Pennsylvania Communities Save Money Planting Large Bare Root Trees

Imagine a program that provides communities with large trees to plant at little to no cost, while eliminating the need for heavy machinery. That is exactly what a partnership between TreePennsylvania, Penn State Extension, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has successfully achieved. This partnership has allowed this initiative to grow and spread across the state and assist communities as they strive to increase tree canopy cover.

Since 1998, communities in northeastern Pennsylvania have worked with Penn State Extension to organize group orders of large bare root trees (1.5 to 2.5 inch caliper landscape trees) to be planted along streets and in parks by the municipalities with the help of volunteers. In 2020, this program expanded with a grant program to deliver over 2000 trees per year to communities across Pennsylvania during twice-annual deliveries. This expanded state-wide program is coordinated by Tree Pennsylvania with assistance from Penn State Extension and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).

When the program expanded in 2020, a bare root tree mini-grant program was launched to provide communities up to twenty large caliper bare root trees to be planted in parks, along streets or streams, or in other public spaces. The mini-grant has been popular with communities because of the simple application process. Because the program delivers trees directly to communities, they don't need to expend municipal funds upfront and then wait for reimbursement. TreePennsylvania orders, pays for, and provides trees to communities without the need for long contracts or complicated reimbursement procedures.

During the grant application process, Penn State Extension Urban Foresters and DCNR Service Foresters work closely with communities to develop planting plans, select appropriate species for the sites, and prepare for delivery and planting. This partnership also works closely to coordinate the delivery of the large bare root trees to strategic locations throughout the state where communities meet on the delivery date to help with the unloading of trees. By grouping the orders and combining them into delivery drop sites, shipping cost is reduced, and communities all work together to obtain their trees and transport them back to their planting locations. Good planning and communications between TreePensylvania, Penn State Extension, DCNR Forestry, and the communities is critical to ensure that everyone's trees are shipped on the designated truck (there are 3 trucks delivering over 3 days) to the correct location and picked up and planted in a timely manner. Each order is checked as the trees are unloaded by volunteers to ensure all the correct trees are distributed to the correct community.

During the spring of 2025, TreePennsylvania provided 1251 bare root tree plantings for 50 communities. An additional 12 communities ordered bare-root trees through the initiative, utilizing their own funding, bringing the total number of delivered trees to 1687. 

Through this program, the average cost per tree is $120 (including delivery), making this tree planting grant program cost-effective, while the lightweight bare root tree stock makes the program volunteer-friendly.

Cost Savings for Communities:

By planting light-weight bare root trees, communities saved approximately $785,175 versus contracting out the tree plantings. This calculation considers the difference between planting bare-root trees with volunteers or in-house staff versus the cost of the same-sized tree planted by a landscape contractor. The communities are increasing their tree canopy cover, which reduces stormwater, improves air quality, reduces summer temperatures, conserves energy, and improves human health and quality of life. 

Community Response:

In a recent survey of participating communities, there was an overwhelming positive response, with comments including:

• "It enables small communities with limited funding to plant more trees."
• "Great teamwork, helpful and very easy process. Look forward to doing it again!"
• "I am glad the bare root delivery has gone statewide. The affordability of tree size and weight makes planting a community event. Trees need to be owned by the community, not just a city worker activity."
• "The process is quite easy and not intimidating at all, with a lot of welcomed support from Penn State and DCNR, it makes the whole experience positive, the trees we receive are always in great shape and a very nice size, we have not lost one tree in our last two plantings, and they are all thriving!"

The non-profit organization TreePennsylvania recently applied for additional funding to continue and expand the Bare Root Mini Grant program, which has seen a steady increase in new communities applying for tree plantings. For more information about the grant visit the TreePennsylvania website or email grants@treepennsylvania.org.