Free Shade Trees Still Available For Haverford Residents

HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP, PA — Haverford Township residents still have chances to get shade trees for their properties through the township's Shade Tree Commission.

A shade tree lottery is open through Thursday. Enter online here.

Winners will be selected on Friday and contacted next week via email with tree pick up times.

All winners will be randomly drawn from entries received.

Trees will be available for pickup from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 30 in the Haverford Township Building Lower Parking Lot.

All trees must be planted at the winners' township addresses.

The Tree Lottery is only open to Haverford Township residents and only one Lottery entry is permitted per household.

When entering the lottery, select up to three different tree species and rank them in order of preference. If entering 3 preferences, be sure to include at least one flowering tree and one shade tree in your preferences

If you win your first choice, you will receive that tree. But, if you don’t win your first choice, you will be entered into the next round of the lottery for your second choice, and so on.

Chances of winning a tree are greatest if you provide the full three preferences.

While smaller flowering trees can add color in the spring, larger shade trees offer the most benefits.

Some benefits include providing cooling shade, helping to manage storm water, soaking up carbon dioxide and providing shelter for birds and small wildlife.

Most tree species can take 20 to 40 years to reach their full height.

Flowering trees are not generally considered shade trees, as they are much shorter at maturity.

Purchased for this year's spring lottery are 50 shade trees and 50 flowering trees.

Follow the links below for information on the available trees:

• Shade Tree Info
• Flowering Shade Tree Info
• Tree Lottery Rules/Timeline