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- TREE GIVEAWAY - 2026
TREE GIVEAWAY - 2026
The City requires you to complete the tree giveaway application form. Included on the form, all participants are required to agree to the Tree Steward Pledge and the Waiver of Tree Liability. Upon submission, staff will confirm applicant’s address is located in the City of Seaside.
Link to Application Form:
City of Seaside Tree Giveaway Application
Application Deadline:
Applications will be accepted until 100 trees have been claimed
The City will confirm address and provide applicant with a voucher to be used at Hana Gardens in Seaside. All participants will receive one (1) tree and one (1) bag of fertilizer. Note: Types of trees available my vary at the time of pick-up. Vouchers will be good 1 year from the start of the program.
Austin Griffiths
Bakeri ‘Louis Edmunds’
Howard McMinn
Dr. Hurd
Concha
Dark Star
Julia Phelps
Ray Hartman
Skylark
Thyrsiflorus ‘Snow Flurry’
Western Redbud
Macrocarpa
Macrocarpa ‘Goldcrest’
California Glory
Pacific Sunset
San Gabriel
Silk Tassel Bush
Toyon
Catalina Ironwood
Pacific Wax Myrtle
Monterey Pine
Hollyleaf Cherry
Coast Live Oak
Lemonade Berry
Aptos Blue
Soquel
2026 TREE GIVEAWAY EVENT
The 4th round of Tree Giveaway program will begin January of 2026 with tree pick-up available February 1st. The program will end June 30th, 2026.
The City of Seaside will be starting the 2nd year of its tree giveaway event - giving away one (1) tree and one (1) bag of fertilizer free of charge to all Seaside residents and businesses with suitable tree planting conditions. Through this effort, the City plans to raise awareness about the benefits trees provide and the giveaway event aimed to increase local tree canopy on private properties.
Please reach out to Dan Meewis, Recreation Director dmeewis@ci.seaside.ca.us for any questions.
How a Tree Works | How to Plant a Tree | How to Plant a Potted Tree |
How to Stake & Tie a tree | How to Mulch | How to Water a Tree |
Watering trees in the Summer & for establishment | How do I avoid damaging my tree's roots? | How do I check for tree pests? |
How do I hire an Arborist? | How to prune a trees | The ABCs of Pruning |
Why do I need to prune? | How to identify living & dead branches | Impact of Urban Development on Trees |
TREE BENEFITS
Trees provide a myriad of environmental and community benefits because of the ecosystem services they provide – such as filtering air pollution including particulate matter, producing oxygen, sequestering carbon dioxide, providing shade, regulating temperatures (cooler ambient air), absorbing and retaining water runoff/stormwater runoff, improving water quality, reducing erosion, providing beauty, improving physical and mental human health, providing food and habitat for wildlife, and increasing nearby property values. Trees reduce heating and air conditioning (HVAC) loads which decreases energy consumption and reduces costs for building occupants. Additionally, the more tree species populating an area increases urban biodiversity and builds local resilience against tree-related pests and disease.
YOUNG TREE CARE BEST PRACTICES
All great trees start small! Below are educational videos to learn more about young tree care best practices. Typically a tree’s average lifespan can exceed 50 years with some remarkable species living long beyond 100 years. Much of a tree’s success and development is determined in its first five-years during a period referred to as young tree establishment. During this time, the tree is spreading critical roots and branches, adapting to environmental conditions (like water availability), and gaining stability from interactions with winds and storms/drought. Therefore, young tree care activities are essential – like supplemental watering, prune training, temporary staking, and mulching. Note: Many of these can taper to as-needed activities after it is established.
Tree Watering Guide (published by California Urban Forests Council): Drought conditions are extending the establishment period for young trees in California.
Tree Planting Guide (published by Texas A&M Forest Service): Comprehensive guide that reviews planning before you plant a tree, knowing what to avoid, and planting and maintenance activities.
Right Tree, Right Place (published by Arbor Day Foundation): A proper landscape plan takes each tree into consideration – height, mature canopy spread, species debris (deciduous/evergreen and fruit), form/shape, growth rate, growing requirements (soil, sun, and moisture), and hardiness zone.
WAIVER OF TREE LIABILITY
By submitting the application form, you will acknowledge and accept the following: the City of Seaside will not charge for the giveaway tree or bag of fertilizer; the City of Seaside will not plant the giveaway tree; the City of Seaside will not inspect the giveaway tree; and that all responsibilities and liabilities related to the giveaway tree are my own.
TREE STEWARDS PLEDGE
Experts agree that a newly planted tree typically needs one year for each inch in diameter of the trunk to regain a normal root system. For example, a three-inch diameter newly planted tree will need at least three years in the ground to become fully established.
- I pledge to plant my tree using the best practices videos on the City's website, paying special attention to site placement, using the tree's root flare to determine proper planting depth, and potential conflicts and/or conditions that may affect the tree's health as it establishes and grows into maturity.
- I pledge to water my tree regularly (10-15 gallons per week for a period of up to five years) to help it fully establish and grow strong. Using recycled water is an excellent option.
- I pledge to maintain a watering basin at the base of my tree and I will keep this area mulched and free of debris, grass, and other plants.
- I pledge to keep my tree properly staked for a period of two years before removing them so its trunk doesn't slant while its roots are growing and forming a strong foundation.
- I pledge to monitor the health of my tree and will contact an ISA certified arborist for tree expert guidance, as necessary.
- I pledge to hire an ISA certified arborist to perform juvenile pruning on my tree when it is four or fives years old, and as necessary, to ensure it has a strong, central trunk, evenly spaced branches, and a balanced canopy.