Tree Giveaways
Throughout the year the Nashville Tree Foundation hosts several tree giveaways! We have a Tree Fest in the Fall, and an Earth Day and Cherry Blossom Festival giveaway. We will host others from time to time as well. The Tree Fest is a really big effort! You’ll likely see us in your neighborhood at the farmer’s market and community events. With the help of partners and volunteers, we’ve given thousands of one and three gallon-sized trees. This tradition has become a beloved mainstay to the people of the greater Nashville area and is one of the lowest barrier opportunities for people in Nashville to plant new trees across Davidson County.
We offer a variety of trees ranging from small to large in size and include native, conifer, evergreen, and deciduous species. All trees should fit in a car/truck or make a nice companion on the bus! When choosing a species, please consider the available space in your yard for roots and branches as well as how much sun your yard gets each day. The list of species that we offer changes from year to year.
How to Plant My Tree
Steps for Planting a Container Tree
Choose a tree that fits the site—or select a site that can accommodate the size tree you’re planting. Find out your tree’s estimated height and width at maturity, and plant accordingly. Don’t plant too close to buildings or other trees. And don’t forget to look up! Make sure to plant your tree a safe distance from overhead powerlines. Check out this helpful graphic from NES about planting the right tree in the right place. Call *811 before you dig if there is a possibility of underground utilities near your planting site.
The hole should be 2-4 times the width of the container and roughly the same depth as the container or root ball. The hole should have sloping sides like a saucer to allow for proper root growth. (See illustration.)
Carefully remove the tree from the container keeping the soil around the roots intact. It helps to tap the outside of the container to loosen the edge. Carefully slide the tree from the container. Sometimes containerized trees become root-bound (the roots look like they’re growing in a circle around the root ball). If your tree is like this, it is important to disrupt this growth pattern by cutting an X across the bottom of the root ball and making vertical slices along the sides of the root ball with a sharp knife.
Set the tree in the middle of the hole. Avoid planting the tree too deep. If the root collar (or root flare) sits below the top of the hole, compact some soil under the tree so that the root flare at the base of the trunk is slightly above ground level. Using some soil, secure the tree in a straight position, then fill and firmly pack the hole with the original soil, making sure there aren’t any air pockets. Keep backfilling until the soil is just below the root collar.
Create a water-holding basin around the hole and give the tree a good watering (~10 gallons). After the water has soaked in, spread protective mulch 2–4 inches deep in a 3-foot diameter area around the base of the tree, but not touching the trunk.
Remove any tags and labels from the tree as these will affect the tree as it grows. You may need to prune any broken or dead branches but you should avoid all other pruning until the tree is established. Your tree should not need to be staked or fertilized.
Water the tree every 7 to 10 days during the first two years of life, especially during periods of drought. The soil and mulch around your trees should be kept moist but not soggy.
Earth Day
Find us at Centennial Park for Nashville Earth Day Festival, and bring home a 1- or 3- gallon container tree at our biggest giveaway of the year. We provide one free tree per household, as long as supplies last. Our team of staff and volunteers will be on site to help you make the right choice between a variety of species.
Stay tuned for more information about Nashville Earth Day Festival 2025!
