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Basic instructions come with the tree, but more is available online.

Million Trees LA – Free Fruit Trees

Last Sunday at the Mar Vista Farmers’ Market we were treated to a free fruit tree giveaway by the City of Los Angeles. It’s all part of the Million Trees LA program, the project set on planting one million trees in Los Angeles to reduce energy waste (trees insulate homes and keep them cool in the summer), and increase our green infrastructure (tree help reduce pollution).

The program ordinarily gives away up to 7 shade trees per household, delivered to your door if you qualify, but on occasion they give away free fruit trees. Believe me, these are far more popular and the line down the Market proved it. Yours truly got there early (I’m no fool, I was third in line) and picked up a Fuji apple tree (it has low chill hours, so we’re hoping it works here).

This young Fuji apple tree will produce in its second or third year.
This young Fuji apple tree will produce in its second or third year.

The program requires that you sign a pledge to plant the tree according to its guidelines and maintain it, of course. There’s a helpful step-by-step planting  guide on the website complete with photos. You can even report your planting on the website.

We’ll be planting our tree in a large pot for now until we landscape the yard (the cobbler’s children have no shoes…)

Choosing the right pot is important.
Choosing the right pot is important.

Choose a pot that is twice the size of the root ball for starters. Move the tree up to a larger pot as it grows. Our plan it to transplant to soil eventually, but it’s important to get it in a larger pot right away.

Remnants of last year's leaves and fruit.
Remnants of last year’s leaves and fruit.

Next we’ll remove all existing fruit, and when the tree leafs out, we’ll also remove any fruit that produces this year. Emotionally it’s hard to do, but it helps the plant focus on root development and promises better quality fruit in years to come.

Buds are already forming in our warm winter climate.
Buds are already forming in our warm winter climate.

In warm-winter climates, January is a great time to plant bare-root and potted fruit trees. In fact, it’s a great time to plant most perennials. They spend the rest of winter developing roots and when spring comes, they are healthier and ready for action.

Basic instructions come with the tree, but more is available online.
Basic instructions come with the tree, but more is available online.

If you live in LA, check out the Million Trees website for more information about how you can get free trees. For those in other areas, check with your city to see if a program like this exists. Planting trees is an important step in revitalizing our planet’s urban areas. And who couldn’t use more fruit?

This Post Has 7 Comments

  1. georgette

    I am elderly and handicapped. I need a free Washington navel orange tree that is already established and bearing fruit since I cannot wait years for it to bear fruit. I cannot stand in your long lines and I cannot carry a tree. Is there any easier way for me to get one? thanks

    1. Christy

      It depends on where you live, Georgette. There are many volunteer organizations who will come do garden work for you. There is one here in Los Angeles called Good Karma Gardens. It is based on a Pay it Forward philosophy where members work on other people’s gardens so then one day the group will come help them out at their own garden (kind of like Habitat for Humanity). I’m guessing there are exceptions to this rule for someone like yourself. It might be worth calling Tree People to see if they have volunteers who might be willing to come to your home and plant a tree for you. They usually carry young trees though, so you may end up having to hire someone to bring you an older tree and plant it for you. As is the case most of the time, if you throw enough money at the problem, it’s very easy to solve. 🙂

  2. Joy

    We are interested in some free fruit trees. I stood in a line today only they did not have enough for everyone. The city website only lists shade trees as far as I can tell. As a resident of the city we desire to plant a couple of fruit trees. Please help us, thank you.

    1. Christy

      You can always call Tree People to find out when they are doing (or when they are collaborating with the City to do) a fruit tree give away. It’s not always advertised because there is always a huge turn out. I recommend getting there early to get in line to ensure that you’ll get a tree. You’re generally limited to one per household.

  3. Jasmine Barraza

    Im interrested in signing up to see if I qualify for the free fruit trees, I have none at my house a d think it would be great for shade.

  4. Mrs. Eastman

    Exactly how early did you get there??

    1. Christy

      I get to the market at 8:30, and I discovered the “line” at about 8:40.

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