Ginkgo Trees Sprayed in Wards 1, 2 and 6

It’s true: ginkgo tree fruit have an unfortunate odor when they are left on the pavement of our city’s streets. The females of the species are reviled by some because of the smelly mess that they leave behind. It should be noted that gingkoes do have other redeeming qualities: beautiful fall yellow color, resilience to tough urban conditions, they’re living fossils! We’re big fans of the trees, but their bad fruit habit sometimes makes them difficult to have as neighbors.

The District Department of Transit’s Urban Forestry Administration has an effective solution: spraying female Ginkgo trees with Shield-EC which prevents the fruits from growing and becoming a nuisance. Spraying will occur overnight for the next few nights. For residents of Wards 1, 2 and 6 (the main target area where Ginkgos line the streets), no action needs to be taken. Wards 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 will be treated afterward.

If you want to find these troublesome trees in your neighborhood, check out our map from last November showing locations of street trees throughout the city. You should also take a look at DDOT’s map of their planned treatments this season. Learn more about Ginkgo biloba on our tree profile page.