SpoCanopy was formed through a partnership between the City of Spokane and The Lands Council with a goal of increasing Spokane’s urban canopy by planting free street trees. Our trees are planted in neighborhoods with low income, low canopy coverage, and disproportionate environmental disparities. Our goal is to provide street trees to ensure all communities have access to the benefits of trees and green spaces by planting 200 street trees each year.
Spokane has an average of 20% canopy coverage. The highest density neighborhoods are on the South Hill with an average of 40% canopy coverage, while Northeast Spokane has an average of 13% canopy coverage. With a focus on environmental justice, we prioritize our efforts in Northeast and West Central neighborhoods where there is below-average canopy coverage.
What is a street tree?
“Street trees” are planted within the right-of-way. The right-of-way area may be a defined planting strip, or in some neighborhoods, space behind a sidewalk, or area adjacent to a curb (with no sidewalk).
While the City and The Lands Council will assist with providing and planting trees in the right-of-way, residents requesting trees are required to maintain the trees including watering in the hot summer and fall months, and pruning the tree as it matures.
If you’re looking to get trees for areas of your property other than the right-of-way or outside of City of Spokane limits, check out our partner program, CoolCanopy.
Map of eligible SpoCanopy neighborhoods
What’s the process?
Sign up to request a free tree using the button at the top of this page.
Once trees are available for your home, we will reach out via email, usually in the following planting season (spring or fall). We will work with you to select appropriate tree species and schedule a planting time.
Utility locates are conducted in the right of way planting area.
City arborists will spray paint a white circle where your tree will be planted.
Planting occurs! Within a scheduled week, a crew will show up and plant your trees.
You’ll receive follow-up instructions on how to care for your trees.
You’ll establish a watering schedule to ensure tree health so the tree can provide benefits for years to come.
The following year, a tree stewardship team will assess the status of your trees and leave a tree health report card.
Enjoy the shade, cooler temperatures, and cleaner air your trees will provide for decades!
SpoCanopy at work
How do I care for my trees?
Once planted, keep the soil moist but not soaked. Start with five gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter per week and adjust as needed to keep the soil evenly moist. For the first three years, water trees at least once a week, barring rain, and more frequently during hot weather. Mulching newly established trees helps prevent moisture loss.
The City of Spokane’s new program, Tree Equity Spokane, supports more than just tree planting. If you have a tree that needs removal or pruning, visit their page for more information: Tree Equity Spokane.
For more information on watering and care for both new and established trees, refer to the City of Spokane Tree Stewardship Guide and Tree Watering Guide:
Tree SPecies
Click here for a species guide. Species availability changes year to year.
We only plant trees in the right-of-way that are approved for urban plantings by the City of Spokane’s Urban Forestry department. These are trees that can handle urban conditions, won’t interfere with overhead utility lines, and are less likely to have their roots push up sidewalks and streets.
Want to have native trees planted? Serviceberry and Chokecherry trees are native, suitable for urban plantings, and provide food for wildlife.
Species we have planted in the past:
Join Us
Funding for this project provided by the USDA Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program in partnership with Spokane Urban Forestry.
Urban forestry is community-based, and The Lands Council cannot restore our urban greenspaces without the support of our community. You can help by signing up for a free tree, volunteering to plant trees, or donating to fund a planting. Our urban forestry programs rely on volunteers, and we need your support to continue this important work!
Thank you to our partner, Spokane Urban Forestry.
