive in its first two years.

Residents and businesses can also adopt street trees by calling 311 or submitting an application online at ddot.dc.gov/CanopyKeepers.

To see more photos of the QR tags, please visit DDOT’s Photostream in Flickr .

The mission of the Urban Forestry Administration is to establish a full population of street trees within the District and to ensure that those street trees are maintained in a healthy and safe condition. UFA has 19 certified arborists on staff who are responsible for issuing permits, enforcing regulations and caring for approximately 140,000 trees throughout the city.