TreeFest returns with free trees, grasses

The eastern redbud, a small ornamental tree that sprouts small pink or purple flowers in early spring, is one of the tree species available at this year’s TreeFest. It is native to the Wilmington area. (Photo courtesy of the N.C. Cooperative Extension – New Hanover County Center and Arboretum)

TreeFest returns to Independence Mall this month and is celebrating a milestone: its 25th anniversary. Organizers of TreeFest said they couldn’t be more excited because as more trees are planted, it creates a better tree canopy for the region.

“It’s quite amazing because as we celebrate 25 years, we will have given out 100,000 new trees to citizens across the region,” said Lloyd Singleton, director of the N.C. Cooperative Extension – New Hanover County Center and Arboretum.

The Cape Fear region has seen a significant loss of trees in the last decade. Ongoing development as well as 2018’s Hurricane Florence have damaged the tree canopy of the area. 

Said Singleton, “I can only imagine the size and strength of a tree that was planted from that first TreeFest 25 years ago.  We look forward to seeing everyone come out and look forward to helping citizens add to our region’s healthy tree canopy.”

More than 5,000 individual plants will be available during this year’s giveaway. Tree species available include longleaf pine, red cedar, river birch, silky dogwood, sugarberry, red hickory, eastern redbud, crabapple, chestnut oak, and live oak. Specific grasses will also be available. Those include wiregrass, Indian grass, little bluestem grass and big bluestem grass plugs. 

All trees are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

For those who feel they lack a green thumb, Singleton said not to worry. Experts from the New Hanover County Arboretum and Cooperative Extension will be available for questions or assistance if someone needs help choosing the right tree for their property.

“It’s important that you choose the right tree due to the size of the tree (when it grows), the size of the property as well as whether utility lines exist above,” he said. 

Singleton said the time of year you plant the tree is also important. 

“If I were planting a tree from TreeFest, I would make every effort to plant it the same weekend,” he said, adding that trees are distributed bare root and should be planted as soon as possible with roots kept moist.

Grass plugs can be planted in the ground or in a container so that they can grow through spring.

Singleton added that TreeFest would not be possible without the support of many different groups in the area. The trees for TreeFest were grown by the N.C. Forest Service in Goldsboro. He said local groups such as New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District as well as the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s departments of environmental sciences and marine biology, plus others, are big assets to TreeFest.

TreeFest will be held Jan. 20-21 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, or while supplies last. The event is located at Independence Mall in the JCPenney wing. Five free trees will be given out per household.