Would you like free native trees? 

American Witchhazel

Hamamelis virginiana

Shrubby small tree with attractive fragrant flowers

in late fall to winter. Fruit is eaten by wildlife.

Hello Sligo Creek neighbor,

Friends of Sligo Creek and Howard EcoWorks are looking for sites to plant 50 native shade trees in Sligo Creek watershed neighborhoods, and thanks to a Chesapeake Bay Trust grant, planting is free and participants get to pick their own trees from the available tree list!

Why plant a native tree?

Trees clean the air, absorb rainwater, cool our neighborhoods, and provide habitat for birds and pollinators, all while making our communities beautiful and greener for everyone.

This project is part of MD's Five Million Trees initiative which has already planted over 1.5 million trees. At least 10% of the trees are earmarked for historically underserved urban areas (shown in brown in the map) so everyone benefits from native trees.

Who qualifies

Check the map to see if your property with room for at least one tree is in the brown target area.

Properties can be: HOA common areas, congregations, institutional or commercial properties, and multi-family sites. Private homeowners qualify if their neighborhood can come together for 10 or more trees, so please encourage your neighbors to apply!

What you get

A pre-planting site assessment by an EcoWorks arborist, choice of native trees from the list of available trees (in 5-7 gallon containers), and free materials and installation by EcoWorks staff.

Available native trees include:

American Yellow-wood

Pagoda Dogwood

Southern Hawthorn

Kentucky Coffee Tree

American Witch-hazel

Sourwood

Blackjack Oak

Cherrybark Oak

Dwarf Chinquapin Oak

Post Oak

Water Oak

Note: Availability may vary depending on when you sign up.

American Yellowwood

Cladrastis kentukea

Attracts songbirds for nesting sites and nectar. The pollen attracts bees and other pollinators. The tree has beautiful pea-like, fragrant flowers and showy seedpods that ripen in the fall. (Tom Gill photo)

Blackjack Oak

Quercus marilandica - the MD state tree

A top pollinator host. Game birds and mammals eat the acorns. Birds and mammals use it for nesting. (Jim Robbins photo)

Plant info and photos via NC State Extension.

What we ask

Commit to watering and long-term care after planting, such as bark protection and weeding (especially keeping vines off trees).

Timeline

Submit the form, then discuss with the visiting EcoWorks arborist the best tree(s) for your location during the site assessment. If you want to proceed, sign a no-cost agreement stating that EcoWorks will provide and plant the tree(s) for free and you will water and maintain them. Planting happens winter 2026/2027 through spring 2027.

Ready to sign up?

Sign up here to get the process going with a site assessment.

Please forward this email

Forward this email to neighbors, your civic association or home owners association, your congregation, or other people in the Sligo watershed who you think would be interested in free trees for their property.

The more who join, the more trees we add to Sligo Creek!

For the trees,



Elaine

Elaine Lamirande

FOSC Stormwater Committee Chair

Joining FOSC is simple, fast, and can be free.

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