Free Trees Available for MD’s Backyard Buffer Program

Trees and vegetation along a small rocky stream. (Maryland Department of Natural Resources photo)

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering free tree seedlings to landowners statewide who have a creek, drainage ditch, stream, or other waterway on or near their property through the Backyard Buffer program.

Each “buffer in a bag” includes 20 to 30 native tree and shrub bare-root seedlings, approximately 1 to 2 feet in height. Maryland Forest Service staff also will include information on tree maintenance and planting techniques.

A streamside buffer can create habitat for wildlife, reduce peak summer temperatures​, and reduce the amount of sediment, fertilizer, and toxic materials that enter Maryland’s waterways. Deep-rooted trees and shrubs can also stabilize streambanks, protecting them from erosion.

Backyard Buffer packet reservations are typically taken through the month of March, with bags available for pickup at a designated local site in time for the spring planting season. A limited number of bags are available each year on a first-come, first-served basis. Order deadlines, pickup dates, and partner organizations vary by county. Contacts for each county can be found on the department’s website.

Through this and other DNR programs, Marylanders can join the effort to plant 5 Million Trees by 2031 by registering plantings online. Individuals also can help by participating in an incentive program. DNR offers a $25 coupon toward the purchase of a tree from participating retail nurseries and garden centers, and donations through the Gift of Trees program also contribute to the goal.

Individuals also may reach out Isaac Whitmore, DNR’s 5 Million Trees program coordinator, at [email protected] for more information about how to have trees planted at a specific property.