Bartlett Tree Experts distributes 40,000 trees for Arbor Day

In celebration of Arbor Day on April 26, Bartlett Tree Experts gave away more than 40,000 tree seedlings in communities across the United States as part of the Bartlett Legacy Tree Program. Since the program’s inception in 2014, Bartlett has distributed more than 710,000 tree seedlings.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Bartlett’s Legacy Tree Program supports tree planting and stewardship in local communities through the annual distribution of seedlings in schools, at events and for reforestation efforts. During the first half of 2024, Bartlett Tree Experts employees are distributing more than 68,000 trees through the program. Many of those seedlings are handed out or planted in the spring as part of Arbor Day and Earth Day festivities, events, and activities.

Patrick Franklin, who manages the program as vice president of Special Operations, said, “Our Legacy Tree Program is a great way for Bartlett Tree Experts to make a difference while giving back to our communities and improving the environment. We are bringing people and trees together.”

With all of Bartlett’s 180 offices participating, the seedlings have been given away in 40 U.S. states, three Canadian provinces, and numerous locations in the United Kingdom and Dublin, Ireland.

Through the program, Bartlett wants to raise awareness among school children of the benefits of planting trees, and to help local communities reverse the increasing deficit of urban and suburban trees lost to development.

Franklin said, “It is really gratifying to see 15-foot trees that were planted as seedlings at the start of our Legacy Tree Program.” Since the inception of the Legacy Tree Program 10 years ago, Bartlett Tree Experts has supported the planting of trees after natural disasters, as well as to help increase the urban tree canopy.

Under the Legacy Tree Program, the tree species are selected for distribution by geographic region with a focus on increasing the local diversity of native tree populations. Some common species being distributed this year include Flowering Dogwood, Japanese Maple and White Oak.