Annual Giveaway Doubles Number Of Trees Available To HoCo Residents

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The annual tree giveaway hosted by Howard County Recreation and Parks returns with the reservation day set for Aug. 25.

This year, the program has doubled the number of available native trees to a total of 6,000 from which Howard County residents can choose.

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Residents can reserve up to two trees to plant on their property. These 6,000 trees will be available in three batches with one-third of each species being released at each time slot with the first 2,000 up for grabs starting at 10 a.m. Aug. 25, another 2,000 at 2 p.m. and the final 2,000 at 7 p.m.

Residents also will be able to choose between two pick-up locations that will be open on six dates during the last week of September. Tree pick-up locations will be at West Friendship Park in West Friendship and Rockburn Park West in Elkridge.

For a list of available trees, instructions on how to plant a tree and this fall's pickup dates, times and locations, visit Recreation & Parks' Natural Resources Division's forestry website.

Once live, the link to reserve a tree(s) will be available from this website. Registration will stay open until all slots are filled.

Below are the tree species that will be available during this year's annual tree giveaway. The trees will be in 5-gallon containers and approximately 3 to 10 feet tall. All species are native to Maryland, acclimated to the climate and provide food and shelter for wildlife.

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)- grows to a height of 20-35' with a spread of 20-35'. Prefers partial sunlight to full shade but is often seen growing in full sun as well. Prefers well drained to moist soils. Tolerates a variety of locations but grows well as an understory species and along streambanks. Pink to purple spring flowers with a seedpod in the fall and golden yellow foliage. The Eastern Redbud is a nitrogen fixing species.  

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)– grows to a height of 20-50′ with a spread of 20-50′. Prefers partial shade but is often seen growing in full sunlight as well. Prefers dry to moist soils. Grows well in open forests and along forest edges. White spring flowers with a red to orange berry and scarlet foliage in the fall. The Flowering Dogwood has high wildlife value, with fall migrant birds relying on its berries.  

Allegheny Serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis)- grows to a height of 15-25' with a spread of 15-25'. A small understory tree that prefers partial to full shade and moist, but well drained soils. Blooms early in the spring with small white flowers, making it a great pollinator species. Dark purple berries in the late summer attract birds.

Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)- grows to a height of 60-100' with a 50-75' spread. Prefers full to partial sunlight and moist to wet soils. The Swamp White Oak provides food and shelter and is considered to have high wildlife value. Vibrant red fall foliage. This is one of the trees with the highest survival rates that we plant here in Howard County, even when planted in drier soils.

River Birch (Betula nigra)- grows to a height of 50-75' with a spread of 35-50'. Prefers full to partial sunlight and moist to wet soils. Grows well on forest edge, sunny spots along a waterway or bottom lands where water may collect. Has an attractive peeling bark and high wildlife value. The River Birch we will be giving away are single stem.

Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica)– grows to a height of 30-75′ with a width of 20-50′. Lesser known but lovely, prefers partial shade to full sun and can tolerate dry, moist, or seasonally wet soils. Has a greenish flower in the spring, with a black fleshy fruit and stunning red fall foliage. The Black gum is a versatile species with high wildlife value. 

Common Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)- grows to a height of 50-75' with a spread of 35-50'. Prefers full to partial sunlight and dry to moist soils. Small yellow flowers in the spring and produces an edible berry in the fall. Attracts pollinators, songbirds and other wildlife. Considered to have high wildlife value.

Red Maple (Acer rubrum)- grows to a height of 40-100' with a spread of 30-75'. Prefers full sun to partial shade and moist to wet soils. Does well in wet areas but can tolerate upland and rocky soils as well. Provides pollinators with early spring blooms and has vibrant fall foliage.