Are you interested in finding places to get free trees? Do you want more trees around your home or recreational land?
There are several places that offer free trees to those willing to plant them and help the environment. Keep reading to find out where you can get free trees.
In This Article
Where to Get Free Trees
Trees provide many benefits to the environment and to the human race. Believe it or not, trees help filter water by removing sediments and pollutants before slowly releasing water back into the environment.
Trees help clean the air, producing oxygen into the environment and absorbing carbon dioxide at the same time. Of course, trees provide homes and shelter for birds and wild animals.
In addition, trees provide shade from the scorching sun. Time spent among the trees has even shown in studies to reduce depression and anxiety.
Search the places listed here to get free trees for your yard.
1. Arbor Day Foundation
The Arbor Day Foundation was launched in 1972 with the purpose of helping the environment by increasing the tree population.
When you become a member of the Arbor Day Foundation by giving a donation of at least $10, the organization will send you 10 free trees from their list of free trees.
You’ll also get a copy of The Tree Book, a guide to planting and caring for your trees, a subscription to the Arbor Day bi-monthly newsletter and discounts at the site’s online nursery.
Choose a one-time tax-deductible donation or give monthly.
2. National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation has a program through its Trees for Wildlife program where it will give
NWF pays for seedling trees that will be dispersed through community tree giveaway events or local community restoration projects.
These types of events involve coordinating seedling tree giveaways to community members who will take them home to plant and care for.
Contact the National Wildlife Federation directly for more information on this annual giveaway.
3. Your Own Yard or a Friend/Neighbor’s Yard
Believe it or not, you can probably find tree seedlings right in your own yard. Or you can ask your neighbors, friends and family members if you can search their yard for tree seedlings.
Because trees drop seeds everywhere, tree seedlings are bound to sprout up in your yard. When you find one, carefully dig it up and replant it where you want it to be.
If you do this, it’s important to prepare the seedling’s new home and care for it carefully. Keep the area where you replant the seedling tree weeded and mulched.
Put chicken wire or similar fencing around the tree to protect it as it grows. Be sure the ground below the seedling tree is watered regularly. As the seedling grows, put tree wrap around its trunk to protect it from predators.
4. Free Tree Promotions
Search local landscape stores, nurseries and home improvement stores for free tree promotions.
Stores like these often have buy one, get one promotions and other promotions for free trees. This is especially true in the spring.
Start searching ads for stores near you now. Or call stores and speak with the nursery manager to learn more about upcoming sales and when they’ll happen.
Hint: You can often find trees at deeply discounted prices in the late summer and fall as well.
5. TreesUpstate
TreesUpstate is located in Greenville, South Carolina. The organization gives away free trees in Greenville and surrounding areas.
You can get free trees if you are using them to plant on school property. You can also organize a community event and get free trees for your community event through TreesUpstate.
Trees are given away based on availability. For community events, neighborhoods with little or no tree coverage are given higher priority.
6. Idaho Shade Tree Project
The Idaho Shade Tree Project is put on by Idaho power and is available to Idaho Power residential customers.
The webpage for this project says that there are a variety of shade tree types available on a limited, first come, first serve basis.
And the trees are available in a limited geographical area. See the link above for additional information.
State or Local Tree Giveaway Programs
The state and local resources listed here have programs where they give away free trees. Check out the examples listed here, and consider contacting your own state or city to find out whether or not they give away free trees.
7. Iowa Department of Natural Resources
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has a program where they give away free tree seedlings to residents.
Contact the Iowa DNR for specifics on the program. Follow the link above and search “free trees” in the search bar in the upper right hand corner.
8. Trees for Neighborhoods, Seattle
Seattle has a program called Trees for Neighborhoods. This program gives away up to four free trees per year (lifetime maximum of six trees) for residents to plant in their yards.
The program also provides for extras such as:
- A watering bag for your trees
- Mulch for your trees
- Training on planting and care of your tree
- Other assistance and maintenance to help you with your trees
Contact the city of Seattle at the link above for more information on this program.
9. Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon has a program where they will give away up to two trees for residents to plant in their yards.
The program offers a long list of available species, including spruce, sequoia, redwood, pine, oak and more.
Note that there are a limited number of trees available for giveaway. For that reason, you’ll want to get your request in early. Registration for this program typically opens in September.
However, you can put your name on the program’s Interest List at any time.
10. Austin, Texas
The city of Austin, Texas has formed a partnership with an organization called Neighborhood Woods.
Neighborhood Woods and a separate organization called TreeFolks work together to give Austin residents free trees.
You are limited to one free tree with this program. Follow this link to find out more about this program. Note that you must live within Austin’s city limits to be eligible.
Free Trees on Buy/Sell/Giveaway Sites
You may be able to get free trees on local buy/sell or freebie sites. Here are some suggestions for where to look.
11. Craigslist
Craigslist is filled with listings for landscape items. Nurseries, landscaping companies and homeowners often give trees away for free as they modify yards and landscapes.
Check under Materials, Free, Farm & Garden, or post your own posting in the Wanted section, asking for the types of trees or tree seedlings you are interested in.
12. OfferUp
OfferUp is another site you could visit to find or to ask for free trees. Search the word “Tree” in the search bar at the top of the OfferUp website to find results, or search in the Home & Garden section.
Check during the spring, summer and fall months for best results. Note that OfferUp doesn’t have a Wanted section like Craigslist does.
However, you could likely post an ISO listing in the Home & Garden section.
13. Nextdoor
Nextdoor is a popular social media site where neighbors share information about everything from neighborhood happenings to local news.
The site also has a section where you can offer things to buy, sell or give away for free. This is the section where you’d want to look for free trees.
Nextdoor is a fairly flexible site, so you could always create a post asking for free trees or tree seedlings. Depending on where you live you could get a large number of responses.
Inquire if anyone has trees or seedlings they’d like taken off of their property, and specify any type of specific tree you’re searching for.
14. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace, along with neighborhood buy/sell and giveaway sites, can be a great place to seek out free trees.
Again, you’ll want to target landscapers and homeowners who are in the midst of a redesign.
15. Freecycle
Freecycle is a grassroots, nonprofit site meant to help recycle items instead of sending them to landfills.
Because this site is a grassroots site, it’s up to communities to create and manage their own Freecycle page. However, there are already Freecycle pages for many cities and towns.
You can list items you have to give away on Freecycle. However, you can also list items you want.
So if you can’t find any advertisements for free trees, feel free to list an ad on your local Freecycle page to ask for them. If there isn’t a page for your area, why not create one?
Summary
As you can see, there are plenty of free tree programs available throughout the United States. In fact, if you do a web search you can find free trees from many organizations around the world.
Use the ideas listed above to find free trees for your yard and land.
