Columbia Residents Get Free Trees In Mail

COLUMBIA, MD - Those who live in Columbia were offered free trees through a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and Howard Hughes Corporation. The 250 free trees have since "sold out" but people can still register to be the first in line if the program continues in the spring.

The free tree program was designed to help Columbians reduce their energy use. Each person could order up to two trees for shipment in 1-gallon pots containing 2 to 4-foot-tall trees. Species available included Eastern Redbud, Northern Red Oak, Red Maple, River Birch and White Dogwood. They will be shipped in early November to each resident's home, according to the Arbor Day Foundation.

When ordering online, residents received directions regarding where on their properties they should plant the trees for maximum benefit to provide shade and windbreak, reduce runoff and filter pollutants.

Those who would like to get in the queue for potential free trees in the spring can register here.

The Arbor Day Foundation partners with organizations across the country to provide the Energy-Saving Trees program as a way to promote trees to reduce people's carbon footprint. Arbor Day is April 27, 2018.

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File photo by Elizabeth Janney.