Ginkgo Tree Spraying Starts Monday

The District Department of Transportation’s Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) will begin its annual battle against the odorous Ginkgo trees Monday. Georgetown and other areas of Ward 2, 1 and 6 will be among the first to be sprayed.

The female Ginkgo tree's fruit gives off an unpleasant odor, so each year the UFA sprays the trees with a mild pesticide called SproutNip to prevent the fruit from fully developing.

Spraying will occur overnight for several nights and there is no need to move vehicles parked on streets.

In Georgetown clusters of Ginkgo trees line 26th and 27th streets NW and other streets near Rose Park. Other concentrations are found near Montrose Park, particularly along R Street and Avon Place. In the East Village there are clusters along Prospect Street between 36th and 37th streets, NW as well as on Potomac Street, between O and M street, NW. See the map of the District's Ginkgo tree population.

If you have questions about the spraying or other tree-related matters, you can contact UFA at 202-671-5133 or visit ddot.dc.gov/trees for more information.

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