BIG Tree Giveaway
February 22, 2025
9am - Noon
Redmond City Hall- 15670 NE 85th St, Redmond, WA 98052
Eastside Audubon Society is partnering with the Carbon Capture Foundation to give away over 800 trees. Carbon Capture Foundation is a WA nonprofit that distributes trees for planting programs that utilize the power of community, landowners, schools, conservation districts, volunteers, and forestry professionals to ensure the trees are the happiest they can be, and capture as much carbon as possible.
Help us plant trees to protect, preserve and enhance natural ecosystems and our communities for the benefit of birds, other wildlife and people.
This year’s selections include Grand fir, Doug fir, Red Alder, and Big leaf maple. These are big trees, and need plenty of space to thrive. If you have extra space on your land or are looking for more native, environmentally friendly backyards, you can plant a tree and help to make a difference.
The trees are bare-root trees. Bare-root means that the plant has not been grown in a container; instead, plants are harvested from their growing beds, and the soil is removed from their roots. They are then bundled and kept dormant in cool warehouses until they are ready to be shipped to us. Bare-root trees are ready to be planted immediately while still dormant. Bare-root trees have abundant and fibrous roots that grow quickly, acclimate to new soil conditions, and get a vigorous head start on growing. These trees typically surpass the size of larger containerized trees in only a few years.
Help us share this donation by ordering a LIMIT of 10 trees per address!
Registration closes February 18, 2025
Trees must be picked up during the event. Sorry, we are not able to hold trees.
Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)
Bigleaf Maple is aptly named bearing leaves that can measure 1’ across. It is grows to 100’ in height with a width of 45.’ Found in our forest alongside Douglas fir in moist to dry soil.
Birds that benefit from these trees: Chickadees, Finches, Nuthatches, and Brown creepers.
Grand fir (Abies grandis)
One of the world’s tallest trees and Washington’s largest Evergreen Tree at 250’ high and 100’ wide. Found in moist to dry locations in all light conditions. Grand firs have fastest growth rates among native conifers.
Birds that benefit from these trees: Nuthatches, Chickadees, Grosbeaks, Finches, Crossbills feed on the fir seeds. Sapsuckers and woodpeckers feed on the foliage. This tree also provides shelter for many birds.
Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
One of the most common conifers in our local woodlands, Douglas firs easily grow to 125’ high and 30' wide. Found in moist to dry locations.
Birds that benefit from these trees: Red Crossbills, Townsend’s Warblers, Pacific Wren, Varied Thrush, and Steller's Jay.
Red alder (Alnus rubra)
Prone to growing near water and boggy locations, Red alders grow to 6o feet in height. They are fast-growing, short-lived trees, it is best not to plant them too close to buildings. These plants rarely live past 100 years old. This tree is an excellent nitrogen fixer and good for reclaiming bare land; it also grows in poor soils, as long as they are also moist.
Birds that benefit from these trees: Alders provide habitat for a wide range of songbirds from warblers to Black-capped Chickadees and to sparrows to finches.
How to Plant a Bare Root Tree
Bare root trees are trees that are dug and stored without any soil around their roots. Planting a bare-root fruit tree is one of the easiest ways to add a permanent, food-producing plant into your garden. Once they leave the nursery, bare root trees need to get in the ground within a week at the longest. With no soil, the roots can dry out and die if left exposed for any time.
Step 1: Remove all sod and weeds from a two-foot circle.
Dig a hole wide enough and deep enough for roots to spread out.
Step 2: Mound some soil in the center of the planting hole.
Position the roots so they hang down over the mound and are not turned up or crowded.
Step 3: Separate your trees. Separate the trees, carefully untangling the roots. Please note that the roots have been covered with a hydrating gel, which keeps them moist during shipment.
Step 5: Plant trees and shrubs to the depth they were planted in the nursery.
The junction of the stem and root should be level with the ground.
Step 6: Backfill the planting hole with loose soil.
Gently press the surface after filling the hole so it is the same height as the ground surrounding the tree.
Step 7: Build a berm around the planting hole to hold water.
Water the plant thoroughly to eliminate any remaining air pockets.
Step 8: Mulch around the tree, careful not to allow mulch to touch the tree trunk! Place your mulch at least 2” deep. Check your tree every year to make sure at least 2” of mulch are on your tree.
Step 9: Install the protection tube to deter deer, rodents, and rabbits. (See video below for instructions).
Instructions to install the protection tube
Caring for your new tree
Watering
Keeping trees watered is important for their first 3 years. Keep the soil and mulch moist but not soggy. In dry weather, you should water generously every 7 to 10 days. The water should soak into the soil and mulch. Avoid watering so much to create standing water.
Fertilizer?
Do not use fertilizer, potting soil, or chemicals on your bare root trees. Such products will kill young trees.
Tree Protector
Remove the tree protector when the tree base reaches 3 to 3.5 inches in diameter.
Weeding around trees is important: it helps the tree absorb more water and prevents rodents from nesting or chewing tree bark.