Trees for Neighborhoods

The 2026 application has reopened with remaining trees! Apply now for a tree in your yard! The application will remain open until all trees find a home. 

The street tree permitting process is closed for the 2026 program. 

Available trees are the Frans Fontaine hornbeam, Red oak, White Shield Osage orange, Deodar cedar, Golden Japanese cedar, Grand fir, Bosnian pine, and the Serbian spruce. 

The initial lottery for the 2026 program application was from Wednesday, July 1 - Friday, July 31, 2026.

Since 2009, the Trees for Neighborhoods planting program has helped Seattle plant over 16,400 trees at homes, schools, businesses, gathering places, and along streets. That's 16,400 more trees working to clean our air and water, cool sidewalks and homes, and make our neighborhoods healthier! See where we have planted trees together.

In addition to free trees, residents can expect to get help choosing the best type of tree and planting space, help applying for street tree permits, training on how to plant and care for your tree, summer watering reminders, and free workshops after your tree(s) have been planted. 

When you participate in Trees for Neighborhoods, you receive:

• Free trees delivered to your property!
  • You can apply for up to 3 trees each year with a lifetime max of 6 trees per property.
• Help choosing the right tree and planting location.
• A watering bag and mulch for every tree.
• Training on proper planting and care.
• Assistance applying for street tree planting permits.
• Watering and care reminders for the first 5 years and free educational workshops.
• Street tree health evaluations for the first two years to let you know how your street trees are doing.
• For those who need physical help planting their tree, assistance is available on a limited basis.

How much can I save with this program?

With this program, you can expect to save an average of $200 annually.

You are eligible to be considered for free trees if:

• You are a homeowner or property owner within Seattle city limits, or you have obtained permission from the property owner.
• You commit to choosing trees appropriate for the space you have.
• You are willing to attend a planting and care workshop or webinar.
• You are willing to assume all future maintenance and responsibility (summer watering, raking, pruning, mulching, etc.)
• You agree to 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.
• You agree to properly plant trees in the ground (no pots!)
• You have not already received the maximum of 6 trees per household.

Get notified

Steps to receiving a new tree:

1. Decide on your site and tree
   • Evaluate your planting site.
     • Pay attention to the mature size of each tree and their need for sunlight.
     • Select trees that will have room to grow to full maturity.
     • If you have space, plant a larger tree to get the greatest benefits for your neighborhood.
     • Planting in a yard space?
       • Choose the largest tree appropriate for your site.
       • Evaluate infrastructure, such as fences or your home, and select a planting location a safe distance away that allows the tree to grow to full maturity.
     • Interested in a street tree?
       • Measure the width of your planting strip and refer to the planting strip width requirements and minimum planting distances listed for each tree species.
       • The planting strip needs to be at least four feet wide to plant a street tree.
       • If your planting strip is less than four feet wide, you can still garden in your planting strip as long as vegetation is less than 30 inches tall.
     • Under powerlines?
       • Select a powerline-approved tree.
       • Sites with overhead powerlines require a tree that will grow up to 30 feet tall at maturity.
     • Select the tree you want.
       • To see what tree species Trees for Neighborhoods has offered in previous years, view the FAQs below.
       • Trees for Neighborhoods is a popular program, and some trees are more popular than others, with powerline-approved trees being the most in-demand. We may not have your preferred tree, depending on which species are in-demand each year. To increase your chances of receiving the tree you want, consider planting a larger tree if your space allows.
2. Apply to participate.
   • Sign up for emails to be notified when applications open.
3. Attend a planting workshop.
   • Attend a planting workshop to learn about proper tree planting and care. Workshops are held on weekends in late September and early October, in different areas of the city.
   • You must attend a workshop in order to receive your tree.
   • See below for additional tree planting and care tips.
4. Receive your tree and plant it.
   • Tree(s) are delivered to your home in October-November after all the workshops have been completed.

Steps to planting a new tree:

• Plant 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. All Trees for Neighborhood trees will be delivered in the fall.  For an in depth "how to" on planting and caring for your new tree, check out this video of our Planting and Care Webinar.
• Mulch your new trees:Mulching provides numerous benefits to help your trees thrive and survive.
• Does your new tree need staking? In most cases they don't. Check out our staking page to learn more about this.
• For the first 5 years, young trees need 30-40 gallons of water per week. Check out these tips on our Young Tree Care page. During this time, planting program participants get watering reminders throughout the watering season. 
• After the first year in the ground, you will want to check on your tree's growth for good structure and form. Our pruning page can help you learn more. All planting program participants can attend a free pruning workshop.
• See our FAQ for Planting and follow-up care questions
  

Need assistance planting your new tree? We offer planting help to participants who need physical assistance. Call (206) 327-2434 or email TreesforNeighborhoods@seattle.gov for information. This service is performed by volunteers and is limited by volunteer availability.

Explore the Seattle Public Utilities urban tree nursery

More Frequently Asked Questions

Past Plantings 

Mature Tree Care

Protecting Trees

Email: TreesForNeighborhoods@Seattle.gov

Call: (206) 327-2434