Adopt-a-Tree Program

Leon County is proud to offer the 2025 Adopt-A-Tree Program. Applications are now being accepted through January 31, 2025, on a first-come, first-served basis. If you live inside Leon County but outside of Tallahassee city limits, you may qualify to have a tree planted on your property for free. 

Residents will have the option to have a tree delivered to their residence for planting at their convenience. This project provides an enjoyable and educational experience for the entire family, and comprehensive instructions for tree planting and care will be provided upon tree delivery. For those who prefer assistance with tree planting, County staff is available to assist upon request; just choose the "delivery and plant" option.

If you agree to water the tree three times a week for one year, Leon County will plant the tree anywhere between your house and any publicly maintained road or any privately maintained road with public access. To learn more about tree care, click here. To find other tree resources, click here.

Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis, is a small deciduous tree that typically reaches 20 feet in height with gracefully ascending branches and a rounded shape. Its heart-shaped leaves start reddish and turn green, with a beautiful yellowish hue in the autumn. Ideal for gardens, it can be used in small groupings, as specimens, or for patios. It thrives in areas with full sun to partial shade, making it particularly attractive in woodlands and naturalized gardens.

Riverbirch, Betula nigra, is a medium-sized tree that may grow 50 to 90 feet tall and normally grows with a central leader and small-diameter, dark-colored lateral branches. It has a narrow, oval to pyramidal crown when young, spreading wider with age as several branches become dominant.

Shumard Oak, Quercus shumardii, is a large, stately tree with a narrow, rather open, rounded canopy, somewhat reminiscent of red oak. A lovely dark green during most of the year, Shumard Oak puts on a vivid display of brilliant red to red-orange fall and winter foliage, providing a dramatic landscape statement.

To ensure your tree gets a strong start, consistent watering is crucial.

For the first two weeks after transplanting, provide three gallons of water daily. Following this initial period, water the tree two to three times each week throughout the growing season, increasing water intake during droughts. As your tree matures, apply two to three gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter over the root ball, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged.

Maintain a mulch layer around your tree that extends at least three feet in width. This minimizes competition from turf roots and weeds, safeguarding your tree from potential damage by lawn equipment. The mulch should be two to three inches deep and situated four inches away from the tree trunk. You can expand the mulch ring as your tree grows.

Avoid the use of lawn or weed chemicals and herbicides around the tree. Fertilization is unnecessary. Fertilization is not required. Pruning is not recommended in the first three years, except in the case of broken, dead, or diseased branches.

Residents residing within the Tallahassee city limits are encouraged to explore the City of Tallahassee's Adopt-A-Tree program by visiting Talgov.com/AdoptATree.