Trees for Neighborhoods is following City of Seattle standards to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Right Tree, Right Place workshops will be held as online webinars instead of in-person workshops. If you are approved to receive a tree, it will be delivered directly to your home in October or November. Tree recipients will be required to participate in a short online Tree Planting and Care webinar.

Since 2009, Trees for Neighborhoods has helped Seattle residents plant over 10,300 trees in their yards and along the street. That's 10,300 more trees working to clean our air and water, make our streets more walkable, and our neighborhoods healthier! See where the trees are planted.

When you participate in Trees for Neighborhoods, you receive:

Help selecting the right tree and planting location

Free trees (up to 4 per household, lifetime max of 6)

(up to 4 per household, lifetime max of 6) A watering bag & mulch for each tree

Training on proper planting and care

Assistance applying for street tree planting permits

Ongoing care reminders and future pruning workshop opportunities

Planting assistance (on a limited basis due to COVID-19 concerns).

Street tree evaluations for the first couple of years to let you know how your trees are doing

Plant a Tree in 2020!

The street tree permitting process is closed, but we stll have trees left for your yard. Available trees



APPLY HERE

Steps to Planting Your New Tree:

Evaluate your planting site and 2020 tree options. Read the planting considerations page. Select the tree best suited for the space.

Under power lines? Select one of the power line approved trees.

Backyard space? Choose the largest tree appropriate for your site.



When reviewing the available species options for 2020 pay attention to the mature size of the trees and their needs for sun. Select trees that will have room to grow to maturity. If you have space, plant a large tree to bring the greatest benefits to your neighborhood.



Want help deciding the right tree for your space? Attend one of our free Right Tree, Right Place Webinars. While these classes are optional, we highly recommend that you take one as they will help you make the best decision about where to plant your tree.



July 18: Right Tree, Right Place Zoom Webinar 1 - 2 pm

July 21: Right Tree, Right Place Zoom Webinar 7 - 8 pm

These classes are past but you can watch a video of the presentation and learn about site selection here



Apply online. The application is now open through August 10 of 2020. As long as you apply within the timeframe, there is no benefit to submitting your application early. All applications will be processed, and applicants notified of their status after the application closes on August 10. If there are more requests for a given species than we have trees available, recipients will be randomly selected. If trees are still available after the first application period, a second application period may be added in mid-August. To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, we are not holding live training and pickup events. Tree recipients are required to participate in a short online Tree Planting and Care webinar. We will deliver the trees to your home afterwards. Choose a webinar date when you apply and add it to your calendar. You will need to attend one of these webinars before we deliver your tree(s) to you. Plant and mulch your new trees. Fall is the best time to plant a tree in Seattle so your new tree can settle in before the hot dry summer months. Need assistance planting your new tree? We offer delivery and planting help to participants who need physical assistance or lack access to a vehicle. Call 206-684-3979 or email TreesforNeighborhoods@seattle.gov for information. This service may be limited due to COVID-19.

Important 2020 Dates

July 13: Application opens

July 18: Right Tree, Right Place Zoom Webinar 1 - 2 pm

July 21: Right Tree, Right Place Zoom Webinar 7 - 8 pm These classes are past but you can watch a video of the presentation and learn about site selection here

August 10: Application closes

September 28: Planting and Care Webinar 7 - 7:45 pm. We will send you registration link if you are approved for a tree

September 30: Planting and Care Webinar 7 - 7:45 pm. We will send you registration link if you are approved for a tree

October 3: Tree deliveries begin. It may take a month or more to deliver all the trees





Your Responsibilities

Choose trees appropriate for the space

On your application, indicate if the tree will be planted in your yard or along the street (trees in unimproved right of ways are street trees).

Attend an online Planting and Care Webinar, then we deliver the trees to you.

Only plant trees in approved locations- trees must be planted at the address on the application. Street trees must be planted in approved and marked locations.

Properly plant trees in the ground (no pots!)

Assume all future maintenance & responsibility (summer watering, raking, pruning, mulching, etc.)

Application Information

Trees for Neighborhoods is a popular program and some trees are more popular than others. Small trees are most popular. When we receive more applications for a given species than we have trees available, applications are chosen at random. To increase your chances of receiving a tree, consider planting a larger tree if space allows. If you are not immediately approved for a tree, you will be placed on a waitlist.

How will I know if my application is approved?

After the application closes, Trees for Seattle will begin processing applications. You will receive an email with the status of your tree application once all applications are processed.

How does random selection work?

All applications received will be assigned a random number once the application closes. Trees for Seattle staff process applications in order by this random number. An entire application order will be processed at once, however only trees still available will be marked as "Approved". Trees will be distributed until sold out. Once a species is sold out, requests will be added to a waitlist in the same sequential order and marked on the application as "Waitlist". As trees become available for the waitlist, they will be distributed in order of the position on the waitlist. If you are "Waitlisted" for a tree, it is possible that you can become "Approved" for that tree as late as October or November.

Can I submit more than one application to improve my chances?

No, you may only submit one application per household. We will only process the first application we receive from your address. Since we will process the entire application at once, it does not benefit you to submit more than one. If you submit your application and would like to make a change before the application closing date, please contact us and we will make that change on your behalf.

Attention renters! If you do not own your home, you need to ask the permission of the homeowner before applying for trees. Also consider follow-up care. Young trees need regular summer watering through their first five years. If you do not plan to be at your home that long, consider how the young tree will receive the proper care it needs.

Attention landlords! If you apply for trees for one of your rental properties, please consider future watering and maintenance. If you are unable to water the trees 2x/week during the summer months, please be sure your renter is willing.

Tree Delivery Information

You must attend an online Planting and Care Webinar to get delivery of your tree(s). Indicate which webinar you will attend on the application to get delivery of your trees. After the application closes and and the applications are processed, if you are approved for trees, we will send you a link to the webinar.

On the application, please provide a delivery location on your property for your tree(s), water bag(s), and mulch, e.g., north side of garage, next to front porch steps, inside front yard gate, etc.

It may take up to a month or more for us to deliver all the trees to all your homes. The trees will be in 5, 7, or 10 gallon containers and are generally 4-6 feet tall. You do not need to speak with delivery staff if you don't want to. If you do want to speak to them, please be respectful of social distancing, masking up, and safety related to COVID-19.

All trees should be planted within 1-2 weeks after receiving them. You are responsible for planting the tree, which is why we require each participant to go through a Planting and Care Webinar. If you are physically unable to plant your tree and would like assistance, please contact us.

Your young trees will not survive the dry summer without watering. Water bags will be provided to help you care for your trees in the summer. For more tips about caring for your young tree, click here.

Contact Us

Email: TreesForNeighborhoods@Seattle.gov

Call: 206-684-3979