Free Tree Campaign Helps Build Tree Canopy

At the advice of the America in Bloom Advisors in 2024, Washington, Missouri needed to increase the City’s tree canopy.

Washington’s Parks and Recreation Department partnered with a local real estate agent,  RE/MAX Results, Janie Schriewer, Washington Urban Forestry Council and the Washington in Bloom Committee to provide 50 free native trees to Washington residents, provided they did not have a tree in their yard.

A number of newer subdivisions in the Washington area have very few trees/landscaping because the land was once farmland. Most of the homes in Washington are expensive. Local builders do not want to add the extra expense of trees/landscaping to the price of a new home, so generally no trees/landscaping are installed when a new home is purchased. Sometimes it takes several years for new homeowners to install trees/landscaping, if at all.

Parks and Recreation Commission & WIB committee member Dave Wehmeyer reached out to the local RE/MAX Results agent to see if they would sponsor free trees in order to build the tree canopy in Washington. Re/Max offered to provide one free tree per home to Washington residents, provided they live in the 63090 zip code and had no trees in their yard. Re/Max sponsored 50 total free trees.  

Flyers were distributed in new neighborhoods along with social media posts and an article in the local newspaper. Availability of the native trees was on a first come, first served basis and you had to bring the flyer that contained the person’s contact information to the RE/MAX Results office.

The type of native trees available were Red Bud, Red Oak, Black Gum and Seedless Sweet Gum. These free native trees were approximately six feet tall and valued at $120 each.