As spring approaches at Casey Tree Farm, the days are warming, trees are beginning to bud, and we’ve just sent off our last load of trees to be planted this season on the streets of DC, in collaboration with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT).
Our Casey Tree Farm in Berryville, VA, in partnership with DDOT’s Urban Forestry Division (UFD), serves as the DC State Nursery. This collaboration ensures a sustainable and steady supply of high-quality trees for the city’s urban forestry efforts. The farm uses innovative and sustainable techniques, such as rootbag-grown trees, which promote better survival rates and reduce environmental impacts.
Together, Casey Trees and UFD form a powerful alliance dedicated to enhancing and preserving DC’s urban forest, ensuring that the nation’s capital remains the “City of Trees” for generations to come. We collaborate closely to ensure that our farm grows urban hardy species and quality tree stock so that DC’s streets are lined with healthy, thriving trees. The farm is also dedicated to sustainable tree production, focusing on species native to the mid-Atlantic region that are resilient in the face of climate change.
The Urban Forestry Division (UFD) of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is the primary steward of Washington DC’s public trees, managing approximately 175,000 trees across the city. The UFD’s mission is to keep these trees healthy, safe, and growing, with activities including planting, pruning, and removing trees. Each year, they plant thousands to support the city’s goal of achieving 40% tree canopy cover by 2032. They planted over 6,500 trees last fiscal year and over 5,000 this fiscal year (since October 2024). Casey Tree Farm has supplied 2,500 trees to UFD this year, meaning roughly half the trees planted on DC’s streets in 2025 are straight from our farm!
Why is it so important to plant quality tree stock on our streets? It’s because our street trees are our hardest-working trees.
The benefits of a robust tree canopy are multifaceted, including improved air quality, enhanced flood resilience, and several environmental and ecological benefits. But these benefits are compounded and made even more significant when trees are planted on our streets:
- During the day, their shade keeps nearby asphalt and concrete cooler to dramatically reduce urban heat island effects.
- Their root systems absorb stormwater runoff from surrounding roads, sidewalks, and other hard surfaces.
- Their foliage dampens street noise for nearby residents.
- Their proximity to the street has even been proven to calm traffic and slow down motorists.
Our street trees are not only good for the environment and human health – they truly enhance urban life and our well-being.
If you see a street tree with a DC State Nursery tag, know that it has completed a lengthy journey. It has grown over several seasons at our farm near the banks of the Shenandoah River, where it was meticulously cared for before being harvested and transported to the streets of DC. There, it will grow to maturity and fulfill its role as a cherished tree within the community, bringing its benefits to all.
Have an empty street tree box or see a street tree needing maintenance? Residents can request a new tree on their street or submit a tree maintenance ticket using the 311 website portal or by calling 311. Additionally, any DC resident can have free trees planted on their property by requesting a free tree consultation with a Casey Trees arborist.
