The information below provides background and resources for applicants to the Tree Planting Program.
Eligibility
The Tree Planting Program is limited to property owners planting trees on private property in Arlington, VA. We can’t accept applications for planting on school property, parks, or other property maintained by Arlington County or Arlington Public Schools.
The following are eligible to apply for and receive trees:
- Civic and homeowner associations
- Community nonprofit organizations
- Civic service clubs
- School-related groups planting on private property
- Ad-hoc neighborhood groups
- Individuals
- Places of worship
Important Note – we invite residents and leaders in the 13 target neighborhoods of our Tree Canopy Equity Program to participate through this exclusive portal which allows participants access to special offers. These neighborhoods include:
- Arlington View
- Arlington Mill
- Aurora Highlands
- Barcroft
- Green Valley
- Buckingham
- Columbia Heights
- Glebewood
- Glencarlyn
- John M Langston
- Long Branch Creek
- Penrose
- Radnor/ Ft.Myer Heights
Thank you to the various funders who have supported this program and made additional tree and shrub species available.
Applicant Responsibilities
Preparing for your Application
- Check your email! We do all of our communication via email and will send communications to the email address that you submit in your application. Make sure that you keep an eye out for messages from trees@ecoactionarlington.org and/or check your Spam box just in case.
- Participants who change their minds about getting a tree after applying are none-the-less requiring large amounts of time and expense on the part of EcoAction Arlington and the many volunteers who support this program. If you need to withdraw your application, please notify us as soon as possible in writing and include a reason for the withdrawal. We reserve the right to not accept future applications to this program from anyone who withdraws their application without a reasonable explanation after January 7, 2025.
- EcoAction Arlington and our contractor Davey Trees are committed to making this program successful for everyone. All applicants will receive regular updates via email but we often have delays due to weather or other unexpected factors. Do note that we are managing a large volume of applicants and participants, and we respectfully appreciate your help in minimizing your calls/emails.
- Once approved, the applicant is responsible for signing an electronic waiver and marking the planting location clearly with a large stake.
- The property owner is responsible for regularly watering trees. New trees must be watered for at least two years after planting.
Program Overview
- Applications will be accepted and approved once or twice a year depending on the availability of funds.
- We reserve the right to reduce the scope of any application.
- The trees we provide have trunk diameters of about two inches when planted. At maturity, they will be large canopy trees.
- If your application is approved, the trees will be planted by a contractor.
- Planting can take place any time during a 6- to 8-week window at the discretion of the contractor and may take longer if there are a large number of trees to be planted. The contractor will notify recipients approximately one week before planting via email. We appreciate you not contacting us to ask about the planting schedule unless you think there is a problem. Please recognize that responding to individual queries is resource intensive.
- Please consider making a donation to offset program costs. Per our Program Guidelines, one of the priorities of the program is projects in which the applicant commits to providing additional “cost share” towards tree planting.
- For the spring of 2025, we are limiting applications as follows: 1) Residents of single-family homes and townhomes may apply for up to 2 trees and/or shrubs and 2) Other properties including apartments, condos, and places of worship may apply for up to 10 trees and/or shrubs.
Background Resources
Local & Geographical Educational Materials
- TCF Tree Selection Guide 2015: Right Tree, Right Place, Right Care
- Arlington County – All About Trees
- Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia [Illustrated Hardcover] – Michael A. Dirr
- Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines: A Guide to Using, Growing, and Propagating North American Woody Plants – William Cullina
Tree Photos & Fact Sheets
- North Carolina State University (website)
- Baltimore County (PDF)
- English Ivy can kill trees – remove it!