New Year’s Resolution – Make the World a Better Place
The Tennessee Environmental Council is an advocate for Tennessee’s environment, working with state legislators and empowering citizens to participate in environmental stewardship actively. One of their initiatives is organizing Tennessee Tree Day to promote the planting of native trees.
This year’s event is on March 21, 2026. With the help of the TN Division of Forestry and various nurseries, bare-root native trees will be distributed by the Tennessee Environmental Council to pickup locations in all 95 Tennessee counties. Thousands of folks across the state will be planting bare root native tree seedlings. AND YOU CAN TOO! By joining the over 100,000 residents who have planted over one million trees since 2007, you will be helping to improve the environment for the good of all.
What can planting native trees do?
Promote sustainability
Purify the air
Filter stormwater
Create wildlife habitat
Provide shade to reduce energy costs
Increase property values by as much as 20 percent
Provide beauty
Native trees are chosen because they want to grow here and will do the most good for native wildlife. The trees are small, so they are easy to plant, get established quickly, and will grow fast. Studies have shown that seedlings will catch up in size to larger trees of the same type, planted at the same time, in just a few years, since the larger trees take much longer to get established and resume top growth.
The cost of the trees ranges from $3-$5 and there are scholarships available for those who want to plant a tree but can’t afford to purchase them. The varieties available this year for you to choose from are: bald cypress, bur oak, eastern redbud, eastern white pine, elderberry, northern red oak, pecan, persimmon, river birch, smooth sumac, and tulip poplar. At the Tennessee Tree Day website, you will find more details on each of the trees so you can choose the ones that are best for your site and needs. But hurry, you need to reserve your trees by March 1, 2026.
It’s as easy as 1,2,3!
1-Go to tectn.org and scroll to TN Tree Day
2-Reserve your trees
3-Pick up your trees and plant
Won’t you help to make the world a better place?
