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The city is once again offering free trees to residents who would like to plant in their yards. Applications will be accepted until October 24. Here is all the program information:

The Trees for Neighborhoods program helps Seattle residents plant trees in their yards and along their streets. Participants in the program receive:

* Free trees
* Watering bags
* Training on proper planting and care
* Coupon for free Groco compost
* Ongoing care reminders and workshop opportunities

Find Available Species online.

Program Rules:

* Trees can be planted anywhere in residential yards, but must be planted at the address on the application.
* Permits are required if planting street trees – reLeaf staff will coordinate acquiring permits. Receiving a permit is not guaranteed. No permit is required for yard trees.
* You must be present at the planting training to pick up your tree(s). All trees should be planted shortly after receiving them.
* The number of trees approved for your yard may be fewer than the number requested. Please note that tree availability is not guaranteed.
* If you do not own your home, you must obtain the permission of the homeowner.

Tree supply is limited and applications will be accepted on a first come first served basis, so apply early!

Things to Consider When Selecting Your Tree(s):

* To avoid future problems, trees must be planted at least 5 ft. from underground utility lines, 10 ft. from power poles, 20 ft. from street lights or other trees, and 30 ft. from a corner curb. To make sure your site meets minimum distance requirements, identify any underground utilities that may impact the location of your trees BEFORE you submit this application.
* To identify where your sewer lines are, click here.
* To identify where your other underground utilities are, call the utility locator service at 800-424-5555. This service does not mark sewer lines. Indicate that you have a “pre-planning locate request,” and that you will not be digging right away, but need the sites marked BEFORE you submit your application. A representative from each utility will come out to mark the locations of their buried lines near your site. For more information, including color codes, visit the Utility Notification Center.
* Do not plant a tall tree under power lines. Trees planted under power lines should reach a maximum of 20’ at maturity or the safety of the power lines will be compromised.
* Take time to evaluate sites on your property where trees can fit. The survival and health of the tree depends on how well it is suited to the spot that you plant it. Consider: placement (is there enough space for this tree when it grows up?), light, moisture, and type of soil.
* Many of these trees will get big! Read descriptions carefully and envision what the tree will look like in 30+ years. Larger trees provide greater benefits to your neighborhood and our environment than smaller trees. They control more water, provide more shade in the summer, breathe in more carbon dioxide and breathe out more oxygen than smaller trees. For these reasons, the City of Seattle recommends planting larger trees whenever appropriate.
* All trees are 5 gallon sized container trees, with the exception of the Asian pear, which is a 10 gallon container tree.
* Your young trees will not survive the dry summer without you giving them water and care! Water bags will be provided to help you water the trees in the summer.

Consider Planting a Large Tree!

Large trees provide greater benefits to the community than do small trees, reducing stormwater runoff, filtering air pollution and providing shade to cool summer temperatures. The National Tree Benefits Calculator estimates that the value of the annual benefits provided by a 30-inch magnolia is $99 versus $262 for a Douglas fir.

Because of the greater benefits large trees provides, we encourage you to plant the largest tree suitable for the site you have chosen. Only small trees should be planted under power lines.

Ready to Apply?

Download Mail-in Application (pdf)

Apply Online

Make sure you review the program rules, things to consider, and available species before applying.

We are currently sold out of Asian pear, paperbark maple, Japanese snowbell, and Eastern redbud. You may still apply for these trees, but will be placed on a waitlist.

If you have questions about the program after reading the information on this page, please contact TreesforNeighborhoods AT seattle.gov or call 206-615-1668.

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Now thru 5/31/11, all in-stock ornamental cherry trees are 20% off.

Big Trees, Inc. is excited to announce a “tree care” partnership with Bartlett Tree Experts!

As Bartlett says “Exceptional Trees Deserve Exceptional Care” and we couldn’t agree more, especially when it comes to providing the best care available to newly installed or transplanted trees by Big Trees, Inc. crews. Integrating professional tree care services into our residential and commercial projects provides a level of investment protection that assures newly installed trees will thrive.

The local Bartlett office is an accredited member of The Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) and has Arborist Representatives with membership in the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), including some who are ISA Board-Certified Master Arborists. This all means our clients and their trees have access to the best tree care professionals available.

With the backing of a national laboratory and research staff, Big Trees’ customers have access to fast and accurate fertilization and soil management analysis, two of the biggest variables when determining the correct aftercare treatments for trees. Testing and adjusting for the proper soil pH and organic matter are key to long-term tree health. Bartlett also provides the following important services to Puget Sound customers:

~Cabling and Bracing
~Drought Services
~Emergency Tree Service
~Fertilization and Soil Management
~Insect and Disease Management
~Lighting Protection
~Plant Analysis and Diagnostics
~Pruning
~Storm Damage
~Tree Inspections
~Tree Inventory
~Tree Removal
~Tree Structure Evaluation

With the help of the professionals at Bartlett Tree Experts, Big Trees can now quickly refer customers to services that maintain beautiful, healthy trees and shrubs. Their local arborists can diagnose and treat problems to protect your plants and help ensure safety on your property.

To find out more about the Bartlett Tree Experts, their services and program details go to http://www.Bartlett.com/locations/Kenmore-WA.cfm?a. Alternatively, call their local office at 425-481-6529 or in Seattle 206-522-5056 or call Big Trees directly to find out how these programs can help you and your landscape.

Hello Everybody!

The new website is up and running, with lots of new images and information. We will be adding more inventory and interesting content as the next couple of weeks go by, and we hope you all get a chance to check it out!

Thanks for being out there, and we hope to see you here at the nursery this Spring as the flowers bloom…

Todd

Hello Everybody,

Thanks to all who put together and attended the North West Flower and Garden Show this year! We had our enormous Japanese Maple on display in the main floor area, and have enjoyed all the comments and feedback from the event.

We wanted to let everyone know that our fantastic new website is about to launch any day now, please check in to see it on your monitor in all its glory!

On another note, we are having all of our flowering trees on sale through the end of this week, 15% off retail pricing. Come on in and say hi!

Thanks again, and see you soon!
Todd

This time of year feels like Spring is just around the corner. The weather is still undecided, but many of the signs of Winter seem to stabilize, and the thoughts of Spring and the not so distant Summer start to creep in the side gates of our thoughts and gardens.
Many people’s Spring planting enthusiasms seem to gain momentum with the timing of the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. The show has been a major fixture of the local landscaping industry and all those who look to be inspired in their own outdoor spaces. With all the amazing display gardens and vendors present, it’s nearly impossible to leave without having learned something new or having gained some inspiration. Many of the shows participants are doing their best in the hopes you will leave the show with some of their products and services. Any way you chose to participate, their tends to be surprises and excitement to take in.
Big Trees will be adding trees to a number of display gardens, with our largest Japanese Maple tree being featured in Karen Stefonick’s garden design. Last year, Karen’s ensemble of plants and hardscapes captured the best overall display in the show, and we are wishing her and all the designers the best as they weave their landscape webs for our entertainment.
Please come see the Northwest Flower and Garden Show this February 23rd through the 27th at The Washington State Convention Center. Say hello to our enormous Acer Palmatum that will be keeping a lofty eye on all the action, and enjoy the afternoon taking in the best the Northwest gardening community has to offer.

Hello everybody! My name is Todd Holmes, and I have been digging, moving and handling large trees in the Puget Sound area since the late 80’s, with it always having been a part of my professional lifestyle. My favorite days consist of exceptionally challenging logistics conquered, and a beautiful, specimen tree living in a new location that seemed unreachable. I am going to do my best to get some fun and interesting posts occurring regularly here, as well as answering as many questions as I can about the nursery tree moving and sales business I love being a part of. Big Trees has been a really great fit for me, and I am loving the atmosphere and day in/day out operations of our company. I hope everyone is having a great day, and I’ll be in touch.