Overview

TreeBaltimore is a program led by the Mayor and run by Baltimore City Recreation and Parks. The goal is to grow and care for more trees across the city.

TreeBaltimore works by:

  • Taking care of the trees we already have
  • Helping forests grow naturally
  • Teaching people to care for trees in their neighborhoods

TreeBaltimore is a call to action—that means it’s asking everyone to help!
When you plant and take care of a tree at your home, school, business, or park, you're helping to:

  • Clean the air and water
  • Keep the city cooler in summer
  • Save energy
  • Block out noise
  • Make Baltimore a stronger, healthier city

Want to help or learn more? Click here to visit TreeBaltimore website for updates, events, tree giveaways, and more.

You can also try the Tree Benefit Calculator. This tool shows how much good a single tree does—like saving energy and cleaning the air. Just type in where the tree is, what kind it is, and how big it is. You'll see how much it helps the environment and how much that’s worth each year.

Tree Planting Tips

Digging the Hole

"It’s better to plant a $100 tree in a $200 hole than plant a $200 tree in a $100 hole." 
- International Society of Arborists

The most common mistake when planting a tree is digging a hole that is too deep or too narrow. If a hole is too deep, the roots will not have access to enough oxygen to ensure proper growth. If the hole is too narrow, the roots can not expand sufficiently to nourish and properly anchor the tree.

  • Dig a hole that is at least 6 inches wider than the container on all sides.
  • Dig a hole almost as deep as the top of the root ball.

Once in the ground, the soil level of the new tree should be slightly higher (1/2 inch) than the soil surrounding the hole. The width of the hole should be at least 2 times the diameter of the container.

Hint for digging in Baltimore: When digging in poorly drained clay soil, it is important to avoid ‘glazing’. Glazing occurs when the sides and bottom of a hole become smoothed forming a barrier, through which water has difficulty passing. To break up the glaze, use a fork to work the bottom and drag the points of the fork along the sides of the completed hole. Also, raise the center bottom of the hole slightly higher than the surrounding area. This allows water to disperse, reducing the possibility of water pooling in the root zone.

Planting: The Tree

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is today!"
- Anonymous

Container Trees

  • Carefully remove the tree from the container and check the roots. If the tree is difficult to remove, place the pot on its side, tap it gently but firmly all the way around, and the root-ball should loosen.
  • If the roots are tightly packed together or ‘potbound’, use your fingers or a blunt instrument (to minimize root tearing) to carefully pull out the fine roots.
  • Prune dead or crushed roots and straighten or cut circling roots, making clean cuts.
  • Lift the tree into planting space by the root ball, not the trunk.
  • Balance the tree upright in the center of the planting space.
  • Never plant too deep. The trunk flare and top of root ball should be at grade (the trunk flare may be hidden within the root ball.) The trunk must always be in open air, and the roots must be underground. If you dug the hole too deep, lift the tree back out of the hole by the root-ball, not the trunk, add dirt, tamp down well, then replace the tree. If too shallow, dig a little deeper.
  • Once the tree is seated in the center of the hole, the original soil is back-filled into the hole around (and not on top of) the tree. Remember not to overly compress the back-filled soil around the tree, especially by tramping it with your feet. Compress gently using your hands instead.
  • Prune only dead or injured branches.

Additional resources for tree planting can be found on the Arbor Day Foundation’s website

Watering: The Tree

Newly planted trees should be watered at the time of planting.

During the first growing season, trees should be watered at least once a week in the absence of rain and twice a week during the height of the summer. However, care should be taken not to overwater as this may result in oxygen deprivation.

If you are uncertain as to whether a tree needs watering, dig down 6-8 inches at the edge of the planting hole. If the soil at that depth feels powdery or crumbly, the tree needs water. Adequately moistened soil should form a ball when squeezed.

Regular deep soakings are better than frequent light wettings. Moisture should reach a depth of 12 to 18 inches below the soil surface to encourage ideal root growth.

Mulching: The Tree

Mulch lightly and evenly with a 3" depth of composted material or wood chips at least to the diameter of the crown of the tree. Be sure to leave a 3" circle of bare soil around the trunk. Deep layers of mulch especially piled against the trunk can create insect or disease problems.

Mulching is important to conserve moisture and promote water and air penetration. Mulch material can be wood chips, leaves or grass clippings.

Soil Testing

Since all soils have a history, it can be beneficial to get soil analyzed properly for macronutrients such as Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K), micronutrients, pH, soil type, and drainage. Information on soil tests can be found at the Maryland Cooperative Extension website.

Get Involved 

Residents can:

  • Plant trees on your property
  • Work together with neighbors to plant trees in yards or on grassy lawns of places of worship, schools or businesses
  • Care for the trees around your property – they need water, mulch, and love
  • Care for the trees along the streets and other neighborhood places
  • Receive a free tree from the Department of Recreation and Parks
  • Pick up a FREE tree at one of TreeBaltimore’s giveaways in the fall or spring

Businesses and Institutions can:

  • Plant trees on your property
  • Contact TreeBaltimore for a site visit and learn about discount trees
  • Plan a volunteer workday on your site or in a park
  • Help your community plant and care for its trees
  • Fund and maintain tree plantings in a park, right-of-way or other public space
  • Sponsor community service days to plant and maintain trees

Community Organizations can:

  • Contact TreeBaltimore to learn about conducting a Street Tree Pit Inventory on your block or in your neighborhood.
  • Gather requests from your neighbors for more trees on your block or in your neighborhood using the Street Tree Request Form.
  • Participate in the TreeNeighborhood Program.

Note: The Street Tree Inventory Form is for neighborhood groups who would like to create a master list of all empty tree pits, pits with stumps, pits with dead trees, pits that should be enlarged to our new 4’ x 8’ minimum standard. They can also identify locations where new pits can be opened. Once the form is completed it should be returned to TreeBaltimore so that a Forestry inspector can visit the sites. After the visit, the neighbors and TreeBaltimore work on a tree plan for the community.

Foundations can:

  • Support TreeBaltimore’s tree planting and maintenance efforts

Everyone can:

  • Take the Recreation and Parks Tree Steward training class
  • Volunteer with Recreation and Parks or local greening groups
  • Receive a FREE tree from the Department of Recreation and Parks
  • Purchase a tree using a $10 coupon from the Growing Home Campaign or a $25 coupon from the Marylanders Plant Trees campaign.
  • Buy your tree at the Herring Run Tree Nursery. 

Maps

Neighborhood Tree Canopy Map

How much tree canopy covers your neighborhood? This map is based on high-resolution aerial imagery. It shows trees, their leaves, and branches, covering our front and back lawns, sidewalks, medians, parks, and institutions. Notice where there are concentrations of trees and why.

Read More About Neighborhood Tree Canopy Map 

Large Private Property Potential Tree Planting Sites

Take a look at the largest properties in the city. These are schools, parks, cemeteries, colleges, hospitals, and industrial areas. These are some of the best locations to plant large numbers of trees.

Read More About Large Private Property Potential Tree Planting Sites 

Constellation Energy Focus Neighborhoods

The TreeBaltimore Constellation Energy partnership aims to educate residents, plant, and care for trees. During the first year, 16 neighborhoods were chosen for intense outreach. Postcards were mailed, volunteers went door to door, street banners were hung and ads were displayed on buses. At City College High School, 123 trees were planted.

Read More About Constellation Energy Focus Neighborhoods 

East Neighborhood Tree Canopy Poster

In this East Baltimore map, you can see the trees in Patterson Park and the forests of Armistead Gardens. Along the water, there are large open areas where more trees are needed. In neighborhoods with few trees, look for available planting space at schools, churches, and along our streets.

Read More About East Neighborhood Tree Canopy Poster 

Highlandtown Tree Pit Inventory

A street tree pit inventory was completed by a Towson University student. This map shows the locations of all existing trees, empty tree pits, and possible locations for new tree pits. This is a great way for neighbors to survey trees in their neighborhoods and plan for future plantings.

Read More About Highlandtown Tree Pit Inventory 

Forms/Guides

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • Where do I get trees to plant on my private property?
    Each spring and fall, TreeBaltimore offers residents FREE 1-gallon trees for their homes and businesses. We host giveaways at farmers ’ markets, in parks, and at local events. For an up-to-date listing of events, see our calendar of events. Or, if you’d like to give away trees at your event?  
    TreeBaltimore website
  • How do I get started planting trees on larger properties?
    TreeBaltimore will order and deliver trees to large private and public properties such as schools, apartment buildings, hospitals, industrial areas, colleges, and places of worship, vacant lots, and public housing.
    TreeBaltimore website
  • What can I do to help?
    If you do not have any (more) space for trees at your home or business, and you would like to be involved:
  • How do I volunteer?
    TreeBaltimore is always looking for individuals and groups to help plant and care for trees. Feel free to email us your comments or questions.