Annual “TreePhilly” Program Gives Away Free Trees

You know what beautifies a yard like nothing else? A majestic tree, overhanging and shady. Trees connect us to the earth every time we look at them, they are good for the environment, and they make an urban setting look more inviting. It is for all these reasons that the city of Philadelphia gives away free trees through its “TreePhilly” program each year. Annually, residents can sign up for one “yard tree” (a tree to be planted inside the homeowner’s property, away from the street) and pick it up in April from an approved location.

You can help beautify your neighborhood and help the environment by planting one of the city’s free trees available to residents.

Philly Parks and Recreation will give away 1,500 free trees this year as part of an ongoing campaign to both make neighborhoods look prettier and improve Philadelphia’s carbon footprint. Erica Smith Fichman with Philly Parks and Rec was quoted by CBS3: “We’re trying to increase the canopy cover in the city of Philadelphia, because trees provide shade, they clean our air, they capture storm water, and they provide so many benefits.”

According to Fichman, TreePhilly has put some 17,000 trees in Philadelphia yards over the last five years, working towards a goal of every neighborhood in the City of Brotherly Love having at least 30% tree canopy coverage. She says that there are twelve species of tree for residents to choose from and plant in their yard, an action which allows them to “really take ownership over the urban canopy here in the city and the urban forest.”

There are four categories of trees, divided into large, medium, small, and fruit trees. Large yard trees are the black gum and red oak; medium trees are the gray birch and ironwood tree, and there are a variety of small trees: red buckeye, Robinson crabapple, staghorn sumac, witchhazel, and sourwood. Fruit trees include apple, apricot, and sweet cherry.

Sign-ups for free trees started yesterday and will continue through March 27th.