TreesCharlotte, an organization dedicated to increasing Charlotte’s tree canopy, holds several free Tree Adoption events every year. At these events, Charlotte and Mecklenburg County residents can receive free trees, as well as training on how to care for them.
In general, each household can receive up to two free trees per event. When you register you’ll get to select what kind of tree you’d like.
New in 2025/2026: Instead of Citywide events, where only residents of Charlotte can adopt trees, there will be Countywide events, where all Mecklenburg County residents (including Mint Hill, Matthews, Pineville, Davidson, Huntersville and Cornelius, as well as Charlotte) can adopt trees.
Subscribe to TreesCharlotte’s newsletter to hear about events as they’re announced or updated.
There are two kinds of Tree Adoption events.
- Countywide Tree Adoption Events: open to everyone in Mecklenburg County
- Zip code Tree Adoption Events: open to people in specific zip codes
Read on to see the schedule of tree giveaways!
Day of Event Details:
- All TreeAdoption attendees are required to go through a planting demonstration on the day of the TreeAdoption.
- Allow for at least 45 minutes to receive your trees as everyone is required to go through a planting demonstration. Tree planting training is mandatory.
- About the trees: The trees are in up to 7-gallon containers, measure up to 10 feet tall, and weigh about 10-15 pounds. The mulch weighs 25 pounds/bag.
- TreesCharlotte will send a follow-up email with event details and planting and care instructions.
- At this time the organization’s focus is within the Charlotte city limits. Therefore, they currently limit our participation to Charlotte residents only (except at the special Mecklenburg County tree adoption event)
Next Tree Adoption Events
South Mecklenburg County
South Mecklenburg County TreeAdoption
Registration opens March 13, 2026, at 10 a.m.
Event is on Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 9 to 11 a.m.
This event is for residents in Mint Hill, Matthews and Pineville.
The above webpage will be updated with a registration link on March 13, at 10 a.m.
Tree species:
- Red Maple, October Glory
- Pawpaw
- Eastern Redbud
- Dogwood, Cherokee Princess
- Apricot, Kobai
- Styrax, Japanese
- Arborvitae, Green Giant
End of Season County-Wide
End of Season County-wide TreeAdoption
Registration opens March 23, 2026, at 10 a.m.
Event is on Saturday, March 28, 2026
This event is for any resident of Mecklenburg County
The above webpage will be updated with a registration link on March 23, at 10 a.m.
Tree species:
- TBA
Tree Adoption Events 2025-2026
- Saturday, September 27, 2025: Opening Season TreeAdoption (open to all Mecklenburg County residents!)
- Saturday, October 11, 2025: Crescent Zip Codes TreeAdoption (28206, 28208, 28213, 28214, 28216)
- Saturday, November 1, 2025: North Zip Codes TreeAdoption (28216, 28269, 28262)
- New! Saturday, November 15, 2025: North Meck County TreeAdoption (Huntersville, Cornelius, and Davidson residents)
- Saturday, December 13, 2025: East Zip Codes TreeAdoption (28205, 28206, 28212, 28213, 28215, 28227)
- Saturday, January 31, 2026: South Zip Codes TreeAdoption (28202, 28203, 28204, 28209, 28207, 28211, 28210, 28226, 28277, 28270)
- Saturday, February 28, 2026: West Zip Codes TreeAdoption (28217, 28273, 28278, 28208, 28214)
- New! Saturday, March 21, 2026: South Meck County TreeAdoption (Mint Hill, Matthews, and Pineville residents)
- Saturday, March 28, 2026: End of Season TreeAdoption (open to all Mecklenburg County residents!)
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Upcoming Events in the Charlotte area
Check out our full events calendar, where you can enter any date, or look at the events for the next few days here:Virtual
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