Registration Opens Sept. 2 For 3K Free Native Trees Available To Howard County Residents

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The annual tree giveaway returns Tuesday with 3,000 native trees available this year to residents.

The first half of the tree supply will be available to reserve Sept. 2 starting at 10 a.m. and the second half at 7 p.m. Residents can reserve up to two trees to plant on their property.

To snag a free tree(s) at one of the two time slots on Sept. 2, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/forestry and scroll to “Annual Tree Giveaway” under “Forestry Programs & Giveaways.”

Tree pick-up locations will be at West Friendship Park in West Friendship and Rockburn Park West in Elkridge. Residents can choose which park they'd like to pick up their tree at:

• West Friendship Park - 12985 Frederick Rd., West Friendship, MD 21794
• Rockburn Park West - 6105 Rockburn Park Rd., Elkridge, MD 21075

Residents can choose from three pick-up dates:

• Wednesday, Sept. 24, from noon to 5 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 25, 2 to 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Below are the tree species that will be given away during this year’s event. The trees will be in 5-gallon containers and approximately 3 to 10 feet tall. All species are native to Maryland, acclimated to the local climate and provide food and shelter for wildlife.

Red Maple (Acer rubrum) - grows to a height of 40-100’ with a spread of 30-75’. Prefers full sun to partial shade and moist to wet soils. Does well in wet areas but can tolerate upland and rocky soils as well. Provides pollinators with early spring blooms and has vibrant fall foliage.

Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) - grows to a height of 30-75′ with a width of 20-50′. Lesser known but lovely, prefers partial shade to full sun and can tolerate dry, moist, or seasonally wet soils. Has a greenish flower in the spring, with a black fleshy fruit and stunning red fall foliage. The Black gum is a versatile species with high wildlife value.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) – grows to a height of 20-50′ with a spread of 20-50′. Prefers partial shade but is often seen growing in full sunlight as well. Prefers dry to moist soils. Grows well in open forests and along forest edges. White spring flowers with a red to orange berry and scarlet foliage in the fall. The Flowering Dogwood has high wildlife value, with fall migrant birds relying on its berries.

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) - grows to a height of 20-35’ with a spread of 20-35’. Prefers partial sunlight to full shade but is often seen growing in full sun as well. Prefers well drained to moist soils. Tolerates a variety of locations but grows well as an understory species and along streambanks. Pink to purple spring flowers with a seedpod in the fall and golden yellow foliage. The Eastern Redbud is a nitrogen fixing species.

River Birch (Betula nigra) - grows to a height of 50-75’ with a spread of 35-50’. Prefers full to partial sunlight and moist to wet soils. Grows well on forest edge, sunny spots along a waterway or bottom lands where water may collect. Has an attractive peeling bark and high wildlife value. The River Birch we will be giving away are single stem.

White Oak (Quercus alba) - grows to a height of 75-100’ with a 75-100’ spread. Prefers full to partial sunlight and dry to moist soils. The white oak provides food and shelter and is considered to have high wildlife value. Vibrant red fall foliage. Maryland’s state tree.

Common Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) - grows to a height of 50-75’ with a spread of 35-50’. Prefers full to partial sunlight and dry to moist soils. Small yellow flowers in the spring and produces an edible berry in the fall. Attracts pollinators, songbirds and other wildlife. Considered to have high wildlife value.