Willow Glen Neighborhood Trees
Frequently Asked Questions
Tradition
Where does this tradition come from?
Check out the History of the Willow Glen Yard Trees.
Mounting Location and Instructions
How should I mount the tree in my yard?
The traditional method for mounting the tree in your yard is to use
2 pieces of rebar, pushed into the ground and then mounted tight against the tree trunk with string. If you push the stake into the ground enough, this will be a good, sturdy solution to keep the tree upright.
As an alternative, purchase an inexpensive tree stand like the
Jack-Post Metal Christmas Tree Stand from Ace Hardware, or the
Quick Stands Series Poly Christmas Tree Stand for Trees up to 10 ft. from Home Depot,
or anything similar. By using a tree stand, you can keep the tree watered and it will stay green longer although it may leave a brown spot on the grass. You will also want to attach 3-4 strings to the tree and stake those into the ground to protect it from falling over if it gets windy.
What kind of lights should I use?
The official standard is to use multi-color C-9 lights with a single white light at the top of the tree. Depending on the size of your tree and how densely you would pack the lights, you'll want roughly 25-50 lights. LED lights will be more energy efficient and long-lasting but some places still sell incandescent lights. Feel free to use any lights that you already have at home or that you like the style of better—this is just a suggestion! If you are looking to purchase new lights, some options include:
Where should I mount my tree?
The traditional location is to mount the tree 10 feet from the edge of the sidewalk in your front yard. Corner houses may choose to have a tree on each street or just on the more popular street.
Ordering
How do I order my tree?
Place your order online with a credit card at willowglentrees.com by entering your street address and following the instructions. If your street has a block coordinator, they will distribute a paper form no later than October 20th, 2023.
What if I don't have a PayPal account?
No problem! It is not necessary to have a PayPal account. On the order form, click or tap on the credit card icons to check out as a guest. You'll enter your address and credit card number which will be securely sent to the payment servers. You have the option to create a PayPal account on that page but it is not necessary to order your tree.
How do I know that my information is secure?
All data that you enter on the willowglentrees.com website is sent securely to our servers with HTTPS. We store your contact information and the number of trees that you order, but do not have access to your credit card. All payments are processed directly through PayPal—they simply send us a confirmation code when payment has been completed.
How do I pay with a check online?
If you have a PayPal account, you can link your checking account and draw from funds there. On the Order Page, click the option to "PayPal Buy Now" and then login. If you have a checking account linked, it will be listed as one of the options.
Can I pay with a physical check or cash?
Some block coordinators are accepting physical checks and/or cash although many require online-only orders. If your block coordinator accepts checks and/or cash, you will receive an order form on your door with an "Offline Order Entry Form" attached below or on the back. Follow the instructions on those paper forms.
How much do trees cost?
Each tree is only $25.00. Online orders will be subject to an additional convenience fee to cover the credit card fees which will be added to the purchase price.
What if I live outside of Willow Glen?
Due to the large volume of orders we already receive, we are unable to provide trees to families outside of the Willow Glen area. Many local tree lots have smaller trees that will be great for your front yard. Thanks for spreading this holiday tradition!
When is the deadline to place my order?
All orders must be received before 11:59pm on Wednesday, November 1st, 2023 or while supplies last. It's best not to wait until the last minute though as we are expecting another record year and may sell out!
What if I miss the deadline?
If there are any trees left over after all of the pre-orders are picked up and distributed, we MAY have a couple leftovers. Check back on this website for the waitlist at that point.
Tree Details
Can I pick out my tree?
Unfortunately with the heavy volume of trees we need to distribute to block coordinators, we are unable to allow individual selection of trees. We typically order two tractor-trailer trucks full of nearly 2,000 trees and need to distribute them to coordinators in just a couple hours. You can imagine how time consuming it could be if each coordinator was hand-selecting trees for their block!
How big are the trees?
The exact size varies per year with weather conditions. Trees are typically around 3 to 5 feet tall. As these trees are picked specifically for placement in your front yard where your neighbors are viewing them at a distance and at night, they may not be as pruned or perfectly shaped as a tree that you would place in your home. Rest assured that all of the trees still look great when covered in lights up and down your street.
Where do the trees come from?
We work with a tree farm in Oregon who selects trees specifically for our neighborhood project.
Block Coordinators
What should I know about picking up my trees?
- To ensure everyone's safety, please stay in your vehicle until you are advised to begin loading your trees. We will not have staffing to load trees for you.
- Please minimize the number of people at the loading site to only those necessary for loading your vehicle. No children, please.
- Coffee and donuts will not be provided this year.
- Because of the large volume of orders, you will be unable to individually
select your tree. All trees are of a similar size and shape.
How do online orders work this year?
All streets within Jan, Vicki, and Myke's neighborhoods allow online ordering. We will send you a list of the houses that have placed online orders ahead of your pickup date or you can check in real-time from the Admin Portal. At your discretion, you may also accept cash and checks.
How do I handle cash and checks, if I decide to accept them?
Each neighbor will hand you cash directly or write you a check, made payable directly to you. You will then deposit those checks into your personal account and then write one check to "Willow Glen Neighborhood Trees" once you have all of them collected. You will need to hand-deliver that check and any cash directly to Jan Gahagan on Saturday, November 3rd, 2023. For security, please do not leave cash or checks in a mailbox but instead coordinate with Jan on a time to hand them off.
What should I know about distributing order forms?
Block coordinators should distribute order forms between October 13th and 20th, 2023. You may want to print them out on green construction paper to make it more visible. You can then hand the paper to your neighbor or tape it to their front door (preferably glass or something where it won't peel off paint). Keep in mind that it is illegal to place flyers in a mailbox unless it has a stamp, and some houses will opt-out of flyers which you can check on the San Jose Handbill Objectors List. There are usually not many but it is a good idea to check that list.
What is involved in being a block coordinator?
Having a block coordinator is critical to the success of our little project so we could really use the help! You’ll get to meet your neighbors and have a sense of pride when you see your street all lit up with trees. Your responsibilities include:
- Distributing order forms / flyers to the neighbors on your street.
- Optionally collecting cash or checks for people who are unable to order online.
- On Saturday, December 2nd, 2023, pick up the trees for your street and distribute them.
On the order form, there is an option for neighbors to volunteer to help. We recommend reaching out to some of them to see if anyone has a pickup truck and/or can help you pick up the trees.
Block coordinators can either deliver trees to each individual house or have neighbors pick up the trees from their house. Keep in mind that some folks may need additional help mounting their tree too.
If you are interested, please contact our team.
As a block coordinator, do I need to provide my contact information?
By agreeing to be a block coordinator for the non-profit organization Willow Glen Neighborhood Trees and providing your phone number, you consent to receive password reset texts from our system. Consent is required to participate. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency varies. Unsubscribe at any time by replying STOP. Your physical address is not required to participate.
Additional Questions?
Who should I contact if I have additional questions?
If you have additional questions, please contact our team.
Ready to order?
Order online at willowglentrees.com.