Free Trees From The City

Here’s a little tree trivia for you? What do Galaxy Magnolia, Tall Stewartia, Emerald Sunshine Elm, Mountain Hemlock, and June Snow Dogwood all have in common?

The answer is that they’re among 13 different types of trees that the city is offering for free through its Trees for Neighborhoods program, through Seattle reLeaf:

Seattle reLeaf’s Trees for Neighborhoods program is giving away free trees to Seattle residents. Through the program, participants receive up to four trees, free watering bags for each tree, training on proper tree planting and maintenance, and exciting workshop opportunities on topics like young tree pruning. Since 2009, Seattle residents have planted 3,300 trees through Trees for Neighborhoods on private property, including fruit trees, evergreen trees, street trees, and small trees under power lines.

This year, the Trees for Neighborhood application will open on Wednesday, July 31^st. The program is offering thirteen tree species, including Galaxy Magnolia, Tall Stewartia, Emerald Sunshine Elm, Mountain Hemlock, and June Snow Dogwood. The complete 2013 tree list can be found athttp://www.seattle.gov/trees/availabletrees.htm.  Residents should apply early as many species will be claimed quickly!

Applications must be in by September first for street trees (October 11th for yard trees), but as it notes, the good trees go early (you wouldn’t want a poseur, has-been tree specie, would you?), so get on it!

Questions about the program should be directed to treesforneighborhoods@seattle.gov or (206) 615-1668.