The first tree planted by the Root Nashville campaign
Tennesseans can take advantage of tree giveaways this month, and throughout the year. Here’s how.
On April 18, the Centennial Park Conservancy will host Nashville’s annual Earth Day Celebration, which will include the distribution of 1,500 free trees. Those will include native tulip poplars and multiple types of oaks, as well as varieties of midstory, flowering and fruiting trees, courtesy of the Nashville Tree Foundation with sponsorship from Amazon. Trees are limited to one per household.
The Nashville Tree Foundation reports having donated more than 3,000 trees since the nonprofit began its giveaways in 2021.
“It always warms our hearts to give away trees to the community and help the urban canopy of Nashville, but this year feels a little more special,” Nashville Tree Foundation field operations manager Madison Williams tells the Scene.
“After the catastrophic ice storm Fern, our canopy was heavily damaged,” says Williams. “It’s vital that we begin rebuilding our tree canopy. We must tackle it with the heightened importance of ‘right tree, right place,’ putting a large emphasis on continued tree maintenance, and acknowledging the tree-related trauma that has transpired from this storm. Slowly but surely, we will nurse Nashville’s canopy back to a healthy state. When people come to grab a tree, they’ll be consulted by our lovely staff on which tree they should get for their space, and reminded that continued love and maintenance is key to its survival.”
Beginning June 1, Davidson County residents can get free trees from Root Nashville (but Nashvillians can already sign up at rootnashville.org).
The Root Nashville campaign was launched in 2018 with the goal of planting 500,000 trees across Davidson County by 2050, through a public-private partnership between Metro Nashville and the Cumberland River Compact. As of April 1, Root reports having planted 62,975 trees.
Numerous other conservation organizations and municipalities across the state have already hosted tree giveaways, including the Tennessee Environmental Council — which reports having distributed more than 62,000 native trees during this year’s Tree Day, which was celebrated on March 21.
During the city of Brentwood’s March 28 Arbor Day celebration, 2,000 trees were handed out — 500 beech, 500 native sweet pecans, 500 bald cypresses and 500 shumard and bur oaks.
Stories on the local tree canopy, Tennessee quarries, the endangered Nashville crayfish and more — plus, how to get free trees and recycle your electronics
