Point Hope Street Trees 101

Each year when various conditions permit, our community’s landscape is enhanced with the addition of street trees in recently completed sections of the residential neighborhoods here. 

A thoughtful street tree plan is one of the many details that contribute to the appeal of the neighborhoods at Point Hope. As the trees mature, they help create a unified and cohesive look for our streetscapes and provide shade and a buffer between the sidewalks and the roadway, resulting in a comfortable and safer environment for pedestrians and bikers. In some cases, they also provide filtered privacy for yards and porches. 

Environmentally, street trees help clean the air by transforming harmful gases into oxygen and other helpful natural gases, and they also help with drainage and stormwater management. The first 30% of the water from a rain event is absorbed by leaves and branches before it hits the ground, and a portion of the rain that does fall around a tree is quickly absorbed by the tree’s root system.

New street trees at Point Hope are paid for by the developer, and planting occurs in front of homes after construction is complete in a given area. They are planted in the winter or early spring when the temperatures are cooler and the trees can establish themselves before the summer heat hits. 

The species and location of each street tree at Point Hope is specified by the City of Charleston and cannot be changed. Typical species include palm trees and a variety of oaks, including Overcup, Cherry Bark, Willow and Shumard.  

Once trees are installed, homeowners are responsible for the ongoing maintenance of any street trees planted adjacent to their property line. This includes keeping the trees properly mulched, watered and fertilized. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to replace any trees that do not survive after one year of planting. The City of Charleston offers discounted pricing on street trees and also can handle installation.

We look forward to the addition of new trees to our landscape each year, and to seeing how they improve the already beautiful streets of First Light as they mature.