Summer Update

Our donation program does not fulfill tree requests from June - August of each year. We avoid planting and distribution during this time to preserve the health of the trees. Our 2025 - 2026 planting season begins in September 2025 and will run through May of 2026. If your request was not fulfilled in the 2024 - 2025 planting season, please submit a new application for the 2025 - 2026 season.

Thank you for your interest in Trees For Houston! Through our donation program, we provide 5-gallon and 1-gallon trees to the community at no cost. If you would like to receive trees for yourself or a planned project, please read through our donation program process below.

1.) Before you fill out a Donation Request Application, please note the following information is needed for Trees For Houston to consider your application:

  • If you are not planting on private property, you need approval from the appropriate entities.

  • Before you dig (on public or private property) you need to contact Texas811.

  • If you are hosting a giveaway you need to have the appropriate approvals for property use, if needed.

2.) Fill out a Donation Request Application - By submitting a form you agree that you have read through the process below and FAQs at the bottom of this page.

  • The donation requests are processed in the order that they are received. Please submit your application 60 days ahead of your desired project date so we have adequate time to accommodate your request.

3.) Trees For Houston will reach out to you when we have processed your application. We will share our upcoming “Donation Day” and the species available in our inventory. These will most often be a Tuesday or Wednesday morning.

  • If you cannot attend the date and time of the Donation Day, you may ask for an alternate option, however we cannot guarantee availability. We do not hold Donation Days on the weekend.

  • If you have a request of over 20 trees, you may be sent to one of our growers to pick-up rather than our office.

4.) You will attend your confirmed pick-up date at the location specified in the Trees For Houston email.

Submitting am application does not guarantee trees by your requested date. Large requests should be submitted as early in the project planning phase as possible. Thank you for understanding, and we look forward to assisting your tree related endeavors. 

If you need assistance filling out this form, please reach out to Makenzie@TreesForHouston.org 

Providing this detailed information allows Trees For Houston to be a responsible partner and understand the needs for your project. We ask for all donation requests to be submitted at least 60 days prior to project date. Once submitted, donation request will be thoroughly evaluated and reviewed in the order received. Someone will then reach out to schedule your tree pick up. Large requests should be submitted as early in the project planning phase as possible. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Tree Donation Program is all about helping individuals and local groups—like homeowners, schools, and nonprofits—bring more trees into their neighborhoods and shared spaces. Since it’s meant to support community-based efforts, the program isn’t set up for commercial use by landscape companies or developers.

  • You’re welcome to share species preferences in your application, but tree selection is based on the inventory we have at the time of your event. We aren’t able to guarantee specific species or place custom orders. Fruit trees are not provided through this program.

  • No. Trees provided through the Trees For Houston donation program are not for resale under any circumstances. These trees are donated to support our mission of increasing Houston’s tree canopy and improving environmental health through community planting.

    If you are caught selling trees received through this program, you will be immediately disqualified from participating in any current or future Trees For Houston programs. We take this policy very seriously in order to ensure that donations benefit the community as intended.