Frequently Asked Questions

You can check your order status here. To look up your order, find your order number on your emailed or mailed receipt.  
 
If you have an Arbor Day Foundation account, you can view your orders online by logging into your account, clicking on the profile icon, then selecting “Orders.”  
 
We send trees at the best time to plant according to your horticulture zone.  Whether your trees ship in spring or fall is determined by your order date.  
 
If you are ordering from our tree nursery or receiving member trees, view our shipping schedule here.

Once your order has been sent for processing, it cannot be cancelled. You can, however, refuse the order upon delivery. By doing so, you will be refunded the cost of the trees, but not the cost of shipping. If there is an error in the shipment (e.g., the wrong trees were shipped or the trees were dead on arrival), you will be refunded the cost of shipping as well.

Yes, for member trees and nursery orders, please contact our team at (888) 448-7337 as soon as possible and we will be happy to help make the necessary changes to your shipping address. For address changes for trees ordered for delivery through a tree distribution event, please call (855)-234-3801.

While we only ship nursery and member trees during our standard shipping windows in spring and fall, we can accommodate specific shipping dates if they fall within those windows for an additional $25.00 handling fee (plus applicable taxes). To request a specific date within your shipping window for nursery or membership trees, please contact Member Services.

Sometimes, trees will arrive with a harmless white substance caused by a build-up of condensation during shipping. Although it may have a smell, that doesn’t mean anything is wrong. Gently rinse it off and proceed with the planting instructions. Once your trees are outside in the sun and fresh air, the smell should dissipate.

This substance is a non-toxic gel that keeps your tree seedlings hydrated as they ship from our nursery to you. Soak your tree’s roots in water before planting according to the instructions included in your order.

Some state Departments of Agriculture require lengthy inspections for certain species, which makes it less likely that these trees will survive transportation. Some states, like Arizona, have very strict restrictions on any imported trees. Other states restrict only certain species. These restrictions are there to protect existing crops and trees within a state from disease or pests. 
 
To find out what membership packages are available for your area, simply enter your zip code here. For more information on regulations and restrictions, please contact the Department of Agriculture in your state.

Planting instructions are included with your tree order. You can also find detailed planting instructions here. Detailed planting and care information for membership trees can be found here.

Many of our trees ship when they’re dormant (asleep), which means they are not actively growing. So, don’t be alarmed if your new tree is leafless or has yellow needles. Some trees may arrive with spots on their leaves due to shipping stress, and that’s okay too. A small scratch in the bark should reveal a living layer of green.

No. Applying fertilizers or special root stimulants within the first few years can damage the fine root hairs, causing “root burn.” Keep in mind that many commercial potting soils also contain fertilizers and are not recommended. Organic material such as compost can be beneficial if your soil contains large amounts of clay or sand.

We do not recommend planting your trees in pots. Tree roots prefer constant moisture levels and steady temperatures to grow. Pots can easily freeze solid or become extremely hot (up to 115° F) and dry out in direct sunlight. Many trees need to stay dormant and very cold during the winter; putting them in a window will not provide the same conditions.

Our member trees are marked with specific colors and shipped with a color key so that you can identify them. View and download identification sheets here. 

Nursery orders include a white paper tag on the seedling, just above the roots, indicating the species of the tree. Please note that when you order multiple trees of the same species they are bundled together.

Trees from distribution events will include a white paper tag on the trunk of the tree or on the pot indicating the species of the tree. If your tree is delivered to your house, the label on the outside of the box should also note the species.

In the fall, trees can be planted until the ground is frozen solid. If a spade can be inserted into the ground, it’s okay to plant. If it has already snowed, test the soil. If it’s too dry or too wet, don’t plant. The soil should have enough moisture to easily crumble in your hand.  
 
When you plant, mulch around the base of the tree at least 2 inches away from the trunk with wood chips, straw, or other material. Because the plants we ship are dormant and not actively growing, the colder air temperatures will not harm the trees.

Transplanting can be a stressful process for trees, so it is important to be patient. New growth starts from the roots, which means bare-root seedlings will often take several weeks to “wake up” and produce leaves. Different tree species will also produce leaves at different times throughout the spring season. Some species (like maples) produce early and some (like northern catalpas) leaf out later. Scratching the seedling with your thumbnail will reveal a living layer of green tissue — assurance that your tree is alive, even if it isn’t growing leaves yet.

Young trees can dry out quickly in hot, dry conditions, so it’s important to water them daily during the summer. Please plant your trees in an area where they will be protected from strong winds and receive shade at some point during the day. Consider purchasing tree shelters or constructing a small wire cage to protect your young trees from wildlife; squirrels and rabbits love young trees. A tomato cage with light-colored cloth fastened around it is an inexpensive solution to protect from wildlife and provide some shade from the harsh summer sun.

Arbor Day Foundation membership means joining a collective of individuals who are bold enough to believe a better future is possible for all of us. Learn about member benefits and how to become part of our network on the membership page.

We believe the best way to understand our mission is to experience it first-hand, which is why we offer new members free seedlings to plant in their own yards. Tree packages are selected and prepackaged for individual horticulture zones to set them up for success in your area. To find out what membership packages are available for your area, simply enter your zip code here.

Your member number can be found on your membership card or reply form on each Arbor Day Foundation mailing. Your member number is also included in most of the emails we send. Member numbers begin with the number 8 and are a total of 10 digits with hyphenation for easier reading (Example: 8x-xxxx-xxxx).

The Trees in Memory card is a 5″x7″ folded card. Both printed and downloadable certificates are 7”x5” for all commemorative trees.

If you choose to receive your cards and/or certificates in the mail, they will be shipped within two business days of when you placed the order. They are shipped from Lincoln, Nebraska, via the U.S. Postal Service, and arrival time will depend on the destination. If you select instant download when you order, they will be emailed to you immediately.

While there is not a plaque by your specific tree, trees are formally documented on our online tree registry.

Typically it is, but please consult a tax professional familiar with your state’s tax laws.

All planting projects are completed by our network of professional tree planting partners and are overseen and assessed by foresters on the grounds.

Our planting partners select and plant trees native to the area. Tree species will differ from region to region throughout the country.

The trees will be planted at the most suitable planting time for each forest, typically during the spring or fall.

We do not advise visiting the planting areas in these forests. They are often remote regions with limited accessibility and may span tens of thousands of acres where hundreds of thousands of seedlings are planted. These trees are planted by professional foresters in areas where they are most needed, rather than in locations that are easily accessible to visitors. Attempting to visit these remote planting locations may harm these vulnerable areas or put you in danger. The best way you can support these efforts is by spreading the word about planting projects and appreciating them from areas designated for visitors. 

Forests of great need are chosen using a combination of mapping and data to identify where trees can have the most impact, and with guidance from our on-the-ground partners who know the areas best. Donations made to a forest of great need may plant trees in a variety of projects.

We plant trees in forests all over the world. While every planting project is meaningful, we use a combination of science and mapping to pinpoint areas where trees can have the greatest impact. Our forest priority index is a formula that takes into account factors like how reforestation in a particular region will impact climate change, ecosystems and wildlife, and surrounding Indigenous and community lands. The regions where trees have the greatest opportunity to improve these factors are the regions we prioritize. While not all our reforestation work happens in places identified by the index, it helps us be as intentional as possible in planting the right trees in the right places.