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Community Forestry

Blue Water Baltimore’s Forestry Program focuses on planting and caring for new trees in all kinds of spaces including streets, yards, parks, schools, stream buffers, and private institutions. Each year we plant over 1,000 trees!

About the Program

This program works towards increasing tree canopy and improving long-term tree survival in as many places as possible across our watersheds, with support from our partners and funding from many diverse sources including TreeBaltimore, Baltimore Gas and Electric, The Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability, The Chesapeake Bay Trust, and The Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Become Involved

Join Blue Water Baltimore and volunteer to plant a tree in a local park, median, neighborhood, or school.

  • Open Space Plantings

Volunteer at one of our community tree plantings. Our plantings are usually every weekend from March through May and October through December. No experience necessary! Families with young children are welcome to volunteer unless stated otherwise.

Organize a tree planting for your church, synagogue, school, or business. If you have the space and the interest, we have the trees and tools—contact us to arrange a site visit!

  • Neighborhood Tree Plantings

Your neighborhood may be eligible for a street tree planting if there are empty sidewalk pits on your block. Suggest a location for a street tree planting in either the city or County. In Baltimore County, we focus on neighborhoods with tree pits at least 6 feet wide. We cannot accept all requests for assistance. Contact us to suggest a location.

  • Tree Giveaways

Each year, Blue Water Baltimore gives away 1,000 free trees to residents of Baltimore City and County. We offer a variety of native species ranging from understory flowering and fruiting trees to large canopy trees. Our goal is to increase the local tree canopy and biodiversity as well as inspire residents about the many benefits of urban greening. Visit our calendar for upcoming giveaways!

Interested in hosting an event near you? Contact us with a suggestion!

Don’t have space in your yard for a tree? Volunteer at one of our community tree plantings in green spaces around Baltimore.

Looking for native species not on our free tree list? Visit our Herring Run Nursery.

For advice on how and where to plant your free tree, check out these helpful hints from our partner TreeBaltimore.

  • Tree Maintenance

Join us for seasonal maintenance! When we aren’t planting, we have maintenance events ongoing. We do a variety of activities to keep our trees growing tall and strong. This includes: pruning in the winter, invasive species removal and mulching in spring, watering in summer, and installing deer protection in early fall. It takes about 2-3 years to establish a tree that can survive on its own. Visit our calendar for upcoming events.

Trees can keep our water clean. The canopy intercepts and slows rain fall. The roots absorb and use stormwater that would otherwise create pollution problems as it leaves our properties and enters our waterways.
Trees can keep our waterways clean. The canopy intercepts and slows rain fall. The roots absorb and use stormwater that would otherwise create pollution problems as it leaves our properties and enters our waterways. By planting and caring for trees in our yards and public spaces, we can improve the health of our neighborhoods and environment.