Association Board Member Joel Kozberg has put together an instruction sheet for tree care, particularly useful for our stressed parkway trees. We haven’t had a lot of rain this winter and so parkway trees will need attention and regular watering to survive the summer. A copy of Joel’s tree facts can be found at the website, but the important highlights are:

1. Stake young trees–They need help surviving winds and lawnmowers.
2. Watering, and be sure it’s slow, deep watering –
• First months after planting– water once to twice per week
• From 4 to 12 months – water once every two or three weeks
• Years 2 and after for parkway trees – once every 4 to 6 weeks
3. Mulching – place a three or four inch layer of mulch around the tree, keeping about 2 inches around the trunk free of mulch.
4. Feeding – Sprinkle dry fertilizer lightly around the tree line (the area of the ground under the ends of the tree branches) and water it into the soil.
5. Pruning – The city rarely does pruning, and when it does it is often done poorly, so consult an arborist for recommendations.

The Association is continuing to press the City for a schedule for fixing our deteriorating streets. Members of the Traffic Committee drove around with a DOT representative to show them all the potholes. The Traffic Committee is also continuing to demand that the City include our neighborhood’s input on the proposed changes to the City’s Mobility Element. Some of these changes could mean loss of traffic lanes and parking spaces.

Remember that crime is still a problem so if you observe suspicious activity call 1-877-ASK-LAPD and notify your private security service. Remember: Never confront a suspicious person, call 911. Report street light outages to the city at: http://bsl.lacity.org/. Report potholes by submitting an online request at http://bss.lacity.org/request.htm. If you’re planning changes to your house read the Preservation Plan which can be found at: http://www.hancockparkhomeownersassociation.org/ or http://preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/la/hancock-park ) and contact City Planner Vinita Huang (213-978-1216 or Vinita.Huang@lacity.org). Be sure and look at our website for news – http://www.HancockPark.org . Report graffiti sightings by calling 311 or at the City’s Anti-Graffiti Request System – http://anti-graffiti.lacity.org/welcome.cfm?CFID=1007&CFTOKEN=411CDB4F-0FC3-4EE1-89DE58DCCB435538 and by calling Hollywood Beautification, 323-463-5180 Questions regarding filming – contact Filming Committee, Cami Taylor (323-692-1414-Home and 310-659-6220-Office).