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In celebration of Arbor Day, we’re giving away over 1,500 trees to our customers this April 22nd! Varieties on hand will be an assortment of Japanese maple, red maple, eastern redbud, Chinese dogwood, Himalayan Birch, Northern Red Oak, and Sweetgum. We will begin offering tree seedlings to customers at 11:00AM.* Traditionally, these free trees do not last long and they are only available while supplies last, so don't wait! Each of our stores will have free trees available in the nursery.

Here is a preliminary description of each of the trees available for free that day:

Japanese Maple (acer palmatum) - Japanese red maple in the cultivar group atropurpureum is a versatile, ornamental, hardy small tree or multi-stemmed shrub. The deeply lobed 5-7-9 leaves are red or reddish-purple in spring and again in fall. In between, color varies from remaining red all summer to sometimes fading slightly with maturity or summer heat and even turning green. The paired, winged samaras are red and ripen in early autumn. The bark is fairly smooth. Young stems are green to reddish purple and red turning gray with age. Japanese maples prefer slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soil, and dappled shade; although if too much shade will grow slower and turn greener. Young leaves will need protection from high winds or late spring frosts. Water during dry periods. It is important to keep soil moisture consistent avoiding alternating dry and wet periods. This tree can be used for a specimen, accent, shrub border, grouping, or bonsai. Grows to 15' to 25', 20' spread. (zones 5-8). Full sun and partial shade are best for this tree, meaning it prefers a minimum of four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.

Source: https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=866

Red Maple (acer rubrum) - Brings color to your landscape year-round. Green stems turn red in winter, new leaves are red-tinged, turning to green. Fall color is deep red or yellow. Flowers are also red. Fast growing and tolerant of many soils. Grows to 40' to 60', 40' spread. (zones 3-9) Consuming .03% of dry wilted leaves can cause toxicity to horses. Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.

Source: https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=867

Eastern Redbud (cercis canadensis) - Rosy pink flowers appear in April. Reddish-purple leaves change to dark green, then to yellow. Forms a spreading, graceful crown. Full sun or light shade. Partial shade preferred in windy, dry areas. Grows to 20' to 30', 30' spread. (zones 4-9). Full sun and partial shade are best for this tree, meaning it prefers a minimum of four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.

Source: https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/treedetail.cfm?itemID=912

Chinese Dogwood (cornus kousa var. chinensis) - This handsome small tree adds year-round beauty. White flowers in May and June give a milky way effect; purple and scarlet fall leaves add intense color. Beautiful tree form, with horizontal branching. Grows to 15' - 25', 25' spread. (zones 5-8). Full sun and partial shade are best for this tree, meaning it prefers a minimum of four hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.

Source: https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=830

Himalayan Birch (betula utilis) – The Himalayan Birch is best grown in medium to wet, well-drained, sandy or rocky loams in full sun to part shade. Prefers some afternoon shade in climates with hot, humid summers. Requires consistently moist soils. Consider using soaker hoses and bark mulches to keep the root zones cool and moist. Grows to 30’ – 40’ in height and 18’ – 25’ spread (zones 5-8).

Source: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=277860&isprofile=0&&_sm_au_=iHVKf5GSSbLRDVQQCj01jK3T60LWF

Northern Red Oak (quercus rubra) - The Northern Red Oak is one of the easier trees to transplant and features beautiful, bristle-tipped leaves that turn russet-red to bright red in the fall. The leaves have 7 to 11 waxy lobes. A good street tree, tolerates pollution, full sun and compacted soil. This oak has a fast growth rate, with a height increase of as much as two feet a year for 10 years. Grows to 60' to 75', 45' spread (zones 3-8).

Source: https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/treedetail.cfm?itemID=877

Sweetgum (liquidambar styraciflua) – The Sweetgum tree provides brilliant fall color with deep, glossy green star-shaped leaves turning vibrant yellow, orange, red and purple. The tree’s shape is pyramidal, becoming more rounded with age. While it prefers normal moisture, the tree has some drought tolerance. Provide plenty of space for root development as it will not do well in polluted sites. Grows 60'-70', with a 45' spread (zones 5-9).

Source: https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=928

*Limit one per household. While supplies last.