Casselberry reopens free Adopt-A-Tree program for native trees

Casselberry residents can again apply for free native trees, with the city reopening its Adopt-A-Tree program to expand shade, strengthen neighborhood canopy and keep the city on track as a Tree City USA community.

The 2026 application cycle is open, and the program can award up to two trees per household per year. City materials say the trees are part of Casselberry’s Green Up efforts and are meant to add canopy that can be enjoyed in public spaces such as along sidewalks, while also encouraging homeowners to plant species that fit local conditions instead of creating future maintenance problems.

That “right tree, right place” approach is central to the program. Casselberry tells applicants to consider mature size, sunlight and water needs before planting, and city staff can help confirm placement where roots, power lines and larger canopy growth could become issues later. The city says planting holes may need to be as much as three times the width of the container or root ball, with the root crown kept even with or slightly above ground level.

The city also warns against burying the root crown, piling mulch against the trunk or over-pruning the tree. After planting, Casselberry recommends immediate watering, daily watering for the first two weeks, then every other day for three months. Once established, the city says trees should receive 6 to 9 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter each week for about a year.

The species list includes Eastern redbud, Japanese blueberry, Japanese privet multi-trunk, loblolly bay, Norfolk Island pine, red maple, river birch, sweet gum, crape myrtle, bald cypress, magnolias, live oak and pink and yellow trumpet trees. The city’s species sheet notes that some options are native and Florida-Friendly, with different sunlight, drought tolerance and mature-height requirements. Red maple can reach 80 feet, river birch up to 50 feet and bald cypress up to 80 feet.

Applications also spell out the timeline and limits. Planting may happen up to one year after approval, depending on available funding, tree availability and whether the site is suitable. Casselberry says homeowners will get at least 14 days’ notice before installation, and the city will contact Sunshine 811 to locate utilities before any tree goes in.

The program fits into a broader citywide push that included Earth Fest 2026 at Lake Concord Park on April 18, where Casselberry featured free tree and plant giveaways, gardening workshops, butterfly releases and an Arbor Day proclamation.