Planting trees is incredibly important. Trees help to clean the air we breathe, provide a home to more than 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, and much more!
They provide so many benefits, plus they look beautiful too.
If you’d like to plant trees in your property, neighborhood, school, or community, instead of cutting and removing trees, you’ll be glad to know that there are many places where you can get them for free.
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Places to Get Free Trees
Here’s where you can get trees for free…
1. National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation provides free native tree seedlings to partners who plant them through local restoration projects or community tree giveaway events. At these events, seedlings are distributed to people who will plant the trees and care for them at home.
2. Arbor Day Foundation Membership
You can get 10 trees from the Arbor Day Foundation. You can even choose the type of tree you want to get. Now, while the website says the trees are free, you are asked to make a donation. This can be as little as $10 though, which basically works out at just $1 a tree!
3. Look out for free tree promotions
Some places will occasionally give away free trees, this is often for occasions like Arbor Day and Earth day.
So keep a look out for promotions at places like hardware stores and nurseries. You can do this by:
- Subscribing to a store’s email list
- Following stores on social media
- Picking up flyers
This way you can see when stores are offering free tree seeds.
4. Craigslist
Craigslist is a great place to look for free stuff, anything from free firewood to free pallets and even free trees and garden flowers.
You may find people giving away seeds, saplings, or trees on there. It’s always worth a look since you can get pretty much everything for free from Craigslist.
5. Search your own yard
If you have a lawn, you may be able to find small trees there. Just look around your lawn before you mow. If you find a small tree, transplant it to the place where you would like it to grow.
Make sure that you keep the area around it weeded and mulched. You can even mark the location of the tree with a stake to make sure it’s not accidentally trampled or mowed over. Just make sure you water the sapling.
6. Freecycle
Freecycle is a website where you can get free stuff and give away free stuff locally. You may be able to find people giving away trees on there.
7. OfferUp
OfferUp is a website where people can buy and sell stuff locally. I’d have a look on there for tree seedlings or saplings. You may be able to find someone giving away free trees on there.
Get Free Trees from the Government
Did you know that one of the best ways to get free trees is from the government?
Yes, government freebies are out there, you just have to know where to look.
Many states have government programs that give away free trees.
Here are some places where you can get trees for free from the government…
8. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offers free seedlings to all Wisconsin landowners, regardless of residence. The trees must be planted in Wisconsin though.
You can order the seedlings you want on the website. According to the site, trees must only be used for “conservation purposes such as forest products, wildlife habitat and erosion control.”
9. Iowa Department of Natural Resources
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources provides free seedlings from the State Forest Nursery.
Those eligible for free seedlings from the State Forest Nursery, in Ames, Iowa include communities, schools, counties, and residents within the city limits.
Trees can be ordered in increments of 25 and you can order a maximum of 200 trees. Handily enough, you can either pick up the trees in Ames or have them shipped to you.
10. Trees for Neighborhoods Seattle
If you live in Seattle, check out the Trees for Neighborhoods program. If you are approved to receive a tree, it will be delivered right to your home. You will have to participate in a short online tree planting and care webinar.
11. Portland Parks and Recreation: Urban Forestry
Portland Parks and Recreation is offering free yard trees from Urban Forestry. You can sign up or if the giveaway is closed, you can still sign up and it’ll send you an email when registration for the yard tree giveaway opens again.
12. Austin Community Tree Program
Check out The Austin Community Tree (ACT) program. It delivers free trees to low tree canopy neighborhoods in Austin.
How to find government programs giving away free trees near you
If you’d like to find a government program that gives away trees near you, then I have a simple tip for you.
Just go to Google, or whatever search engine you use and search for the term “free trees from the government,” followed by the name of your town, city, country, or state. For example, “free trees from the government in Texas.”
This will bring up lots of results for local government programs where you can get free trees.
Look Out for Free Tree Programs Near You
There are free tree programs available in lots of cities and states. These are usually non-profits and other organizations who’re giving trees away.
13. City Plants: Los Angeles
City Plants provides free trees to LA residents. You can sign up to get seven free shade trees to plant in your yard, on private property. It also offers street trees. It will plant these trees for you in the parkway (the space between the sidewalk and the street) in front of your home, apartment, business, or school.
14. Sacramento shade
Sacramento County residents and SMUD Customers can qualify for a free landscape assessment and up to 10 free shade trees. The Sacramento Shade program offers over 40 different species of trees.
The trees will be delivered right to your property.
15. Idaho Power Shade Tree Project
The Idaho Power Shade Tree Project distributes trees to homeowners to help them shade homes and reduce energy use. There are several species available. The program operates on a first-come-first-served basis. The project is aimed at residential customers who wish to plant a shade tree at their home.
How to find free tree programs near you
Many cities and states across the country have a program where they offer free trees.
Finding free stuff near you is not that hard. To find a free tree program near you, simply open up Google, or whatever search engine you normally use, then enter the term “free tree program,” followed by the name of your town, city, county, or state.
Closing Thoughts
Maybe you want some trees to make your yard look better? Or perhaps you want to help the environment? Whatever the reason, try some of these options to get yourself a few good free trees.
You can plant free trees online with https://www.refoorest.com/
Thanks for the heads up, Adrien.