Adopt-a-Tree Program

Leon County is proud to offer the 2026 Adopt-A-Tree Program. Applications are now being accepted through January 31, 2026, 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, visit the City of Tallahassee's urban forestry page. To find other tree resources, visit the UF/IFAS Extension website.

PawPaw, Asimina triloba, is a small deciduous tree that typically matures to a height of 15 to 20 feet with a colorful display of yellow leaves that fall in the autumn. PawPaw’s unique drooping appearance blooms in springtime, with vibrant red, purple or pink-hued 2-inch-wide flowers. This plant is easy to please, flourishing in all light conditions, moderately drought tolerant, and can survive flooding—perfect for our North Florida summers! Its ideal soil is rich, moist, and slightly acidic.

Blackgum, Nyssa sylvatica, is a medium-sized tree that can reach up to 80 feet tall and typically grows in the understory rather than as a dominant tree. Blackgum, also known as sourgum, grows in a variety of sites with moist, rich slightly acidic soils. The crown shape can vary from tree to tree but becomes more uniform as it ages. It is often one of the first trees to bud in the spring and among the first to have its leaves turn a beautiful display of red to deep purple in the fall.

American Elm, Ulmus americana, is a long-living deciduous shade tree that can reach up to 80 feet tall. This tall, straight-trunked tree features an elegant vase-shaped crown with a symmetrical canopy that can spread 50 to 60 feet wide. Tolerant of droughts, these trees prefer full sun and have extensive but shallow root systems. Its elegant dark green leaves turn a golden yellow in the autumn.

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.

The application deadline for the Adopt-a-Tree program is January 31, 2026.  Please fill out the form below to secure a tree.