McLean civic associations, faith-based groups and other volunteer organizations can get free professionally grown native trees delivered to their properties this fall, courtesy of Fairfax County's Tree Preservation and Planting Fund.

Applications are open through Friday, Oct. 30, for the county's "Free Trees to Community Organizations" program, now in its third cycle. The county announced the fall 2026 application window on Aug. 10.

The program, run in partnership with nonprofit nursery Casey Trees, covers the full cost of the trees and delivery. Organizations designate a single drop-off location in their application, and Casey Trees handles loading and offloading directly to the site.

The trees are free, and substantial: landscape-quality stock, 8 to 10 feet tall, 1.5 to 2 inches in caliper and weighing 130 to 150 pounds each. All species are regionally native, non-invasive and comply with Fairfax County's Natural Landscape Policy.

Who gets priority

The county will prioritize applications for planting sites within or adjacent to communities designated as "highly vulnerable" under the One Fairfax policy and its Vulnerability Index. One Fairfax is the joint racial and social equity policy adopted by the Board of Supervisors and School Board, committing the county to weigh equity in program delivery.

The program's stated goal is increasing tree cover in economically disadvantaged areas that lack moderate to high canopy. But the county said all community organizations are encouraged to apply regardless of where they plan to plant.

Track record

Trees were distributed to community organizations in fall 2025 and spring 2026. The county has not disclosed how many trees were delivered in those earlier rounds or how many are available this fall.

The program is administered by the Urban and Community Forestry Division within the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, led by director Brian Keightley.

How to apply

Eligible groups include civic associations, volunteer organizations and faith-based groups. Organizations can find the application and full details at the county's tree distribution program page. Applicants should be prepared to designate a single delivery location where Casey Trees can offload the stock for planting.