This fall, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society volunteer Tree Tenders from around the city are coming together to plant and care for trees in neighborhoods that need it most. PHS has been working hard to increase the tree canopy within Philadelphia, which now stands at 20 percent — the least of any major city in the northeastern United States. 

Several Northwest Philadelphia groups are looking for volunteers to help with fall planting on Nov. 17. Tools and direction will be provided by trained Tree Tenders and experienced volunteers.

West Mt. Airy Neighbors’ Streetscapes team will be planting 31 trees. Meet at Allens Lane Art Center, 601 W. Allens Lane, at 9 a.m. for assignments and coffee, and regroup at the Center at noon for lunch. To RSVP and for more information, contact Vivian Rowe at vivi_ro@msn.com or Doris Kessler at doriskessler@me.com or 215-694-4763.

Chestnut Hill Tree Tenders will be planting 10 trees. Meet at 301 E. Highland Ave. at 9 a.m. To RSVP and for more information, contact Jean McCoubrey at 215-913-9027 or Monika Hemmers at 215-284-3772.

East Mt. Airy Tree Tenders will be planting 41 trees. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration, 6900 Stenton Ave. (corner of Gorgas Lane). RSVP to Meenal.Raval@gmail.com or 267-709-3415.

Germantown Tree Tenders will be planting 28 trees. Meet at 9 a.m. at a location to be determined. Contact Mark Smith at mfsmith4@gmail.com for more info and to RSVP.

Spring is coming! The groups are also soliciting applications for free street trees to be planted in Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy and Germantown in 2019. Homeowners can submit an application at www.phsonline.org; forms are also available at the Chestnut Hill Community Association, 8434 Germantown Ave. 

If PHS approves your site, a volunteer planting crew will come and plant a tree there next April. Homeowners are encouraged to help the volunteer crew with planting; the homeowner is then responsible for taking care of the tree — watering, weeding, mulching.

Trees are free but donations to PHS are encouraged: phsonline.org/ways-to-give/more-trees-please.