City residents interested in receiving a free small tree or a low-cost canopy tree are invited to participate in two highly anticipated tree programs following unprecedented interest in a recent city tree giveaway in April at The Bay Park. Residents expressed so much interest that, after the first 100 trees were claimed in just 64 minutes, 50 additional trees were provided to be given away on the second day. 

Trees do more than just beautify neighborhoods. Growing the urban canopy can help fight the urban heat island effect, save energy, clean the air, filter storm runoff and provide habitat for local wildlife. Plus, planting a tree now will help replace some of the hundreds that were lost after last fall's back-to-back hurricanes.

Now, the city is giving residents the opportunity to pick up trees through two more events—one in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and one through its Neighborhood Canopy Program.

Here are the details.

Arbor Day Foundation Tree Giveaway

The City of Sarasota has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to give away a total of 200 free 1-foot to 3-foot-tall trees that will be delivered directly to a resident’s home, free of charge, while supplies last. The city’s Tree Mitigation Fund will provide 100 trees, with an additional 100 trees provided by the Arbor Day Foundation as a match.

Residents can register online and choose one of five available tree species: live oak, bald cypress, thuja green giant, chaste tree or crape myrtle. Click here for more information and to reserve a tree.

Neighborhood Canopy Program

City of Sarasota residents who are interested in receiving a larger tree are invited to participate in the city's Neighborhood Canopy Program, which provides professional installation of 2-inch caliper trees to interested residents. Participants pay $100 for the tree and the city covers the remainder of the cost (up to $500 for the selected tree), funded by the Tree Mitigation Fund.

Neighborhood Canopy Program participants can choose from 10 species: magnolia, shady lady, Southern red cedar, Japanese blueberry, winged elm, live oak, green buttonwood, royal poinciana, ligustrum and sycamore.

Interested residents can register for the program by emailing [email protected]. Registration closes Aug. 22, 2025, and planting is scheduled for the first two weeks of September.

Participation in both the Arbor Day Foundation tree giveaway and the Neighborhood Canopy Program is limited to City of Sarasota residents only.