We’ve all been staring at our yards for months now as we shelter at home. Like us, we bet you know the perfect place to plant a few new trees!

You are in luck: The TreesCharlotte 2020-21 planting season will feature a record 13 community TreeStores! Two are limited to TreesCharlotte newbies, two are open to anybody who lives in Charlotte and the rest are zip code-specific. In other words, everybody who wants a tree this season should have no problem getting one.

A few important details to know:

For at least the first half of the season, all of our TreeStores will be drive-thru only, meaning participants will stay in their cars until it’s time for them to load their own trees and mulch.

Participants will be able to select their tree species ahead of time via online registration. All of our trees are in 7-gallon containers, measure 5-10 feet tall and are a mix of flowering, evergreen and large canopy species. Every tree comes with a bag of mulch.

A few days prior to online registration opening, TreesCharlotte will host Ask the Arborist Q&As on Zoom so you can learn more about the species we’re offering.

As events are uploaded to our website, you can get all the specific details/registration links at TreesCharlotte.org/calendar.

Get Tree Smart!: How do we pick our trees? What kinds of trees do we offer? Learn all of our secrets in this page chock full of info!

Fall/winter 2020 schedule:

SOLD OUT! Sept. 25: First-timers TreeStore, a special Friday evening tree giveaway for Charlotteans who have never received a tree from us in the past. Registration opens at 12:01 a.m. Sept. 16. 5:30-6:30 p.m. at TreesCharlotte HQ, 701 Tuckaseegee Road

REGISTRATION OPENS FRIDAY! Sept. 26: Opening Day Citywide TreeStore, presented by Women’s Impact Fund. That’s right, we are starting the season off strong by giving away hundreds of trees for folks to plant in their own yards. This event is open to anybody with proof of Charlotte residency. Two trees/person and pre-registration is required. Registration opens at 12:01 a.m. Sept. 18. 9-noon at TreesCharlotte HQ, 701 Tuckaseegee Road

Oct. 7: Ask the Arborist Live on Zoom: University City Zip Code TreeStore Q&A. Time TBA.

Oct. 17: University City Zip Code TreeStore. Open to residents of 28213, 28262 and 28269. Registration opens at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 9. Times TBD. Back Creek Church, 1821 Back Creek Church Road

Nov. 4: Ask the Arborist Live on Zoom: South Charlotte Zip Code TreeStore Q&A. Time TBA.

Nov. 14: South Charlotte Zip Code TreeStore: Open to residents of 28226, 28270 and 28277. Registration opens Nov. 6. Time and location TBD.

Nov. 23: Ask the Arborist Live on Zoom: NorthEnd Zip Code TreeStore Q&A. Time TBA.

Dec. 5: NorthEnd Zip Code TreeStore: Open to residents of 28202, 28203, 28204, 28206 and 28216. Registration opens Nov. 27. Sponsored by Bank of America. Time TBD. Camp NorthEnd, 1824 Statesville Ave.

Coming in 2021:

Jan. 30: Zip Code TreeStore at Camino Community Center (28262)

Feb. 20: Southeast Zip Code TreeStore (28205, 28212)

Feb. 27: Steele Creek Zip Code TreeStore (28217, 28273, 28278)

March 6: East Charlotte Zip Code TreeStore (28215, 28227)

March 13: SouthPark Zip Code TreeStore (28207, 28209, 28210, 28211)

March 20: Westside Zip Code TreeStore (28208 28214)

March 26: First-timers TreeStore

March 27: Spring Spectacular Citywide TreeStore

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The fine print on TreeStores

Two trees per address.

TreesCharlotte’s mission is to help the City of Charlotte reach their goal of 50% tree canopy by 2050. We therefore limit our efforts to expand the canopy within Charlotte’s city limits and limit participation to Charlotte residents only (unfortunately, we do not serve Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville, Huntersville, Davidson, Cornelius, other municipalities outside Charlotte, or Mecklenburg County).

Proof of Charlotte residency (such as a driver’s license, utility bill, etc.) must be shown at the event in order to participate.

You will complete and sign a Stewardship Pledge Form (mandatory) and declare your pledge to take care of the tree(s) we provide.

After the TreeStore, you will be sent a video link on how to properly plant and care for your tree(s). Tree education is mandatory for everyone.

Even though you are pre-selecting our species ahead of time, we cannot guarantee species type or quantities day-of the event. We will, however, make all efforts to sub in a comparable tree.

Trees are in 7-gallon containers, range from 6-10′ tall, and will not be reserved or transported.

Never been to a TreeStore? Check out our 2-minute video here:

Special thanks to Charlie Paddock for producing this video.