Stumped by Tree Troubles? We're Here for You! - Get Your FREE Estimates!
Stumped by Tree Troubles? We're Here for You! - Get Your FREE Estimates!
By
Big Easy Tree Removal 
Feb 12, 2026 
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Free trees are genuinely available in the New Orleans area through local nonprofit giveaways, most notably NOLA Tree Project, which distributes trees to residents across Orleans and surrounding parishes. Getting the tree is the easy part. Whether it survives depends on choosing a species suited to heavy clay soil and a high water table, and on planting it at the correct depth. Big Easy Tree Removal helps New Orleans property owners place free trees where they will actually thrive.
Table of Contents
A free tree is a real opportunity and a real trap at the same time. Local giveaway programs put thousands of trees into New Orleans yards, and a good share of them are dead within three years. The tree was never the problem. What kills them is a species picked because the line was short, planted three inches too deep, into clay that holds water like a bowl, and then forgotten through the first August. None of that is hard to avoid once you know what actually matters in this soil. This guide covers where to find free trees around New Orleans and how to give one a real chance, with practical detail from the kind of work Big Easy Tree Removal does on local properties.
NOLA Tree Project runs free tree giveaways for residents across the Greater New Orleans region, including Orleans, Jefferson, St. John, and St. Tammany Parishes, typically distributing one tree per household from a range of species.
Their giveaway events run at various points through the year and across different parts of the city, and the organization also offers workshops covering planting, maintenance, and stormwater. Because dates, locations, species lists, and eligibility change from event to event, check the NOLA Tree Project site for what is currently scheduled rather than relying on any article’s description of past events.
Other routes are worth knowing about. Utility and municipal programs occasionally offer trees or planting assistance, sometimes tied to right tree, right place goals near power lines. Neighborhood associations sometimes coordinate group plantings. Availability in all of these varies year to year, so treat them as worth checking rather than as reliable annual fixtures.
One thing to confirm before you take a tree home: whether the spot you have in mind is actually yours to plant in. The strip between the sidewalk and the street is usually public right-of-way under the New Orleans Department of Parks and Parkways, not part of the yard, and planting there generally requires approval.
At a giveaway you often get a choice among many species, and the choice is worth more than the tree. Three questions settle it.
How wet does the spot get? This is the first filter in New Orleans and the one most often skipped. If water stands in that part of the yard for a day or more after heavy rain, only species that tolerate periodic saturation belong there. Bald cypress handles wet feet exceptionally well. Many popular ornamentals do not, and they decline slowly enough that nobody connects the death to drainage two years later.
How much room does it really have? Mature spread, not nursery size. A live oak in a container is small and charming and will eventually want fifty to eighty feet of spread. On a narrow lot with a fence line and a neighbor, that is a future removal, not a future shade tree.
What is overhead? If a primary utility conductor runs above the planting spot, take a small ornamental species and nothing larger. A big tree planted under a line spends its life being cut back into poor form.
| Your situation | What to look for at the giveaway |
|---|---|
| Spot holds water after rain | Species rated for wet or periodically flooded soil |
| Narrow lot, fence close by | Small to medium mature spread, under about 25 feet |
| Power lines overhead | Small ornamental only, well under the conductors |
| Open yard, room to spare | Large canopy species for long-term shade and interception |
| Near a raised foundation or walkway | Smaller species set well back from the hardscape |
The single most common fatal mistake is planting too deep. The root flare, where the trunk widens into the roots, must remain visible at or slightly above the surrounding soil line after planting and mulching.
In New Orleans clay, depth errors are punished harder than in loose soil. A hole dug deep and backfilled loosely settles, taking the tree down with it, and the trunk ends up buried in soil that stays wet. Bark that was never meant to sit in moisture begins to break down, and the tree declines over a few seasons with no obvious cause.
The right hole shape here is wide and shallow, not deep. Two to three times the width of the root ball, and no deeper than the root ball itself, so the tree sits on undisturbed soil that will not settle. Roughening the sides of the hole helps roots move out into surrounding clay instead of circling inside a smooth-walled pit.
Before the tree goes in, deal with the roots. Container stock often has roots circling the inside of the pot, and those circling roots will keep circling after planting, eventually strangling the trunk. Loosen and redirect them, and cut any that clearly wrap the stem. If the tree is balled and burlapped, remove wire, twine, and burlap from at least the top of the root ball.
Backfill with the native soil you removed. Amending a planting hole heavily in clay creates a pocket of loose material surrounded by dense clay, which fills with water and holds it against the roots. Mulch two to three inches deep over the root zone, and keep it pulled back from the trunk rather than piled against it.
One legal step belongs in here: Louisiana law requires notifying Louisiana 811 before you dig, at least 48 hours and not more than 120 hours ahead, excluding weekends and holidays. That applies to homeowners with a shovel, not just contractors with equipment.
Late fall through winter is the best planting window in south Louisiana, because cool temperatures and steady rainfall let roots establish before summer heat arrives.
Giveaways often happen in winter for exactly this reason. If you end up with a tree in late spring, it can still work, but it will need consistent watering through its first summer and it faces hurricane season with a root system that has barely started. Getting it in the ground promptly beats holding it in a pot.
Only if the tree cannot stand on its own or the site is very exposed, and then only temporarily. Trees that flex develop stronger trunks than trees held rigid.
Where staking is genuinely needed, use wide, flexible ties that allow movement, and remove everything within about a year. Ties left on a growing trunk girdle it, and that damage is often not noticed until the tree fails at exactly that point during a storm.
Deep, infrequent watering beats frequent light watering, and in clay soil the risk of overwatering is real. Check soil moisture a few inches down before adding water rather than watering on a fixed schedule.
New Orleans summers combine heat with heavy but irregular rainfall. A young tree can go from drought stress to saturated roots within a week. Watering by feel rather than by calendar avoids drowning a tree in a wet stretch, which in clay soil is a genuine way to kill one.
Establishment is where free trees are won or lost. A few habits carry most of the outcome:
Once a tree is established, ongoing care shifts to structure. Early tree trimming to develop a strong central leader and well-spaced branches pays off enormously in wind resistance later, and it is far easier on a young tree than corrective work on a mature one.
Big Easy Tree Removal is locally owned and operated, and the advice here reflects what actually happens to young trees in New Orleans clay, groundwater, and summer heat. If you picked up a tree at a giveaway and want it in the right spot at the right depth, or you need an old stump ground out before the new tree goes in, that is straightforward work with a long payoff.
We serve New Orleans, Kenner, Metairie, Laplace, Gretna, Slidell, Covington, Hammond, and throughout Louisiana.
Call 504-732-1166 and we will look at the site before you dig.
NOLA Tree Project runs free giveaways for residents of Orleans and surrounding parishes. Check their site for current dates, locations, and available species.
Choose a species rated for wet or periodically flooded soil, such as bald cypress. Many popular ornamentals decline slowly in ground that stays saturated.
No deeper than the root ball, with the root flare visible at or slightly above the soil line. Planting too deep is the most common cause of young tree death here.
Yes. Louisiana law requires notice at least 48 hours and not more than 120 hours before digging, excluding weekends and holidays, and it applies to homeowners.
Usually not without approval. That strip is typically public right-of-way under the New Orleans Department of Parks and Parkways.
Generally no. A new tree needs to establish roots, and fertilizer pushes top growth instead. Feed only if a soil test shows a genuine deficiency.
The best place to find free tree-planting resources is your local organization for conservation or environmental protection. Many of these organizations offer programs in which volunteers can help plant trees in public parks, forests, and other green spaces. Additionally, you may be able to join an organized tree planting event close by. These events are typically organized by the same type of organization on a periodic basis and generally require fewer materials than individuals need if they want to plant on their own. Finally, you may be able to get free tree saplings, soil, tools, and guidance from nurseries and arboretums, as well as other online retailers and resources devoted to reforestation efforts around the world.
1. Research your tree planting project thoroughly and make sure to choose a species of tree that is suitable for the climate, soil type, and amount of light in the area.
2. Choose a spot for the tree and ensure there will be sufficient space for it to grow.
3. Prepare the soil by removing any weeds, tilling it to loosen it up, adding any necessary nutrients, and making sure it is well-drained.
4. Dig a hole that is deep enough and wide enough to accommodate the root ball of your tree. Make sure the soil around the edges of the hole has been compacted properly.
5. Place your tree in the prepared hole and spread out the roots in all directions.
6. Fill in the remaining space with soil without packing it too tightly or leaving large air pockets in between.
7. Create a basin or water well around the base of your newly planted tree and fill it with water until you see puddles on top of the soil surface – this will help eliminate air pockets below ground and also allow easy access to water when needed.
8. Apply mulch around the base of your tree as this will help retain moisture, protect against extreme temperatures, discourage weeds from growing near the base, and slow down evaporation from occurring through the surrounding soil.
9. Monitor your planted tree regularly to check for signs of growth, development, or any signs of damages caused by pests or disease so that you can take timely action to prevent further damages if needed.
In order to plant a tree for free, you will need the following supplies:
1. A shovel – you’ll need this to dig a hole and prepare the area where you’re planting the tree.
2. A trowel – this will be used to remove any excess soil or grass around the tree.
3. Compost or mulch – no matter where you plant your tree it will need some sort of nutrient rich soil for best growth. Compost or mulch will provide those nutrients and help keep your tree healthy.
4. Watering can – once your tree is planted, it needs regular watering in order to flourish. A watering can makes the task easy and efficient.
5. Planting stake – if you’re planting a larger tree, then it would be beneficial to use a planting stake to keep the tree supported while it becomes established in its new home.
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