Trees for Free
City Again Offering Adopt A Tree Program
November 02, 2017
To help ensure this Tree City USA's urban forest remains intact, the City of Tallahassee is once again offering free trees to eligible homeowners within the city limits. Residents can apply to receive one or two trees through the City's popular Adopt A Tree program. Applications and tree adoption information are available online at Talgov.com.
"Creating an environmentally friendly community requires a holistic effort, from protecting our natural resources to replanting activities, like Adopt A Tree," City Commissioner Nancy Miller said. "This program provides a simple way for homeowners to help add to our beautiful tree canopy."
City staff will assist the homeowner with tree placement and take care of the installation. In return, the City requests the homeowner takes on the responsibility of appropriate watering during a one year establishment period.
In previous years, the City was limited to installing the trees within the right-of-way, which was usually 10 to 20 feet from the curb. The program has expanded this year to increase the planting area available for installation. Trees can now be planted anywhere in the yard, up to 100 feet from the centerline of the roadway.
The trees, depending on the species, are between 5 and 8 feet in height and are species native to the southeast with excellent storm and wind resistance. Trees available this year include:
- Sparkleberry can reach heights up to 20 feet tall and grows well in full sun to partial shade. This tree can have a single or multiple trunks and naturally grows in a twisting habit that is visually appealing. The bark of the Sparkleberry tree is pale gray with areas that peel away to reveal a coppery red. In the summer, Sparkleberries produce an abundance of small, black, berry-like fruit that is popular with songbirds and squirrels. This tree is an understory species that will primarily be available to those residents with overhead utility conflicts.
- Swamp Chestnut Oak can reach heights of 50 to 60 feet, with a similar width when grown in the open. The glossy green leaves are quite large, up to 8 inches in length, with wavy serrations along the leaf margin. The foliage turns an attractive deep red-brown just before leaf drop in the fall. Swamp Chestnut Oak is best known for the large acorns it produces that are a favorite with wildlife.
- Ironwood can reach heights up to 30 feet, with a similar canopy width. The small leaves are light green and elliptical. This species has good fall coloration with foliage turning yellow-orange before leaf drop. The tree has inconspicuous blooms, followed by small brown fruit that is favored by songbirds. The bark of the Ironwood is smooth and gray, which accentuates the muscular looking growth habit of the trunk and branches.
- Blackgum can reach heights of 60 feet, but the canopy spread ranges between 20 feet to 30 feet giving this species has a pleasing symmetrical pyramidal shape. The medium green leaves are deciduous, turning a deep purple color in the fall before leaf drop. People often confuse the blackgum for sweetgum and believe they produce the dreaded spiky '"gumballs.'" There is no relation between the two, and the fruit produced by blackgum is a small black drupe that is popular with songbirds.
Details on each are included on the website, and tree planting will begin mid-January. Trees are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
To adopt a tree from the City, simply visit Talgov.com and complete the online application. Citizens may also call 891-5300 to adopt a tree.
Sign up to receive City news via text and/or email