Program offers free trees for 19114 and 19115 residents

More trees are blooming in Northeast Philadelphia neighborhoods this spring, thanks to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s new Tree in Every Yard program.

The program, which allows homeowners living in the zip codes 19114 and 19115 to apply for up to two free trees for their yards, is part of the larger Plant One Million project- a public/private initiative to increase the tree canopy cover in the Greater Philadelphia region by planting one million trees.

PHS is working in support of Philadelphia’s Greenworks sustainability plan and hopes to plant 300,000 trees by 2015.

The 19114 and 19115 zip codes were chosen because of their low tree canopy, said Liz Haegele, Urban Forestry Coordinator for PHS.

Residents can choose from six types of trees- three larger shade trees and three smaller trees. Homeowners who want two trees must apply for at least one larger shade tree, since they provide more benefits and offer better canopy cover at maturity, Haegele said.

Haegele encouraged residents to sign up.

“We have about 60 trees signed up for so far,” she said. “We’re definitely looking still for more people who are interested in signing up for a tree.”

People can register by filling out a form at the Tree in Every Yard site.  “It’s basically really easy,” Haegele said. “It’s completely free. All you have to do is come get it and then plant it in your yard.”

Trees will be available for pickup on May 14 at the Pennypack Environmental Center at 8600 Verree Rd. Trees will be about 8 feet tall and weigh about 35 pounds at time of pickup.

Anyone with questions can contact Haegele at 215-988-1618 or ehaegele AT pennhort.org.