Denver Digs Trees

Denver Digs Trees focuses on providing medium and large sized shade trees for planting within the City of Denver. ALL Denver residents, businesses, nonprofit organizations and schools are eligible to apply.

Read this! New for 2021:

The Park People digs trees and the humans they shade. We are committed to providing trees to beautify your work-from-home view, cool your commute, and combat the urban heat island effect. To protect YOUR health safety as well as the hundreds of volunteers and staff members that come together to make Denver Digs Trees hum every year, we have made two big changes for 2021 only:

Contactless delivery of all trees to your front door. Need help planting your tree? Digger crews will still be available for planting assistance.

Yard Trees only. No Street Trees will be provided (detailed descriptions below). To apply for a street tree, please either sign up to be notified when applications are available in 2022 or apply through Denver's Be A Smart Ash program.

• 'Yard Trees' are for planting in your yard (on private property).These trees may be planted in front, back, or side yards. At a site without a 'tree lawn' these are any trees planted 11 feet or more from the curb.

• 'Street Trees' are for planting along the street (in the public right-of-way). These trees may be planted either in the 'tree lawn' (area between the sidewalk and the curb) or, in the absence of a tree lawn, at a distance of 10 feet from the curb. In many cases, the public right-of-way extends into your yard! ****Not Available in 2021*****

In order to support the health and survival of your tree, please follow these TREE SPACING REQUIREMENTS very carefully!

Not sure how to care for your tree? We provide free planting and care guides, as well as offer free planting and care workshops to all tree recipients.

All trees planted through Denver Digs Trees support the Be A Smart Ash campaign/effort to proactively plant our city forest in the face of the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive pest that threatens to kill 330,000 ash trees in Denver - that's 1 in 6 trees in our community!

Find answers to FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, including information about applying for trees, the size and transport of trees, planting and care, and more.

On average, each tree costs The Park People $150 to provide. However, our generous sponsors help to subsidize much of this expense so you pay less for your tree!  The bottom line: we're thrilled to offer trees at a very discounted price.

The per tree program fee is based upon the neighborhood where the tree will be planted.

Standard Neighborhood: $35 per tree

Target Neighborhood:  $10 per tree**

Applicants facing financial hardship may request a 'Treeship' to receive free trees

**  Lower tree-canopy 'Target' neighborhoods are:  Athmar Park, Auraria, Baker, Barnum, Barnum West, Chaffee Park, Clayton, Cole, College View/South Platte, East Colfax, Elyria-Swansea, Five Points, Globeville, Green Valley Ranch, Jefferson Park, Lincoln Park, Mar Lee, Montbello, Northeast Park Hill, Overland, Ruby Hill, Skyland, Sun Valley, Valverde, Villa Park, West Colfax, Westwood, and Whittier.  Click here to FIND OUT WHICH NEIGHBORHOOD YOU LIVE IN

Planting Instructions                       Tree Care Guidelines                      Frequently Asked Questions