Free Trees Are Back: Essential Tips for Seattle and Shoreline Homeowners

Fall is prime planting season in the Pacific Northwest, and two of our region's best-known urban forestry programs are gearing up to put more trees in the ground — for free. Whether you're in Seattle or Shoreline, the City is ready to hand you a tree, some planting supplies, and a bit of training. The catch? A tree is only a good investment if it's planted in the right spot, cared for properly in its early years, and matched to the site it'll call home for decades.

That's where Tree133 comes in. Below, we break down both programs so you know what to expect — and where a professional arborist's eye can help you get the most out of your free tree.

Free Trees in Seattle: Trees for Neighborhoods

Since 2009, Seattle's Trees for Neighborhoods program has helped residents plant more than 15,400 trees at homes, schools, businesses, and along city streets. Participants can apply for up to three free trees per year, with a lifetime maximum of six trees per property, and the program throws in a watering bag, mulch, planting and care training, help applying for street tree permits, and watering reminders for the first five years.

The 2026 application is open now, running July 1–31. Residents who want a tree this cycle should apply before the window closes; if trees remain, the application typically reopens for a second round in early August. Planting and care workshops are held in September, with trees delivered to homes starting in October. Trees generally arrive in 5-, 7-, or 10-gallon containers standing roughly 4–6 feet tall and should go in the ground within one to two months of delivery.

A few details to consider:

• Site matters as much as species. Seattle encourages applicants to plant the largest tree their space allows for maximum benefit — but that only works if the mature canopy, root spread, and utility clearances are accounted for up front.

• Planting strips need at least 4 feet of width for a street tree, and sites under overhead power lines require a tree that grows no more than 30 feet mature height.

• Every participant must attend a planting and care workshop before the trees are delivered, and ongoing maintenance — watering, pruning, mulching — is the homeowner's responsibility from day one.

  
  

Free Trees in Shoreline: Communi-trees

Just north of Seattle, Shoreline's Communi-trees program follows a similar model, offering residents, schools, churches, and businesses up to three free trees per property, plus planting supplies, training, and ongoing care reminders. New this year, Shoreline is also offering free street trees for the public right-of-way adjacent to eligible properties — no permit required for program participants.

The 2026 sign-up form is open July 15 through August 31, and first-time participants must attend one of two fall workshops (October 24 or November 7) to pick up their tree. As in Seattle, trees arrive in the best planting season — fall — and Shoreline asks residents to get them in the ground within 30 days rather than leaving them to overwinter in a pot.

Site preparation is essential:

• Applicants are responsible for confirming their planting spot won't conflict with water, sewer, or power lines, and are directed to call 811 before digging.

• Trees under backyard high-voltage lines are allowed only if they won't exceed 25 feet at maturity.

• Because demand is expected to exceed supply, priority goes to residents in neighborhoods with low tree canopy and higher heat impact — everyone else is entered into a random drawing, so a well-chosen larger tree can actually improve your odds of selection.

  
  

Where a Professional Arborist Fits In

Both programs are excellent ways to add canopy to your property at no cost, and the cities do a good job walking residents through the basics. But "basics" is the key word — a one-time workshop can't replace an on-site assessment of your soil, drainage, sun exposure, and existing root systems, especially on lots with mature trees, retaining walls, or aging utility lines nearby.

An arborist carefully prunes the roots of a small tree, encouraging healthy growth.

This is where Tree133 can help, whether you're applying to one of these programs or planting on your own:

• Site evaluation — confirming a species' mature size and root habit will actually work long-term in the spot you've chosen, not just in year one.

• Utility and structure clearance checks — going beyond a call-before-you-dig to flag conflicts with foundations, sewer lines, and existing canopy.

• Establishment care — structural pruning in the critical first few years shapes a tree's form for the next fifty. Both cities note this is the homeowner's responsibility once the tree is planted; we can make sure it's done right.

• Long-term maintenance planning — mulching, watering schedules, and pruning cycles that keep a free tree from becoming an expensive removal a decade down the road.

  
  

If you're planning to apply for a free tree through Seattle's Trees for Neighborhoods or Shoreline's Communi-trees this season, reach out to Tree133 Professional Arborists before you finalize your planting site. A quick consultation now can save years of headaches — and make sure that free tree grows into the shade, privacy, and property value it's capable of providing.

Ready to plan your planting site? Contact Tree133 Professional Arborists today for a consultation.