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A program of the City of Seattle, Trees for Seattle is committed to growing and maintaining a healthy, awe-inspiring urban forest. |
Here in Seattle, planting season is mid-October to mid-March. Our winters are generally warm enough to plant, as long as the ground and planting pots are not frozen. Although the Pacific Northwest is often known for its rain, it is actually considered a “Mediterranean climate”. This means that while we have mild, wet winters, we also have warm to hot, dry summers. Even drought-tolerant plants or trees will need regular summer watering for the first five years until they are established. Planting in the rainy season allows plants to start growing roots in their new soils, with adequate water, increasing their chance of survival.
As the spring weather improves, resist the urge to plant by PLANNING what to plant in the fall instead. Use the motivation and time to research which plants will thrive in the areas you want to plant. There are many factors to consider when choosing a tree or plant for your landscape. Some conditions to think about are the available space, light and watering your tree will need, as well as soil or wind conditions. Luckily, there are many resources and tools available to help determine the right plant for the right place.
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Note what trees and plants you like that are thriving in nearby yards and gardens with similar conditions to your own planting site. Visit local nurseries to get tree or plant ideas and information about their needs.
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The Trees for Neighborhoods 2025 tree list will be online soon. You can sign up to be notified by email when the application opens in July.
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Want to see a tree you like in the landscape? Neighborhood Tree Walks are available online and feature a variety of tree species. The SDOT Seattle Tree Inventory Map can be used to search for specific trees throughout the city. The UW Washington Park Arboretum online map allows you to search for trees by scientific name. Books like Trees of Seattle by Arther Lee Jacobson, or Street Trees of Seattle by Taha Ebrahimi are great resources for finding specific trees throughout the city as well.
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The City of Seattle urban forestry program spans many different city departments, one of which is Seattle City Light. This month we’d like to shine a spotlight on the great work that the Seattle City Light (SCL) Vegetation Management program is doing for Seattle’s trees and landscapes on SCL properties. SCL professionals balance the need for trees and vegetation throughout the city with managing them in a way that ensures electricity reliability and the safety of communities and crews near substations, power lines, and transformers.
This past January, Seattle City Light was recognized as a Tree Line USA utility for the 12th consecutive year! Tree Line USA recognizes forward-looking utility providers that demonstrate best practices in utility arboriculture (tree care), provide annual trainings to contractors and staff, coordinate dedicated educational outreach to customers, have active conservation and tree planting programs, as well as support city wide Arbor Day celebration efforts. Tree Line USA is an Arbor Day Foundation Program in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the Utility Arborist Association.
If you’d like to get involved supporting the landscapes of SCL properties near you, check out the upcoming Greenline events listed below. For additional information on SCL’s Utility Urban & Community Forestry program contact whitman.bouton@seattle.gov.
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We welcome your questions at treesforseattle@seattle.gov or 206-684-TREE (8733) or via our website. We can help answer your questions or direct you to the correct city department that cares for the tree you are writing or calling about. Where the tree is located determines what department is responsible for its maintenance.
When emailing us about a specific tree, it is especially helpful if you can send:
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The specific tree location address and/or a pin drop (GPS coordinates) and location (yard, street, in a park)
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Photos of the tree; from farther away to show its location in the landscape, and closer up to show any specific concerns.
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What do you see: Leaning? Decay? Insect holes? Fungus? Broken or breaking branches?
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The tree name or type. If you aren’t sure, you can describe or send photos of any identifying features you observe, like the leaves or bark or tree size and shape.
If you are concerned about a tree in your yard, we recommend that you have it inspected by a Certified Arborist to identify potential problems and establish an ongoing monitoring and maintenance plan. Only certain tree care providers are approved to work on trees in Seattle and can be found on the Tree Service Provider Directory.
Spring is a great time to get outside and observe the new buds and leaves forming on neighborhood trees! You can access our downloadable Tree Walks here. If you are interested in a volunteer-led Tree Walk, check out the event below. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer Tree Walk leader, contact us at treesforseattle@seattle.gov.
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Green Line Community Work Party with Seattle City Light
March 8, 2025, 10 am –12 pm
Location: 10601-10673 53rd Avenue South Seattle, WA 98178
Register here
For this Community Work Party we'll come together to remove weeds, flag native plants, build trails and more! This is a great opportunity to meet others who care for the environment, have a green thumb or just want to give back to the community.
Webster Pond Tree Care and Skill Share: Tree ID and Benefits
Saturday, March 15, 2025, 10am -1pm
Meet at Webster Pond - green space across the street from Home Depot on Webster Street
Coordinates
Register here
Join Trees for Seattle and Dirt Corps for our second tree care skill share and volunteer work party at Webster Pond! We will learn how to identify local tree species and celebrate their many social, ecological, and health benefits. We’ll then remove harmful weeds from around the adult trees at this site to allow them to continue to thrive and support the well-being of their neighbors (all of us!).
West Queen Anne Tree Walk
Saturday, March 15, 2025, 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Location: Meet in front of Queen Anne Library, 400 W Garfield St, Seattle, WA 98119
Register here
Looking for a tree-mendously good time? Join Tree Walk leader Kimberley Slater for a tree tour that’s rooted in fun! With the weather warming up and cherry blossoms starting to pop, it’s the perfect time to get outside and appreciate some truly legendary trees. We’ll marvel at the Sawara cypress, stand in awe of the redwood, and bow to the true monarch of Queen Anne—the majestic sequoia. And since spring is in the air, we’ll take a romantic stroll past the katsura tree, whose heart-shaped leaves might just make you fall for trees all over again. Don’t leaf us hanging—come branch out with us! Please wear comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather and bring a water bottle or umbrella, if desired.
Green Line Tree Care and Skill Share Event: Pruning Shrubs
Saturday, March 22, 2025, 10 am –12 pm
Location: 10601-10673 53rd Avenue South Seattle, WA 98178
Register here
Join us for a community work party at Seattle City Light's The Green Line site. We will be pruning shrubs, mulching under trees, and improving site conditions for people, plants, and animals! This special site located in Southeast Seattle provides pollinator habitat and recreation opportunities under powerlines. Come learn more about trees and power infrastructure and care for this beloved space with us!
Gateway Park North Tree Care and Skill Share: Harmful Weeds
Saturday, April 5, 2025, 10am - 1pm
Location: Meet at the end of 7751 8th Ave S
Coordinates
Register here
Join Trees for Seattle and the Georgetown Youth Council invite you to join us for our first tree care skill share and volunteer work party at Gateway Park North, a special neighborhood greenspace that we have worked for years to restore and enhance along the Duwamish River. We will learn about English ivy and other harmful weeds and how to allow our trees and native plants to thrive. We’ll then practice these skills while caring for the trees in this local riverside park!
The Green Seattle Partnership is a collaboration between the City of Seattle, community groups and non-profits, businesses, schools, and thousands of volunteers working together to restore and actively maintain the City's forested parklands. Check out their website and their calendar of volunteer events and signup to support Seattle's forested natural areas.
Events & Volunteer Opportunities
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