Tree Planting
Planting trees is a powerful way to enhance the health and well-being of neighborhoods. PHS’s Tree Tenders program works with community groups to plant trees.
Planting Over 2,000 Trees a Year
PHS’s commitment to increasing the tree canopy starts with you. Our tree planting programs provide workshops in planting and care as well as opportunities for volunteer group organization. PHS has trained more than 6,500 people who have gone on to lead volunteers in planting over 3,000 trees each year. In addition, PHS’s Watersheds program provides funding and technical support to watershed management non-profits. Through this program, dozens of such watershed restoration projects are conducted throughout the region. This results in thousands of trees planted in those sensitive water protection zones every year.
Yet, the Greater Philadelphia region still needs more trees. While a “good” tree canopy coverage (the area of land shaded by trees) is considered to be 30% of land area, the city of Philadelphia only has 20% coverage and as little as 2.5% in some neighborhoods.
PHS is committed to increasing the canopy, especially in neighborhoods with few trees and high average temperatures. Throughout the year, PHS works with more than 100 community groups to plant and care for trees in the Philadelphia region. Help PHS partner with community members and plant more trees in your neighborhood.
Apply for a Tree in Philadelphia
For a street or institutional yard tree (like a school or religious institution apply at the link below).
For a residential yard tree visit our partners at TreePhilly.org.
Apply for a Tree in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties
To apply for community trees at a street, park, yard, or other public spaces, contact the PHS Trees Team.
Get Involved
PHS Tree Tenders is at the forefront of the urban tree movement across the country. PHS works to train hundreds of new Tree Tenders every year. They go on to form groups in their neighborhoods that transform the health and well-being of their communities by rallying neighbors to plant and care for trees. See how you can get involved in planting trees in your neighborhood today.
Volunteering for Planting or Tree Distribution
We need help each April and November! Join PHS to plant thousands of trees in neighborhoods and towns throughout Southeastern PA. No prior planting experience or tools are needed. Training is provided on-site.
Stay up-to-date on all upcoming tree plantings and workshops.
Want to participate in a PHS tree planting, but haven’t taken the Tree Tenders course yet? No problem! There are still plenty of ways to plant a tree with PHS.
Connect
Connect with a local Tree Tenders group to help prune and take care of trees in your neighborhood or community. Volunteers can help track and collect tree health data as part of our annual summer Tree Checkers program for recently planted trees. No experience necessary. Training will be provided. The link to a map of current Tree Tender groups is above in step two (2) of how to become a Tree Tender.
ISA Certified Arborists
Arborists can volunteer with Tree Tenders in the Greater Philadelphia Region and throughout Pennsylvania.
For more information, contact the area closest to you.
Philadelphia region (Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties)
PHS Tree Tenders
trees@pennhort.org
The rest of Pennsylvania
DCNR Urban and Community Forestry
TreeVitalize@pa.gov
How to Become a Tree Tender
Step 1
Take a PHS Tree Tenders Basic Training Class. Register below for an in-person or virtual class. For information on scholarships contact our Tree Tenders team at: trees@pennhort.org.
Step Two
Once you’ve become a Tree Tenders graduate, find a local Tree Tenders group in your neighborhood to join. Use our map to begin your search. Find a Tree Tenders group near me.
FIND A TREE TENDERS GROUP NEAR ME
Don’t see a group in your neighborhood? Start a new Tree Tenders group! You only need three Tree Tenders graduates to make a group. The rest can be volunteers.
For Current Tree Tenders
PHS Tree Tenders play an essential role in engaging their community to plant trees. Explore how you can engage with fellow Tree Tenders, volunteers, and your community.
Find Tree Tenders groups in your neighborhood
Connect with fellow Tree Tenders and make your neighborhood healthier and safer by planting and caring for trees in your community. Find areas in Philadelphia that are in high need of increased tree canopy to help plan your tree planting events.
TREE PLANTING OPPORTUNITY AREAS
FIND A TREE TENDERS GROUP NEAR ME
Watch our Tree Planting & Care Video
Review all the tips and tricks of planting and maintaining trees in this video series.
TREE PLANTING & CARE VIDEO PLAYLIST
Get Volunteers
In search for volunteers for the next tree planting? Before each fall and spring planting, we will place a map of all tree plantings here. You can add your planting to the map for future volunteers to sign up. Check back here for future updates.
Explore Upcoming Events
Tree program events take place year-round. Visit the PHS Calendar to find your next PHS event.
Watersheds Grant Program
PHS manages the Trees for Watersheds grant program (formerly TreeVitalize Watersheds), which helps municipalities, nonprofits, and private landowners plant trees along streams, neighboring upland areas, and natural stormwater basins. The result is thousands of trees planted every year in sensitive water protection zones.
Thank you to our PHS Tree Program Sponsors
