🎥 Start Here: Watch the Planting Tutorial
Before you dig, watch our step-by-step planting video featuring Green Interchange CEO John McFadden.

This quick walkthrough covers:

• Bare-root seedlings
• Container trees
• Proper planting techniques

👉 [Watch the video]

📍 Step 1: Choose the Right Location

• Give your tree space away from buildings and structures
• Consider sunlight throughout the day
• Check for overhead and underground utilities
• Think about where leaves, fruit, or sap may fall

⚠️ Call 811 before you dig to locate underground utilities.

Step 2: Dig the Right Hole
The key to success is the root flare—where the trunk widens at the base.

• Keep the root flare above ground
• Never bury the trunk

Bare-root trees:

• Dig just deep enough for the roots
• Build a small soil cone in the center

Container/root-ball trees:

• Hole should be 2x as wide as the root ball
• No deeper than the root ball
• Loosen the sides of the hole

Step 3: Prepare & Plant
Bare-root seedlings:

• Keep roots moist until planting
• Spread roots over the soil cone

Container or burlapped trees:

• Remove all containers, burlap, rope, and tags
• Loosen circling roots
• Make small vertical cuts if roots are tightly packed

 Step 4: Backfill & Settle

• Use the same soil you removed
• Remove rocks and debris
• Fill halfway, water thoroughly
• Finish filling and water again
• Gently firm soil to remove air pockets

🍂 Step 5: Mulch for Protection
Mulch helps your tree retain moisture and stay healthy.

• Apply 3–4 inches of mulch
• Use wood chips, bark, or pine mulch
• Shape like a donut, not a volcano
• Keep mulch away from the trunk

💧 Step 6: Water Consistently
Water is critical during the first year.

• Water every 7 days during dry periods
• Check soil more often in summer
• Increase watering during heat waves

Simple method:
Use a 3–5 gallon bucket with a small hole for slow, deep watering overnight.

✂️ Step 7: Minimal Pruning
During the first growing season:

• Only remove dead or damaged branches
• Keep healthy buds intact to support growth

🌳 Step 8: Staking (If Needed)

• Most trees do not need staking
• If used, allow slight movement
• Remove after one growing season

🌤 Seeing Mold? Don’t Worry
Some seedlings may arrive with minor mold.

• Plant as normal
• Place in sunlight
• Most recover naturally

📧 Questions? Contact: [email protected]

By reserving trees here, you agree to the following: 
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• You understand this is a nonprofit volunteer activity intended to improve our environment and you will plant your tree on April 18-21, or a soon as possible after receiving your trees.

 

• Double-check the spelling of your email address when checking out. We want to make sure you receive your confirmation receipt. If you see a credit card charge but didn't receive a receipt, please check your spam folder. If you do not see a charge on your credit card, your order did not go through and you should try again.

 

• Tree species are subject to availability. In the unlikely event your tree species will not be available, we will offer a similar species, or a full refund if your prefer. We recommend ordering at least two trees. 

 

• You agree to pick up the seedlings on April 18, 2026 between 9am-12pm. If your plans change and you are unavailable, you should arrange for a family member or friend to pick trees up for you. You understand that if you fail to pick trees up during that time, they may be donated to someone else. We may NOT be available by phone or email to help you find this information on the day of pick up, but you can find all of the needed information on this page and in the emails we are sending. You understand that pick-up site leaders are volunteers and are not employees of Green Interchange. 

 

• Please bring your own plastic bag to the pickup location. You may also bring a few paper towels moistened with water to keep roots damp until you are ready to plant. 

 

• You have read instructions on how to plant your tree, you will plant the tree where it is most likely to thrive, and you will avoid planting too close to structures or utility lines. Call your city to find out where underground utility lines are on your property (811 in Nashville).

 

• You understand that if an extraordinary event beyond our control occurs, including but not limited to fire, flood, hurricane, earthquake, lightning, explosion, strikes, lockouts, slowdowns, shortage of energy supplies, pandemics, war, riots, and acts of governmental action prohibiting or impeding any party from performing its respective obligations for this event, we will do our best to deliver your trees during the agreed-upon day and time but may need to delay tree delivery. If rescheduling is necessary, we will announce and email an updated date as soon as possible. 

 

• You acknowledge that you have the physical capacity reasonably necessary to engage in this activity you waive all claims that you might have against Green Interchange and its agents, employees, sponsoring organizations, or other volunteers for bodily injuries that you might suffer arising out of your participation.

 

•  You will receive confirmation and reminder emails for this event only. If you subscribe you will continue to receive our emails about other Green Interchange events and activities. 

 

• After planting, please take pictures of your tree and post them on social media with the hashtag #plantatreefortn and tag @greeninterchange. You can also send pictures or feedback to us to let us know how your tree is doing at [email protected]. If you are in Davidson County, please register your qualified tree on the Root Nashville Tree Plotter one year after planting it.  

Plant a Tree for Tennessee is a grassroots effort to make it easy and affordable for residents across the state to plant native trees in their yards and neighborhoods. By putting native seedlings directly into the hands of communities, we’re supporting pollinators, strengthening local ecosystems, and expanding green space where it’s needed most.

This spring we’re offering Eastern Redbud, American Beautyberry, Buttonbush, Ninebark, Dogwood, Sycamore, and Wild Plum.

Our statewide tree distribution will take place April 18th from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM CST, with sites currently being finalized.
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Seedlings are just $2.99 each, making it easy for families and neighborhoods to participate.

The Nolichucky River has long been a lifeline for East Tennessee’s people and wildlife — but years of erosion and storm damage, including impacts from Tropical Storm Helene, have left parts of its banks in need of restoration.

Join us on Sunday, November 16th, 2025, from 12:00–4:30 PM at 1839 Brown’s Bridge Road, Greeneville, TN, for a hands-on live staking training workshop.

Together, we’ll plant 1,500–2,000 native live stakes and, if water levels allow, harvest 250–500 Sycamore stakes from the gravel bar. This is your chance to learn how to harvest, prepare, and install live stakes — key skills in riverbank restoration and habitat recovery.

We’ll be working with native species like Sycamore, Eastern Cottonwood, American Elderberry, Arrowwood Viburnum, Box Elder, Buttonbush, and Silky Dogwood — all vital to strengthening riverbanks and protecting clean water.
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Please wear closed-toed shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and bring gloves if you have them.

Our Plant a Bigger Tree for Tennessee campaign officially launches this August!
Now is the perfect time to subscribe to our emails and follow us on social media so you don’t miss a thing. We’ll be announcing volunteer opportunities and are currently looking for distribution sites to help us get native trees into the hands of Middle Tennessee residents.

When our online tree store opens, customers will be able to choose from a variety of native trees and shrubs to help green their yards—and green Tennessee. Every tree planted supports cleaner air, cooler streets, and healthier communities.
At checkout, customers will select a nearby pick-up site from our soon-to-be-published list. If you or your organization would like to host one, now’s the time to sign up and help make this campaign a success!
Let’s grow a greener Tennessee—together!