Woodlands begins plan to plant 6,000 trees

Residents may begin noticing new neighbors taking root across The Woodlands’ reserves, parks and cul-de-sacs as the township begins planting more than 5,000 trees to replace those lost in the 2023 drought.

The Woodlands Township has started a record $1 million reforestation project after a summer heat dome and dry spell killed trees across Montgomery County in 2023. Parks and recreation staff and contractors started Phase 1 of planting in March.

Here’s what to know about this year’s reforestation rounds:

Record reforesting

The township’s board of directors allocated $1 million in reforestation funds as part of its 2024 budget — a $350,000 increase from prior years. The result will be around 2,500 more newly planted trees than previous years, township chief operating officer Chris Nunes said.

The township approved plans to plant around 6,000 trees in a January board of directors meeting.

“We put the reforestation materials in there to jump-start the forest again,” Nunes said at the meeting. “Everybody likes the shaded pathways. It’s a cool experience, so that’s something we’ve been pushing.”

More than 2,350 30-gallon and 2,800 15-gallon trees will be dispersed throughout the township. The Woodlands’ signature pine trees will be mixed with hardwood, yaupon holly and wax myrtles.

“I know (Nunes) and (the parks) team do a great job. Planting 6,000 trees is no easy task,” board member Brad Bailey said at the meeting.

Planting schedule

The Woodlands township will plant 2,500 trees through the end of May. After a summer hiatus, 2,600 trees will be planted from late October to December.

The township does not have any specific focus area, Nunes said.

“We break it into phases to spread out the volume of trees,” Nunes said. “We do not want to plant trees in the summer months.”

Get involved with saplings

The township gave away 16,500 sapling trees and 2,400 seed packages at its annual Arbor Day event Jan. 27, inviting residents to plant them either at their homes or in open spaces.

More than 700 native trees were also planted at its annual tree-planting event near recently renovated sections of Falconwing Park in February. More than 100 volunteers participated at the event.

While the township does not have an Earth Day event, its Environmental Services Department is encouraging residents to be more Earth-wise by sharing tips throughout the month of April.

The department also hosts monthly classes to connect residents with the outdoors, with topics ranging from drip irrigation to an iNaturalist BioBlitz event June 22.

Drought impact and extreme storms

The township lost trees to both drought and extreme storms after a heat dome and surprise June storm hit the township, leaving dead trees scattered across the township into the fall and winter.

Last year, Houston saw around 10 fewer inches of rainfall than normal, while 2024 was the metro’s wettest start in 120 years. While much of Texas has a low drought risk in 2024, the summer’s potential La Niña season could bring increased hurricane risk to the township.

Hurricanes and extreme thunderstorms pose the potential to snap branches and trunks, and even occasionally uproot entire trees, Nunes said. Before a major storm threat, the township encourages residents to prune their trees.

The Township Parks Department also regularly conducts routine tree trimming in Town Center and other areas, Nunes said.