“can I plant/landscape my treebox area?”

Loren asks: “People of DC: can I plant/landscape my treebox area? to include larger shrubs?”

Update: Jonathan M. Rogers shares the regs via twitter, 24-109 – BEAUTIFICATION OF TREE SPACES.

Some early replies:

“There are rules which can be found in the public design handbook.”

“Is there a tree there already? If there is, it’s better not to plant more close to the tree (even grass, technically) so they don’t compete for water. If not, go for it, but be aware that people steal plantings from them from time to time. If you would like a tree, you can also request one via 311. May take a while.”

“As others have said, yes, with some limitations. we and our neighbors all have some rose bushes. But also, don’t plant anything you’ll get attached to – the city and utilities will do what they have do to to service pipes and lines. And the folks getting out of parked cars, and the dogs. Don’t get too attached was exactly my message also. Smaller, hardy shrubs (b/c soil likely sucks) and not wall-to-wall plants is best in my view.”

“Be careful, we put rocks in our tree box and someone called the tree police on us. We got an order to remove them by a certain date.”

“I think the height of plantings is limited to 18 inches (apart from the tree)”

“we did this on our block, its doable – its just also possible the city will tear it all up to do its own landscaping/plant trees etc.”

“We put in a raised bed with some perennial pollinator plants. None of them bloomed last year, but hopefully they’ll bloom this year.”

“You should be fine as long as it’s not a tree. If you want to plant a tree you need to get approval (type of tree, placement, etc…).”

“As long as you don’t put up statues of Transformers I think you’re in the clear.”