Free Shade Trees

Reforest Montgomery’s free tree program aims to increase tree canopy in urban and urbanizing areas of Montgomery County. Properties in Montgomery County’s priority funding areas (shaded orange on the map below) are eligible to apply for free trees from Reforest Montgomery. Priority funding areas are home to 98% of the county’s residents, but just 36% of the county’s tree canopy. By working together to plant trees in these urban and urbanizing areas, we can cool buildings, prevent flooding, reduce stress, and improve quality of life for all County residents.

Applications for fall plantings are accepted from February 1 through February 8 of each year, while applications for spring plantings are accepted from August 1 through August 8 of each year. During each application period, applications from Equity Focus Areas of the county (outlined in red on the map below) will be given priority. Equity Focus Areas are parts of Montgomery County characterized by high concentrations of lower-income households, people of color, and individuals who may speak English less than very well.

All other slots will be filled with remaining applications randomly selected in a lottery. Only one application per address or HOA will be considered. Reforest Montgomery does not keep a waitlist, but if your application is not accepted, you can re-apply during the next application period. If your application is accepted, trees are not guaranteed; a site evaluation will be scheduled to confirm that your property can accommodate one or more trees. If you have previously received free trees through this program and have space on your property for additional trees, you are welcome to apply again during the next application period.

To see if your property is eligible for free trees through Reforest Montgomery, enter your address in the eligibility map below. If your property is within one of the priority funding areas shown, you are eligible to apply for free trees from Reforest Montgomery. You can apply here. Please submit an application only if you are ready to have trees planted on your property during the planting season you are applying for.

View map full size

If your application is not accepted, or if your property is not eligible for this program, you can:

Request free trees from Tree Montgomery
Download the Reforest Montgomery coupon for $50 off a native tree
Explore other planting programs and options available through Tree-Mendous Maryland from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

For more information about this program and the shade trees currently offered, see Reforest Montgomery’s Steps to Free Shade Trees and the Reforest Montgomery Shade Tree Selection List (available in both English and Spanish).

A Southern magnolia fills a previously open area and adds privacy between a driveway and a busy road.
An 8 foot tall evergreen Southern magnolia begins to provide privacy by the edge of a yard.
A young Southern magnolia planted in Fall 2020 expands the forest edge on this park-adjacent property.
This young dogwood will eventually shade a previously open yard.
This Southern magnolia will provide year-round greenery at the edge of a yard.
A London planetree fills an unshaded area by the edge of a property just after planting in Winter 2020.
A black gum tree shows off its fall leaves two weeks after planting in Fall 2020.
Two American hollies begin to fill in the understory of a shaded area.
A black gum and an American hornbeam begin to shade a previously open area in front of a home.
A newly planted black gum tree on a corner lot will ultimately offer some much-needed shade.
A pin oak fills a previously unplanted area in Spring 2021.
A black gum tree will provide privacy and shade at the edge of this sunny yard.
This flowering dogwood begins to replace canopy lost after a large tree died nearby.
An American hornbeam begins to leaf out and offer shade.