With a new year comes a fresh opportunity to think about how you can add more trees to your life and how you can show up for your community and our environment. When it comes to protecting our city’s tree canopy, even small, simple actions, such as planting a tree or volunteering at an event, can make a difference.
Now that 2026 is officially underway, let’s recommit to making this a year of growth, community, and impact. Here is your checklist for a greener year.
1. Volunteer With Us
Kick off the year by volunteering at our MLK Day of Service event on Monday, January 19, at Oxon Run Park! We’ll be removing invasive plants in the forest patch and cleaning up the park in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service.
For more volunteer opportunities, visit caseytrees.org/events or sign up for our weekly newsletter The Leaflet.
2. Contact 311 for Tree Care on Street Trees
Did you know you can submit a request to 311 for help with the street tree on your block? That’s right. If the tree outside your home is unhealthy or the tree box is empty, you can request a removal and replacement. The city also accepts requests for pruning and inspection of street trees.
You can submit your pruning, inspection, removal, or planting request online, by calling 311, or through the 311 app.
3. Sponsor a Tree in Your DC National Park
Now through the end of the year, Casey Trees is organizing an ambitious campaign to raise $125,000 to plant 250 native and historic trees across historic federal parks in the nation’s capital.
With a $500 donation to Casey Trees, you can sponsor the planting of one tree at a historic park on federally protected land. In partnership with National Capital Parks-East (NACE), a unit of the National Park Service, this is an opportunity to carry on our natural heritage in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States this year.
Learn more and sponsor a tree today!
4. Plant a Tree in Your Yard
Having “nearby nature” is critical not only for our environment but for our everyday health and happiness. In a city setting like DC, where land is often measured in square feet instead of acres, one of the best ways you can unlock the benefits of nature is by planting a tree in your own yard.
Get up to 25 free trees planted in your yard by signing up for a consultation. One of our arborists will help you select the best species and placement.
5. Invest in a Native Plant Garden
In addition to trees, adding a native plant garden to your yard will enhance your home while also improving DC’s natural ecosystem and watershed, providing food for pollinators, managing stormwater, and reducing water use.
If you need help getting your garden started, sign up for a free consultation with our ecological garden program. Any profit generated from our garden installations is reinvested back into re-treeing DC. There is also funding available for homeowners through DC’s RiverSmart Homes program.
6. Make a Will
The new year is a great time to reflect and prepare for the future. Make a plan for the people you love and the places you cherish using FreeWill, a free, easy-to-use online service that helps you plan for the future.
In just 20 minutes, you can create or update your will from the comfort of home. While creating your will, you’ll have the option (but no obligation) to include a gift to Casey Trees. This resource is entirely free to use either way.
7. Care For Your Trees This Winter
Proper care in the winter and year-round can help your trees live long and healthy lives. As most trees go dormant in the winter, this is a great time to remove invasive vines crawling up your tree and pruning strategically to minimize damage or pests. While trees don’t need watering in the winter, this is a good time to apply mulch (the right way) before you start watering again when trees begin to leaf out in the spring. Learn more about Winter Tree Care.
To stay informed about ways to take action all year, sign up for our weekly newsletter The Leaflet for more events, resources, and updates.
