Curb Allure: Street Tree Gaurds

Before Curb Allure

Kim Johnson, is the founder of Curb Allure. I was introduced to Kim through Urban Garden Center where Curb Allure is planning a new initiative. Kim's vision was to start a business that would help protect street trees and beautify the urban landscape. 

MG: What inspired you to create Curb Allure?

Curb Allure: After leaving the workforce to start a family in 2003, I vowed to eventually start my own business that, in a small way, would make a difference.

I got the idea for Curb Allure when I encountered the obstacles of urban landscaping and gardening firsthand. As I was caring for the street tree outside our New York City apartment, I could not find any good solutions to protecting my tree pit - dog waste was killing the flowers around my street tree.  

After Curb Allure

Around this time, in 2009, my mother passed away. Prior to her death, she gave me a check with clear instructions to “do something that makes you happy.” An avid gardener, Mom taught me how important trees and flowers are to our community and well-being. Armed with our mutual passion - I used that check as seed money to launch Curb Allure, a company that would help protect street trees and beautify the urban landscape. Curb Allure was born on my mom’s birthday, April 24, 2010.

MG: What is the benefit to the trees?

Curb Allure: Our company helps tree and beautification enthusiasts protect their trees against urban challenges such as car doors, bicycle locks, dog waste and soil compaction. As a result of these challenges, city street trees have an average lifespan of 32 years and intercity trees 7 yearsi. Tree guards save trees. They increase a tree’s survival rate by 12.7%ii.
In addition, according to a NYC Parks Department study, stewardship, such as signage and plantings around the tree pit, gave street trees a 36% greater chance of survival then those trees that didn’t show any visible signs of care1 Tree guards protect these little gardens, which in turn motivates people to continue caring for their gardens. Curb Allure also sells little dog reminder signs and other accessories that were designed to slide and lock perfectly into the top rail of our guards.

In New York City each tree planted costs at least $900. This cost includes the tree, installation and the two-year guarantee. Tree guards help cities protect their investment.

MG: Is this something a tree owner can install themselves? Is there some special permit required?

Curb Allure: When I consulted with Trees New York about its vision of the perfect design for a tree guard, the non-profit was very clear about one requirement: Make the guard easy to put together. I wanted one handy person to be able to put our standard base guard together in one hour. When I say handy, I don’t mean a contractor – just someone who feels comfortable assembling a piece of furniture from, say, Ikea.

Of course if you need a larger guard that requires an intermediate post or want to add panels and accessories, it will take longer. But we offer wonderful illustrated instructions that guide you through the process.

A free permit is required from the Parks Department. If it takes more than 5 minutes to fill out and fax, you are doing something wrong. Just include the one page application and a photo of the guard that you are using and fax over to Central Forestry at (718) 760-6640 ATT: Permits

MG: How long does the process take?

Curb Allure: In can vary – but generally takes a few weeks.

i Clemson University Study, Tree Health Care: Managing Natural Changes, October 1997

ii Jacqueline Lu and Jennifer Greenfeld New York City’s Young Street Tree Mortality Study (http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/trees_greenstreets/images/YSTM_philadelphia.PDF) November, 2010