(September 28, 2011) - The City of Oklahoma City, in partnership with the Tree Bank Foundation, is making 1,000 free trees available to citizens as part of the "Great OKC Tree Give-Away."

Residents who want a free tree must pre-register. Registration begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday, October 6. There are two ways to register:

1. Log on to www.okc.gov/releaf and click on the registration link.
2. Call 604-0041

Only those citizens living inside the corporate limits of Oklahoma City are eligible to receive a free tree. This includes residents who are served by Oklahoma City Police and/or Fire. Having an Oklahoma City utilities bill is not a sole qualifier. The program is open to private residences only, and there is a limit of one tree per household.

Distribution will take place on Saturday, October 29 at the OSU-OKC Physical Plant, 930 North Portland Avenue. Residents picking up their trees must bring their registration confirmation card.

This is the fifth time the Tree Bank and the City have teamed up for the effort, and to date, over 4,500 free trees have been distributed to Oklahoma City citizens. Funding for the program is provided through a grant from the Houston-based Apache Foundation.

For complete program details, including a list of the tree types available, citizens may visit online at www.okc.gov/releaf ((September 28, 2011) - The City of Oklahoma City, in partnership with the Tree Bank Foundation, is making 1,000 free trees available to citizens as part of the "Great OKC Tree Give-Away."), or call 604-0041.

Thanks, Frittergirl. We've been looking at this program and trying to decide if it is a good one, for us. There is a nice variety of trees involved.

Does this also apply to commercial property owners? Some of us could stand a little beautification too!

No, unfortunately. Per the grant stipulations, the program is for residential properties only.

Here are the types of trees available:

Cedar Elm
Chaste Tree (Vitex)
Cherry Laurel
Chinkapin Oak
Shantung Maple
Kentucky Coffee Tree
Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry
Desert Willow
Nellie R. Stevens Holly
Prairifire Crabapple

I have a suggestion. I'd like everyone to go pick a tree. Just any tree. Then, please, out of the kindness of your heart, go donate them to the wildfire victims. Many of them lost precious trees on their land. One victim is Lori Turner, she lost her home, ceramic business, and over 40 felines in her shelter rescue program. So, go get a tree and pass it on to those that really need a tree.

If you want a tree for your own private property, then go buy one from and support your local business owner.

How horrible about the cats.

I have a suggestion. I'd like everyone to go pick a tree. Just any tree. Then, please, out of the kindness of your heart, go donate them to the wildfire victims. Many of them lost precious trees on their land. One victim is Lori Turner, she lost her home, ceramic business, and over 40 felines in her shelter rescue program. So, go get a tree and pass it on to those that really need a tree.

If you want a tree for your own private property, then go buy one from and support your local business owner.

While the thought behind this suggestion is admirable, it is not an appropriate use of resources being provided by the city. This is intended for use by OKC citizens on their personal property within the limits of Oklahoma City only.

A more appropriate gesture would be to plant a free tree on your own property (or don't claim one at all so that another resident can) and then use your own money to purchase and donate a tree to a wildfire victim.