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, 2024.
What if I don't have a PayPal account?
No problem! It is not necessary to have a PayPal account. On the order form, select the Debit or Credit Card button.
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" 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 Sunday, November 3rd, 2024 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.
Payment
I'm getting an error "This card can’t be used for your payment. Let’s try a different card." or "We weren't able to add this card. Check all the details are correct and try again or try a different card."
This error can mean that the expiration date, CVV code, or zip code didn't match your credit card. Double-check that those are correct first.
This can also be caused by our credit card processor (PayPal) incorrectly thinking that this could be a risky transaction, possibly because you have that same card number saved on file on your PayPal account. Try one of these potential solutions:
- Use the PayPal button to login to your account instead and then pay with the card you have on file.
- Use Private Browsing or Incognito Mode to login to willowglentrees.com which will hide those cookies from PayPal.
- If you have a PayPal account, use the same email address on our website as your PayPal account.
- Make sure someone else (such as your spouse) doesn't have that same credit card number saved in their PayPal account.
- Login to your PayPal account in another window first, remove that saved card from your account, and then try the transaction again. PayPal also limits you to 4 credit cards per account.
- Use a different credit card or another payment method such as Venmo.
If you are still having issues, please let us know. This support article from PayPal may also be helpful.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept debit cards, credit cards, PayPal, or Venmo on the website.
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 8th, 2024. 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 11th and 20th, 2024. 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 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 prefer to pay by cash or check.
- Assist those who are elderly or disabled in putting up their tree. They are responsible for providing rebar or a tree stand.
- On Saturday, December 7th, 2024, pick up the trees for your street and distribute them.
Block coordinators can either deliver trees to each individual house or have neighbors pick up the trees from their house. Some blocks choose to host a pickup event which is a great social activity!
Block coordinators are responsible for ensuring that each tree is received by the intended recipient unless arrangements have been made with neighbors.
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.